Numerous studies have rated Canada as having the best global immigration policies, which offers those with particular skill sets exceptional work opportunities. The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) might be your best choice. People with knowledge and experience that can help the Canadian economy should apply for this program.
What is a Federal Skilled Worker Program ?
The Federal Skilled Worker Program (Federal Skilled Worker Class) is Canada’s flagship immigration program for workers. On January 1, 2015, the Government of Canada implemented the Express Entry Immigration system under the Economic Class including the Federal Skilled Worker Program.
The FSW program is for skilled professionals with experience working abroad who want to move permanently to Canada. The first skilled immigration program run by Express Entry is called FSW. For skilled professionals who want to reside anywhere else in Canada than Quebec, there is the federal skilled worker program.
One component of Express Entry is the FSW program. Express Entry is an internet tool used to manage skilled worker applications for permanent residency. Before being included to the Express Entry pool, you must first satisfy the eligibility conditions of one of the programs that Express Entry manages. If you are qualified, you will receive a score based on your human capital factors. To submit an express admission application, you must receive a minimum of 67 out of a possible 100 points on the FSWP grid.
You will also receive points for other things like having a sibling who is a permanent resident or citizen of Canada, a legitimate work offer, or having studied in Canada. You will be evaluated after joining the Express Entry pool and compared to all other applicants. The top-ranked applicants will then be requested to submit an application for permanent residence.
How Does the Federal Skilled Worker Program Work?
Federal Skilled Workers who meet the minimum entry requirements for 347 qualified occupations can participate in Express Entry by submitting an expression of interest profile to the Express Entry Pool. A Comprehensive Ranking System is used to rate the candidate profiles in the pool. The top applicants will be invited to submit an application for permanent residence. After getting an invitation, candidates have 60 days to submit a complete application.
Federal Skilled Workers are those who are chosen under the Express Entry Immigration system to apply for permanent residency and who meet the necessary criteria for education, work experience, age, and language proficiency in one of Canada's official languages.
Who is Eligible for Federal Skilled Worker Program ?
To qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, you must fulfill all the minimum requirements. The basic criteria for this program are :
- Age and Admissibility
- Skilled work experience
- Language ability
- Education
- Federal Skilled Worker Points Grid
- Proof of Funds
Federal Skilled Worker Eligibility Requirements
You must fulfill a number of basic eligibility requirements in order to be eligible to submit an Express Entry profile under the Federal Skilled Worker Program :
1) Age and Admissibility :
Be at least 18 years old. You must be admissible to Canada.
2) Work Experience :
A minimum of 12 months of competent job experience, or an equivalent number of part-time hours, are required. This training needs to be ongoing and in a particular profession.
Skilled Work Experience
If you have experience in one of the following National Occupational Classification (NOC) job groupings, you are considered to have that skilled work experience.
- Managerial jobs (skill type 0)
- Professional jobs (skill level A)
- Technical jobs and skilled trades (skill level B)
You must demonstrate that you carried out the tasks outlined in the lead statement of the occupational description in the NOC while working in your principal occupation. This comprises all the necessary tasks and the majority of the principal tasks mentioned.
Your skilled work experience must be :
- In a position that is similar to the one you want to use on your immigration application (has the same NOC).
- Within the previous ten years.
- Paid work (have been paid wages or earned commission).
- A minimum of 1,560 hours total or 1 year of continuous labor (30 hours per week).
Part-time Work Experience
Your professional experience must have been obtained through paid employment, such as salary or commission. You can work more or less than 15 hours per week as long as it totals 1,560 hours for part-time employment. To obtain the hours required for application, you might work more than one part-time employment.
Student Work Experience
Work that was paid by salaries or commissions and was continuous while you were studying may count toward your minimal requirements (no gaps in employment).
