Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) was established by Canada in 1967 to choose immigrants from all around the world. Prior to the FSWP’s implementation, Canada chose skilled worker immigrants based on the subjective assessment of individual immigration officials, who assessed each applicant’s potential for integration into the Canadian labour market.
The Canadian government recognized the shortcomings of the previous method and hence implemented the first points system ever used to choose immigrants. Canada would no longer rely on subjective standards. Instead, it chose to apply objective criteria to examine each candidate equally, taking into account their age, education, language proficiency, job history, and occupation, among other things.
- What is Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Eligibility Criteria for FSWP
- How to Apply for FSWP?
- Time required to process an FSWP application?
- Settlement funds for FSWP
- Processing fees for FSWP
- Federal Skilled Worker program vs Express Entry
- How to Calculate Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) points?
- Frequently Asked Questions
What is Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is used to rank applicants for the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) programme, which is administered through the Express Entry system. Federal Skilled Workers are not required to have Canadian work experience in order to be considered for the Express Entry pool, in contrast to candidates for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Instead, applicants must obtain a minimum score based on qualifications like education, work experience, and language proficiency. Those applicants who received the highest CRS scores will be invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence after being placed in the pool.
Eligibility Criteria for FSWP
A candidate must satisfy some minimal requirements with regard to years of experience, degree of education, age, and English or French language ability in order to be eligible for the FSWP:
- Work Experience
- A minimum of 12 months of uninterrupted, full-time, competent job experience gained within the last 10 years (or an equal amount in part-time experience). Skilled work experience refers to experience classified under NOC Skill Level 0, A, or B.
- Language Proficiency
- Reach a minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 on an approved English or French language test.
- Education
- A minimum of a Canadian high school diploma or the equivalent in foreign education.
- Financial Support
- Sufficient money to sustain themselves, any surviving spouse, and/or any children throughout their stay in Canada.
- Residence in Canada
- Must intend to live outside of the province of Quebec.
How to Apply for FSWP?
Express Entry profiles must be submitted to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) by interested parties. Express Entry profiles are not a guarantee that applicants will be granted Canadian permanent residency. A candidate will only receive a CRS score and be taken into account for next Express Entry drawings for Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence after submitting an Express Entry profile.
When submitting your Express Entry profile, an FSWP candidate will need to provide the following documents:
Educational Credentials Assessment (ECA)
An FSWP candidate must provide a valid ECA report attesting to the value of their international education in relation to Canadian norms in order to claim points for education. Canada has five organizations that can publish ECA reports. For qualifications earned from a Canadian educational institution, this is not necessary.
Language Proficiency Test Results
All applicants for the Express Entry programmes are required to provide the results of a valid language test performed within the last two years. The IELTS test and the CELPIP test are recognized as valid English proficiency assessments (only available in Canada). The Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEF) and the Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada are recognised exams for French (TCF Canada).
Identification Documents
Information from identity documents must be provided by candidates. The candidate and all accompanying family members should ideally have current passports.
A candidate will proceed to the second stage of the application procedure if they are granted an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residency. The applicant will have 60 days in this second stage to prepare and submit an electronic Application for Permanent Residency (eAPR). More documentation is needed for this application.
The lowest-ranking FSW applicant to earn an ITA since the beginning of Express Entry in 2015 had a CRS score of 413 points. If an applicant’s CRS score falls below this mark, they should actively look at ways to raise it.
Time required to process an FSWP application?
For a full year, a Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Express Entry profile will be valid in the candidate pool.
You will have 60 days to submit a complete application and supporting paperwork to the Government of Canada if you get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) while still in the pool of candidates.
Express Entry applications typically take six months to process from the time they are received by Canadian officials until a permanent residency visa is issued.
Additional factors may affect your processing time, including:
- The degree to which your application is complex or comprehensive
- The officer’s ability to quickly confirm the details you gave in your application
- Adding a second member of your family to your application
Settlement funds for FSWP
Federal Skilled Workers must show that they can support themselves and their families after relocating to Canada.
The amount of money needed for settlement is determined by how many family members you listed on your application. Please see the table below for the amount needed based on the size of your family.
| Number of Family Members | Funds Required |
|---|---|
| 1 | $13,310 |
| 2 | $16,570 |
| 3 | $20,371 |
| 4 | $24,733 |
| 5 | $28,052 |
| 6 | $31,638 |
| 7 | $35,224 |
| For each additional family member | $3,586 |
If you initially have an employment offer from a Canadian employer, you can still apply as a Federal Skilled Worker even if you are unable to produce sufficient settlement money.
