The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) program is one of the three federal economic immigration programs managed by the Government of Canada to attract highly skilled immigrants to contribute to the Canadian economy. This program is designed for individuals with specialized skills and experience who are interested in living and working in Canada.
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To apply under FSWP, broadly there are three steps:
- Make sure you meet the eligibility criteria.
- Calculate whether you are scoring at least 67 points, based on different factors
- Create your Express Entry Profile and wait for a decision
Federal Skilled Worker Program (fSWP) – Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to apply for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), you must meet the following criteria:
- Work Experience: You must have at least one year of continuous work experience in a skilled occupation within the last ten years. The work experience must be in 1 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER categories i.e TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3.
- Language Proficiency: You must demonstrate your proficiency in either English or French by taking a language test from an approved agency.
- Education: You must have a post-secondary education that is equivalent to a Canadian diploma or degree.
- Settlement Funds: You must demonstrate that you have enough funds to support yourself and your family members when you arrive in Canada.
- Adaptability: You must be able to demonstrate that you will adapt well to life in Canada.
The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) uses a points-based system to assess the eligibility of applicants. You must score at least 67 points on the points system in order to apply for this program. Applicants are assessed on six factors as discussed below.
Federal Skilled Worker Program (fSWP) – Points system
Here is a breakdown of how points are allocated for each factor in FSWP:
Language Proficiency
Language proficiency is an essential factor in the Federal Skilled Worker program, and applicants can earn a maximum of 28 points for their language skills. Applicants must take an approved language test and achieve the minimum required score in either English or French. The language test results determine the number of points awarded to the applicant.
First official language (maximum 24 points)
| First official language | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLB level 9 or higher | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| CLB level 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| CLB level 7 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Below CLB level 7 | Not eligible to apply | Not eligible to apply | Not eligible to apply | Not eligible to apply |
Second official language (maximum 4 points)
You can get 4 points only if you score at least CLB 5 in each of the 4 language abilities in the second official language test.
| Second official language | Points |
|---|---|
| At least CLB 5 in all of the 4 abilities | 4 |
| CLB 4 or less in any of the 4 abilities | 0 |
Education
Education is another essential factor in the Federal Skilled Worker program, and applicants can earn up to 25 points based on their level of education. Applicants with a higher level of education, such as a master’s degree or a Ph.D., are awarded more points. Click here to find out Federal Skilled Workers Program factor points for Education.
Work Experience
Work experience is an essential factor in the Federal Skilled Worker program, and applicants can earn up to 15 points based on their years of experience in a skilled occupation. The Skilled work experience must be in 1 of these National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER categories:
- TEER 0
- TEER 1
- TEER 2
- TEER 3
| Experience | Maximum 15 points |
|---|---|
| 1 year | 9 |
| 2-3 years | 11 |
| 4-5 years | 13 |
| 6 or more years | 15 |
Age
Age is also a factor in the Federal Skilled Worker program, and applicants can earn up to 12 points based on their age at the time of application. Applicants between the ages of 18 and 35 are awarded the maximum number of points, with points gradually decreasing as the applicant gets older.
| 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 |
Arranged Employment
Applicants can earn up to 10 points if they have a job offer from a Canadian employer. The job offer must be for a full-time, permanent position, and the employer must have obtained a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
Adaptability
Applicants can earn up to 10 points based on their ability to adapt to life in Canada. Points are awarded for factors such as previous work or study experience in Canada, having a close relative in Canada, or having studied in Canada.
| Adaptability | Maximum 10 points |
|---|---|
| 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 4 language abilities (speaking, listening, reading and writing). | 5 |
| Your past studies in Canada You completed at least 2 academic years of full-time study (in a program at least 2 years long) at a secondary or post-secondary school in Canada. | 5 |
| Your spouse or partner’s past studies in Canada Your spouse or common-law partner completed at least 2 academic years of full-time study (in a program at least 2 years long) at a secondary or post-secondary school in Canada. | 5 |
| Your past work in Canada You did at least 1 year of full-time work in Canada in an eligible job And, with a valid work permit, or while authorized to work in Canada. | 10 |
| Your spouse or common-law partner’s past work in Canada Your spouse or partner did at least 1 year of full-time work in Canada on a valid work permit or while authorized to work in Canada. | 5 |
| Arranged employment in Canada You earned points for having arranged employment. | 5 |
| Relatives in Canada You, or your spouse or common-law partner, have a relative who is living in Canada (18 years or older) and a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. | 5 |
Federal Skilled Worker Program (fSWP) – Express Entry
To be eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker program (FSWP), you must score at least 67 points out of 100. The higher your score, the better your chances of being selected for permanent residence in Canada.
The Federal Skilled Worker program is managed through the Express Entry system, which is an online application system used to manage applications for economic immigration programs.
To apply for the Federal Skilled Worker program, you must first create an Express Entry profile and provide information about your work experience, education, language proficiency, and other details. If you meet the eligibility criteria, you will be entered into a pool of candidates and assigned a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on your qualifications.
The Government of Canada holds regular Express Entry draws, inviting candidates with the highest CRS scores to apply for permanent residence in Canada. If you are selected, you will receive an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence.
Processing Time: The processing time for the Federal Skilled Worker program can vary depending on the volume of applications and the complexity of the case. However, as of September 2021, the processing time for the program was an average of 6 to 8 months.
Federal Skilled Worker Program (fSWP) – Recap
The Federal Skilled Worker program is a popular pathway for highly skilled individuals to come to Canada and contribute to the Canadian economy.
To be eligible, applicants must meet the eligibility criteria, score at least 67 points on the points system, and apply through the Express Entry system. While the processing time for the program can vary, successful applicants can enjoy the benefits of permanent residence in Canada.
If you score 67 points or higher in the points system, you can submit a profile to the Express Entry pool. Once you’re in the Express Entry pool, a different system is used to rank your profile and decide on the application.
If you score lower than 67 points, you do not qualify for the FSWP program. You can try to improve your score by:
- working on your language skills
- completing another degree, diploma, or certificate
- receiving an offer of arranged employment in Canada
