Skilled immigrants are selected as permanent residents based on their ability to settle in Canada and take part in the economy. There is a new system to manage how people with skilled work experience apply to immigrate to Canada. It is called Express Entry.

There are six criteria for application requirements:

1. Skilled Work Experience

i. full time work (30hrs/w for 12 months = 1 year full-time)

ii. part time work (15 hrs/w for 24 months = 1 year full time)

2. Language Ability
3. Education

4. Six selection factors

5. Proof of Funds
6. Eligibility to work in Canada

WORK EXPERIENCE

Your work experience must be:

- At least one year (1,560 hours total / 30 hours per week), continuous full-time or an equal amount in part-time.
- Paid work (volunteer work, unpaid internships do not count), in the same job, within the last 10 years.

LANGUAGE ABILITY

Meet the minimum language level of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7, and take a language test approved by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) that shows you meet the level for speaking, listening, reading and writing.

Show that you meet the requirements in English or French by including the test results when you complete your Express Entry profile. Your test results must not be more than two years old on the day you apply for permanent residence.

EDUCATION

You must have:

A Canadian secondary (high school) or post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree,

OR
A completed foreign credential, and an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from an agency approved by CIC. [The report must show your foreign education is equal to a completed Canadian secondary (high school) or post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree.]

SIX SELECTION FACTORS

1. Your skills in English and/or French (Canada’s two official languages)
2. Your education
3. Your work experience
4. Your age
5. Whether you have a valid job offer
6. Your adaptability (how well you are likely to settle here)​

PROOF OF FUNDS

​​​You must show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family after you arrive in Canada, unless you:

Are currently able to legally work in Canada +
Have a valid job offer from an employer in Canada

WHAT IS A PRINCIPAL APPLICANT
If you are married or live with a common law foreign National partner in Canada, and that person and that person also meet the above conditions, you can decide which one of you would apply under Express Entry as the Principal Applicant. A Common Law Partner is a person that lived with you in a conjugal relationship for a period of time. Common Law Partners refers to both opposite-sex or same-sex couples. Look at each selection factor and see which one of you are most likely to meet the eligibly requirements and earn the most points. That person should apply as the principal applicant.

Courtesy: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/apply-who.asp