Processing fees for FSWP
When submitting a request for permanent residency under the Federal Skilled Worker programme, the government processing fees must be paid. These costs are distinct from a candidate’s settlement monies, which must be shown in order to meet the eligibility requirements for Federal Skilled Workers.
| Application | Processing fee in $ CAD |
|---|---|
| Principal applicant (Processing fee and right of permanent residence fee) | $1365 |
| Spouse, common-law or conjugal partner (with right of permanent residence fee) | $1365 |
| A dependant above the age of 22 who is unable to support oneself financially owing to a medical or mental condition, or a dependent under the age of 22 who is not a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal couple | Add $230 each per dependent |
Federal Skilled Worker program vs Express Entry
The Express Entry system is used to manage the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP). Express Entry is a mechanism that streamlines the application process for the FSWP, one of the three primary economic immigration programmes.
How to Calculate Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) points?
The minimum score required to propose a programme under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) is 67 on the FSW points grid. You can compare your points to the grids below to determine your Federal Skilled Worker score.
Fill out our free assessment form right away to get a free evaluation of your eligibility for the Federal Skilled Worker Program!
| Factor | Points |
|---|---|
| Education | 25 |
| Language Proficiency | 28 |
| Age | 12 |
| Work Experience | 15 |
| Arranged Employment | 10 |
| Adaptability | 10 |
| Minimum Pass Score | 67 |
Education
| Level of Education | Points |
|---|---|
| Doctoral (PhD) level | 25 |
| Master’s level | 23 |
| Two or more post-secondary degrees – at least one for a program of at least 3 years | 22 |
| Post-secondary degree – 3 years or longer | 21 |
| Post-secondary degree – 2 years | 19 |
| Post-secondary degree – 1 year | 15 |
| Secondary school | 5 |
| Maximum | 25 |
Language Proficiency
| English | IELTS Score | Points | |||
| First Official Language | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing | |
| CLB 9 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | |
| CLB 8 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | |
| CLB 7 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
Age
| Age | Points |
|---|---|
| Under 18 | 0 |
| 18-35 | 12 |
| 36 | 11 |
| 37 | 10 |
| 38 | 9 |
| 39 | 8 |
| 40 | 7 |
| 41 | 6 |
| 42 | 5 |
| 43 | 4 |
| 44 | 3 |
| 45 | 2 |
| 46 | 1 |
| 47 and older | 0 |
| Maximum | 12 |
Work Experience
| Work Experience | Points |
|---|---|
| 6 or more years | 15 |
| 4-5 years | 13 |
| 2-3 years | 11 |
| 1 year | 9 |
| Maximum | 15 |
Employment Offer
| Arranged Employment | Points | |
|---|---|---|
| If | And | |
| You currently work in Canada on a temporary work permit. | Your work permit is valid both when you apply and when the visa is issued (or you are authorized to work in Canada without a work permit when your visa is issued) and IRCC issued your work permit based on a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). Your employer would have applied for the LMIA, which you then had to attach to your application to IRCC and You are working for an employer named on your work permit who has made a permanent job offer based on you being accepted as a skilled worker. | 10 |
| You currently work in Canada in a job that is exempt from the LMIA requirement under an international agreement (such as, the North America Free Trade Agreement) or a federal-provincial agreement. | Your work permit is valid both when you apply and when the visa is issued (or you are authorized to work in Canada without a work permit when your visa is issued) and Your current employer has made a permanent job offer based on you being accepted as a skilled worker and You have been working for that employer for at least 1 continuous year, full-time or part-time equivalent. | 10 |
You currently do not have a work permit, or do not plan to work in Canada before you get a permanent resident visa. OR You are currently working in Canada and a different employer has offered to give you a permanent full-time job OR You are currently working in Canada in a job that is exempt from a Labour Market Impact Assessment, but not under an international or federal-provincial agreement. | An employer has made you a permanent job offer based on you being accepted as a skilled worker and The employer has a positive Labour Impact Assessment from ESDC | 10 |
| Maximum | 10 |
Adaptability
| Adaptability | Points |
|---|---|
Your past work in Canada You did at least one year of full-time work in Canada (NOC Skill Type 0, A or B) with a valid work permit or while authorized to work in Canada. | 10 |
Your spouse or partner’s full-time work in Canada Your spouse or common-law partner did at least one year of full-time work in Canada on a valid work permit or while authorized to work in Canada. | 5 |
Your past study in Canada You finished at least two academic years of full-time (15 hrs/week) study in a program at least two years long at a secondary or post-secondary school in Canada, and stayed in good academic standing during that time. | 5 |
Your spouse or partner’s past study in Canada Your spouse or common-law partner finished at least two academic years of full-time (15 hrs/week) study in a program at least two years long at a secondary or post-secondary school in Canada, and stayed in good academic standing during that time. | 5 |
Arranged Employment in Canada You earned points under Factor 5: Arranged Employment | 5 |
Your spouse or partner’s language level Your spouse or common-law partner has a language level in either English or French at CLB 4 level or higher in all four language abilities (IELTS Listening 4.0, Reading 4.5, Writing 3.5, Speaking 4.0) | 5 |
Relatives in Canada You, or your spouse or common-law partner, have a relative who is living in Canada AND 18 years or older AND a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, either a: parent, | 5 |
| Maximum | 10 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What distinguishes my FSW eligibility points from my CRS score?
