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Federal skilled workers selection criteria: Adaptability

This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.

Pursuant to section 83 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), officers should assess the application and award the applicant up to a maximum of 10 points for adaptability as follows:

Awarding points

Adaptability criteria Points

R83(1)(a): Language proficiency (accompanying spouse or common-law partner)

  • Award 5 points if the accompanying spouse or common-law partner, other than a permanent resident residing in Canada or a Canadian citizen, has a level of proficiency in either official language at Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) level 4 or higher in all 4 language skill areas (speaking, listening, reading and writing).

To be eligible for points, the principal applicant must provide original language test results for their accompanying spouse or common-law partner from a designated testing organization that are no more than 2 years old at the time of application to the Centralized Intake Office (CIO) or when the candidate creates their profile in Express Entry and when their electronic application for permanent residence is submitted.

CLB 4 test results for each designated testing organization are as follows:

  • Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) = 2H for each language ability
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) = 4.0 (Speaking), 4.5 (Listening), 3.5 (Reading), 4.0 (Writing)
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) Core = 42 to 50 (Speaking), 28 to 38 (Listening), 33 to 41 (Reading), 41 to 50 (Writing)
  • Test d’évaluation de français (TEF) pour le Canada = 181 (Speaking [expression orale]), 145 (Listening [compréhension de l’oral]), 121 (Reading [compréhension de l’écrit]), 181 (Writing [expression écrite])
  • Test de connaissance du français (TCF) pour le Canada = 4 (Speaking [expression orale]), 331 (Listening [compréhension de l’oral]), 342 (Reading [compréhension de l’écrit]), 4 (Writing [expression écrite])
 5

R83(1)(b): Previous study in Canada (principal applicant)

  • Award 5 points if the principal applicant completed at least 2 academic years of full-time study (in a program of at least 2 years in duration) at a secondary or post-secondary institution in Canada.

To be eligible for points, the principal applicant must have remained in good academic standing (as defined by the institution) during the period of full-time study in Canada. The applicant does not need to obtain an educational credential for completing a program in Canada; they simply must have completed at least 2 years of study in a program of at least 2 years in duration.

 5

R83(1)(b.1): Previous study in Canada (accompanying spouse or common-law partner)

  • Award 5 points if the accompanying spouse or common-law partner, other than a permanent resident residing in Canada or a Canadian citizen, completed at least 2 academic years of full-time study (in a program of at least 2 years in duration) at a secondary or post-secondary institution in Canada.

To be eligible for points, the accompanying spouse or common-law partner must have remained in good academic standing (as defined by the institution) during the period of full-time study in Canada. The spouse or common-law partner is not required to have obtained an educational credential for completing a program in Canada; they simply must have completed at least 2 years of study in a program of at least 2 years in duration.

 5

R83(1)(c): Previous work in Canada (principal applicant)

  • Award 10 points if the principal applicant completed at least 1 year of full-time work in Canada authorized under a work permit or under section R186 in an occupation that is listed in
    • Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) 0 (National Occupational Classification [NOC] 2021) and Skill Type 0 (NOC 2016) (Managerial occupations)
    • TEER 1 (NOC 2021) and Skill Level A (NOC 2016) (Professional occupations) or
    • TEER 2 or 3 (NOC 2021) and Skill Level B (NOC 2016) (Technical occupations and skilled trades)
 10

R83(1)(c.1): Previous work in Canada (accompanying spouse or common-law partner)

  • Award 5 points if the accompanying spouse or common-law partner, other than a Canadian citizen or permanent resident residing in Canada, completed at least 1 year of full-time work in Canada authorized under a work permit or under R186.
 5

R83(1)(d): Relatives in Canada

  • Award 5 points if the principal applicant, or accompanying spouse or common-law partner, has a relative (parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, sibling, aunt, uncle, niece or nephew) who is 18 years of age or older as of the date of application, and who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident residing in Canada.

Note: Points for relatives in Canada may be awarded only once—either to the principal applicant or the accompanying spouse or common-law partner, but not to both.

 5

R83(1)(e): Arranged employment (principal applicant only)

  • Award 5 points if the principal applicant has been awarded points for arranged employment in Canada under subsection R82(2).
 5

Points can only be awarded for each adaptability item once. The maximum number of points for this section is 10.

These requirements and criteria must be met at the time the application is made, as well as at the time the visa is issued [R77]. Therefore

  • if an applicant’s spouse or common-law partner is no longer accompanying them, then any points that they may have received for their adaptability cannot be counted
  • if an applicant adds a spouse or common-law partner to their application between application and assessment, and submits the necessary documentation, points must be counted, if applicable, for that person under the adaptability criteria
  • if the applicant or their spouse or common-law partner completes further study, works in Canada, arranges employment in Canada, or gains relatives in Canada between application and assessment, and submits the necessary documentation, points must be awarded accordingly

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