3) Language Ability :
You must pass a recognized language test demonstrating your proficiency in either French or English (Listening, Reading, Writing & Speaking). The Canadian Language Benchmark of Level 7 (CLB 7) is the required minimum score for the FSWC, while your chances of success increase as your score rises. The validity of your language tests is two years from the date of the test result. When you submit your application for permanent residency, they must be current. When creating your Express Entry profile, you must submit the results of your language proficiency test.
4) Education :
A minimal level of education equivalent to a Canadian high school diploma is required. You will need an Educational Credentials Assessment (ECA) proving the worth of your education according to Canadian standards if you finished your education outside of Canada. You must possess a certificate, diploma, or degree from a Canadian if you attended school in Canada :
- Secondary institution (high school)
- Post-secondary institution
If you received your education foreign, you must have:
- A completed credential.
- A certification confirming your education is equivalent to a Canadian-completed certificate, diploma, or degree, known as an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for immigration purposes.
5) Federal Skilled Worker Points Grid :
Candidates must achieve a minimum score of 67 out of 100 on this points grid in order to be qualified for the Federal Skilled Worker Program. Please be aware that the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which ranks all Express Entry profiles, is not the same points system as this one. Six factors are considered under the FSW Program points grid :
- Up to 12 FSW points : Age
- Up to 28 points : Language ability
- Up to 25 points : Education
- Up to 15 FSW points : Work experience
- Up to 10 points : Adaptability
- Up to FSW 10 points : Arranged employment
6) Proof of Funds (Settlement Funds) :
You must demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to settle in Canada with your family.
- Are currently able to work legally in Canada.
- Have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer.
The amount is based on the size of the family.
Number of family members | Required funds (in CAD) |
1 (single applicant) | $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, add | $3,586 |
The sum of money you require is referred to as "settlement funds." When you submit your Express Entry profile, you must affix documentation proving these settlement amounts. These monies ought to be readily available, transferrable, and free of any liens or other obligations. Both when the application is submitted and when the permanent resident visa is granted, the settling money requirement must be satisfied.
Selection Factors for Federal Skilled Worker Program
If you fulfill all the minimum requirements, they evaluate your application based on:
- Age
- Education
- Work experience
- Whether you have a valid job offer
- English and French language skills
- Adaptability
The Federal Skilled Worker Program eligibility is determined using a 100-point scoring system that includes these elements. For how well you perform in each of the 6 areas, you receive points. The current passing score is 67. Click here to learn about the selection factor point grid.
Federal Skilled Worker Program Points Calculator
Visit the Express Entry CRS Calculator to see if you may qualify for Canada's Federal Skilled Worker Program. Along with learning about your possible CRS score and competitiveness inside Express Entry, you'll learn if you qualify for any of the three federal economic immigration programs governed by Express Entry. Find out here if you qualify and how many points you have.
Advantages of Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Candidates for the Federal Skilled Worker Class are eligible regardless of their relationship to Canada. The programme is a great choice for those who live outside of Canada because the minimal requirements for work experience, language skills, and education can all be met elsewhere.
- Candidates for the Federal Skilled Worker Program receive the highest proportion of invitations to apply; in 2018, more than half of all invitations were sent to FSWC candidates.
Eligible Federal Skilled Worker Occupations
The Federal Skilled Worker Program in Canada is now open to a wide spectrum of employees, including those with expertise in any skilled occupation (NOC 0, A or B). Use this tool to find out if your work experience qualifies as competent if you're not sure. There are hundreds of occupations that are considered as skilled.
1) Skill Type 0 (zero) :
Management jobs, including restaurant managers, managers in food service and accommodation, retail and wholesale trade managers, and more.
2) Skill Level A :
Several professional jobs, such as those in engineering and construction, legal occupations, a range of Information Technology (IT) occupations and more, typically require a degree from an university.
3) Skill Level B :
Jobs in the technical fields and skilled trades, such as those in catering, plumbing, general office work, retail sales, and more, typically require a college degree or apprenticeship training.
How to Apply for Federal Skilled Worker Program ?
