federal skilled worker

The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Program is designed for skilled professionals with overseas work experience who wish to settle in Canada permanently. This program enables highly skilled individuals to contribute to the Canadian labor market by filling roles that are difficult to source locally.

Application Process via Express Entry

Candidates applying under the FSW program must submit their profiles through Express Entry, an online system used by the Canadian government to manage applications for economic immigration.

The process includes:

1. Submitting an Express Entry profile with details of work experience, education, language skills, and other factors.
2. Entering the Express Entry pool, where profiles are ranked using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
3. Receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) if their CRS score is among the highest.
4. Submitting a complete application for Permanent Residency (PR) upon receiving an ITA.

Eligibility Criteria – 67 Points System

To qualify for the FSW program, candidates must score at least 67 out of 100 points based on six key selection factors:

1. Education (Maximum: 25 Points)
Doctorate (PhD): 25 points
Master's Degree: 23 points
Two or more post-secondary degrees (one must be 3+ years): 22 points
Bachelor's degree (3+ years): 21 points
One-year diploma/certificate/trade certificate: 15 points

2. Work Experience (Maximum: 15 Points)

1 year: 9 points
2-3 years: 11 points
4-5 years: 13 points
6+ years: 15 points

3. Language Proficiency (Maximum: 28 Points)

English or French (First Official Language): Up to 24 points (based on CLB levels)
Second Official Language (If applicable): 4 points

4. Age (Maximum: 12 Points)

18-35 years: 12 points
36+ years: Points decrease by 1 per year
47 years or older: 0 points

5. Arranged Employment in Canada (Maximum: 10 Points)

Valid job offer from a Canadian employer in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3: 10 points

6. Adaptability (Maximum: 10 Points)

Spouse's language proficiency: 5 points
Previous work experience in Canada: 10 points
Family in Canada: 5 points
Important: Scoring 67 points makes a candidate eligible to enter the Express Entry pool, but selection is based on the CRS score, which varies depending on competition and invitations issued by IRCC.
Eligible Occupations & Express Entry Pool
Canada has over 300 eligible occupations under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER categories for the FSW program.
Once a profile is submitted, candidates are ranked based on the CRS score, and those with the highest ranks receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Permanent Residency.
For detailed eligibility requirements and updates, refer to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Program Eligibility Criteria

The FSW program is designed for skilled professionals who intend to settle in Canada as permanent residents. Eligibility is determined based on factors such as education, work experience, language proficiency, and adaptability.

1. Work Experience (TEER Categories)

Candidates must have at least one year of continuous, paid work experience (within the last 10 years) in an eligible TEER category under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system:

TEER 0 (Managerial Jobs): Senior management roles and executives.
TEER 1 (Professional Jobs): Jobs requiring a university degree (e.g., doctors, engineers, accountants).
TEER 2 (Technical Jobs & Skilled Trades): Occupations requiring college diplomas or apprenticeships (e.g., computer technicians, supervisors, paramedics).
TEER 3 (Skilled Trades and Occupations): Jobs requiring a diploma, apprenticeship, or relevant work experience (e.g., butchers, electricians, bakers).
Important: Work experience as a student (internship, co-op, or part-time jobs) counts only if it was paid and uninterrupted.

2. Language Proficiency

Applicants must prove proficiency in English or French by taking an approved language test (IELTS, CELPIP for English or TEF, TCF for French). The minimum requirement is CLB (Canadian Language Benchmark) 7 in all four modules:

Reading
Writing
Listening
Speaking

3. Education Requirement

Candidates must have:

A Canadian high school diploma or post-secondary degree OR
A foreign credential assessed by an approved Education Credential Assessment (ECA) agency for immigration purposes.

4. Proof of Funds

Applicants must provide justified financial proof to demonstrate they can support themselves and their family in Canada. This is not required if the applicant has a valid job offer from a Canadian employer.