You must have a minimum of 67 eligibility points in order to submit a profile as a Federal Skilled Worker (FSW). The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) ranks candidates when they submit an Express Entry profile to the pool of applicants, and then assigns each candidate a CRS score. All applicants to the Express Entry pool receive a CRS score, but only FSW applicants are required to achieve the required FSW score.
What is foreign work experience?
Federal Skilled Workers must have at least one year of full-time (or comparable part-time) overseas work experience to be eligible to submit an Express Entry profile. Any paid job experience accumulated outside of Canada in the previous ten years is referred to as foreign work experience.
The job experience needs to fall within National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill type A, B, or 0. You must first locate your NOC code before you can identify the skill category of your work.
How to calculate CRS points for foreign work experience?
Foreign work experience CRS points are calculated as part of the skill transferability factors in combination with a candidate’s:
- Official language proficiency; and
- Canadian work experience
You can score the most points for these factors if you have three or more years of international job experience. For a complete breakdown of CRS points for overseas job experience, see the tables below.
Foreign Work Experience and Official Language Proficiency
| Years of Experience | Points for foreign work experience + CLB 7 | Points for foreign work experience + CLB 9 |
|---|---|---|
| No foreign work experience | 0 | 0 |
| 1-2 years of foreign work experience | 13 | 25 |
| 3+ years of foreign work experience | 25 | 50 |
Foreign Work Experience and Canadian Work Experience
| Years of Experience | Points for foreign work experience + 1 year of Canadian work experience | Points for foreign work experience + 2 or more years of Canadian work experience |
|---|---|---|
| No foreign work experience | 0 | 0 |
| 1-2 years of foreign work experience | 13 | 25 |
| 3+ years of foreign work experience | 25 | 50 |
Is the Federal Skilled Worker program open?
Since December 2020, no new Federal Skilled Worker candidates have been selected in Express Entry drawings. Recently, the Canadian government declared that the draws for federal skilled workers would start up again in early July 2022.
But, FSW candidates can send in a profile whenever they like. Provinces continue to extend invitations to applicants for the chance to be nominated for permanent residency through Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP), even though FSW candidates might not be invited in a federal Express Entry draw until July 2022.
Working in Quebec as a FSW
The Immigration and Refugee Protection Rules define Federal Skilled Workers as those who live outside of Quebec and intend to establish themselves economically in Canada.
Hence, you must not intend to reside in the province of Quebec in order to be eligible for the programme. You should apply for immigration through a Quebec immigration programme if you want to settle there. But, if you can convincingly prove that you intend to live in another province, you are permitted to work for a Quebec corporation.
What is the age limit to apply for under FSWP?
In order to apply for the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) programme, there is no upper age limit. Candidates will start to lose points toward the FSW eligibility criteria at the age of 35. Candidates will additionally lose points for the age factor of their Comprehensive Ranking Score after the age of 29. (CRS). Because of this, candidates with fewer age points could have to boost their eligibility points and CRS score using different methods.
Can parents, spouses,s and children be included in FSWP application?
Sadly, parents cannot be listed on a Federal Skilled Worker programme application for permanent residency. Yet, after you are a permanent resident, you could be able to sponsor your parents’ immigration to Canada.
The spouse and children of those who apply under the Federal Skilled Worker programme may be listed on the permanent residency application. While applying with a spouse, a candidate should take into account how their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score can be impacted.
Do I need a job offer to apply under the FSWP?
A job offer is not required for the Federal Skilled Worker program. In fact, a large majority of candidates invited under the Express Entry system do not have a formal Canadian job offer. That said, having a valid job offer may increase a Federal Skilled Worker’s CRS score by 50-200 points. To qualify for these points, the job offer will likely require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
Can we apply under FSWP with a criminal background or serious medical condition?
You can be denied entry to Canada if you have a criminal record or a major medical condition, which would prevent you from being accepted into the Federal Skilled Worker programme. Yet, being inadmissible does not always result in a lifetime prohibition from entering Canada. Those who would otherwise be barred from entering Canada can get assistance.