To apply for Federal Skilled Worker program, you must create an online Express Entry profile.
You will need to fulfill the requirements for one of the Express Entry programs. One of these programs is the FSW program. You might be qualified to submit an Express Entry profile if you meet these minimal requirements.
However, being eligible does not guarantee that you will be invited to submit an official application for Canadian permanent residence. Only the highest ranking FSWC candidates will be invited to apply because Express Entry is a competitive immigration selection system.
Steps to Apply for Federal Skilled Worker Program
1) Check your eligibility :
Verify that you meet the program's minimal requirements for job experience, language competency, and education using the qualifying criteria listed above. Additionally, be sure to review your score on the FSW points chart.
2) Collect the documents you'll need to create a profile :
You will require three forms of documentation in order to construct your Express Entry profile: a current passport, the results of your language exam, and your ECA scores.
3) Create an Express Entry profile :
The IRCC website is used to complete this stage. You will be required to submit some personal information, some of which must be accompanied by the paperwork from the previous stage and some of which is self-declared.
4) Receive an invitation to apply :
60 days will be given to you to finish your application. When the IRCC conducts one of its drawings from the Express Entry pool, ITAs are given out.
5) Submit an online application :
All candidates for Federal Skilled Worker positions undergo screening for possible criminal and medical inadmissibility. You must include documentation supporting the completion of a medical examination with an IRCC-approved panel doctor with your application.
6) A review of your e-application :
After reviewing your electronic application, a Canadian immigration official will inform you of any additional requirements.
8) Receive confirmation :
In fewer than six months, 80% of applications submitted under the Federal Skilled Worker Program are processed. A confirmation of permanent residence (COPR) document is sent to the person once their application has been accepted. When permanent residence is granted, an official at a Canadian port of entry or at an IRCC office signs and dates this document.
Documents Needed to Create an Express Entry Profile Online
Make sure you have all the necessary paperwork on hand before starting your Express Entry profile because you must include this information when filing. You will require:
- A valid passport
- ECA results
- Language test results
Depending on your circumstance, you could additionally require additional documents. You must submit a copy of the employment offer, for instance, if you are claiming points for a genuine job offer.
Federal Skilled Worker Program Processing Time and Fees
Currently, it takes about six months to process an Federal Skilled Worker application.
- For the principal applicant, there is a processing charge or fee is 850 CAD.
- For the spouse or common-law partner, there is a processing fee is 850 CAD.
- For each dependent child, there is a processing charge or fee is 230 CAD.
Primary and secondary candidates must also pay the right to permanent residency in addition to the processing cost. The RPRF is 515 CAD for both primary and secondary applicants. Fees could change at any time without prior notification. When you submit your application, you must pay your costs online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need immigration consultants for Federal Skilled Worker?
Using an immigration consultant's services for FSW is optional. But because it's so difficult, many people decide to engage a consultant to assist them with their application.
What is the difference between CRS score and FSW eligibility points?
Your eligibility for Express Entry is determined by your FSW eligibility points. Your profile is evaluated and scored using the points-based CRS, which is then ranked in the Express Entry pool.
Can I work in Quebec under Federal Skilled Worker?
You are permitted to work in Quebec under FSW. However, a second Quebec Selection Certificate application will be required.
Can I take my dependent children and spouse under FSW?
Yes, you are allowed to use FSW with your spouse and dependent children.
How long does it take to process a Federal Skilled Worker Program application?
In six months or less, 80% of complete applications are processed.
For whom is the Federal Skilled Worker Program?
The Federal Skilled Worker Program allows professionals and skilled individuals from all around the world to immigrate permanently to Canada. Candidates may submit applications along with their dependent children and spouses.
What are the Benefits of the Federal Skilled Worker Program ?
The FSW program is intended to expedite skilled workers' applications for permanent residency. Numerous advantages of the FSW program include :
- A streamlined application process
- Faster processing times
- Being able to work and live wherever in Canada (except for Quebec)