Education - Canada Skilled Category

This visa category is for applicants who do not satisfy the qualifying conditions under the General Skilled Worker Class and who wish to study in Canada and who have the desire to get settled in Canada. Under this program applicant becomes eligible to apply for Permanent Residency after a one year (minimum) study program in Canada.

Under the Federal skilled worker category, applications received on or after February 27, 2008 are now assessed for eligibility according to a set of instructions issued by the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism.

According to the Minister’s instructions, your application will be reviewed in three steps and your application is eligible for processing if:

• you have an offer of arranged employment from a Canadian employer, or
• you are a foreign national who has been living legally in Canada for one year as a temporary foreign worker or an international student, or
• you are a skilled worker who has at least one year of experience in one or more of the occupations listed here.

Check whether your occupation is present in the 38-Priority Occupation List of Canada. Even if not, you would still qualify to get Canadian Permanent Residency under the General Skilled Migration Program:

• If your occupation is not available in the 38 Priority Occupation List and you gain 67 points:
• If you gain 67 points, you can go to Canada as an International Student for a 1 year (2 semesters) study program, through GICS. After completion of course, you would be eligible for Permanent Residency that would be handled by GICS.
• If your occupation is not available in the 38 Priority Occupation List and you do not gain 67 points; or
• If your occupation is available in the 38 Priority Occupation List and you do not gain 67 points:
• If you do not gain 67 points then you can get benefited through Canadian experience. Under this category, you can go to Canada on a 1 year (2 semesters) study and on completion you would be provided with Post Graduate Work Permit for 2 years that would enable you to get Permanent Residency that would be handled through GICS.

Else, you can go on a 2 years study in Canada and thereafter on completion of Post Graduate Work Permit, you would be eligible for Permanent Residency.

During this temporary visa period, applicant can sponsor his dependent to accompany while during the stay and living in Canada. The applicant would also be eligible to work in Canada during his period of living on full time basis as well as off-campus.

The applicant would also need to submit his proof of English language ability by submitting the Academic module of International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Processing Time

The current processing time for migration to Canada under the Education – Skilled Canada Category visa category is 2 - 4 months from the time the application is lodged.