New procedures - Applying as a skilled worker

Applications for permanent residence under the Federal Skilled Worker class can be submitted by foreign nationals who are skilled workers and professionals.

Note that as of April 1, 2009, all applicants in the Federal Skilled Workerclass, must submit their initial application and appropriate fees in Canadian funds to the Centralized Intake Office in Canada. These applications can no longer be submitted directly to our office at the Canadian Embassy in Manila.Applications which have received a positive evaluation by the centralized intake office will be referred to our office for further processing.

There are three categories under the Federal Skilled Workerclass:

• Category 1: For persons in an occupation which corresponds to the list of occupations identified in the Ministerial Instructions and have evidence of one year of continuous full-time (or full-time equivalent) experience in that occupation;
• Category 2: For persons who have arranged employment offer with a Canadian employer; or
• Category 3: For students or workers who are legally residing in Canada, and have done so for at least 12 months immediately before submitting their application.

For additional up-to-date information on the Federal Skilled Worker class, please visit our website at Citizenship and Immigration Canada.