The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) is designed for skilled workers with foreign work experience who wish to apply for permanent residency in Canada. This program assesses candidates based on criteria such as education, work experience, language proficiency, and age.
It’s important to verify current eligibility requirements and application processes through official sources.
The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) is the most popular pathway to Canadian permanent residence for foreign skilled workers. It offers a variety of benefits that make it an attractive option for those seeking a new start in Canada. This page will provide you with a complete guide on how to apply for the FSWP, including all the requirements and details you need to know.
The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) is one of the main pathways for skilled workers to immigrate to Canada as permanent residents. Here’s an overview of the key elements:
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the FSWP, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Work Experience:
- At least one year of continuous full-time (or equivalent part-time) paid work experience in a skilled occupation classified under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) matrix.
- Language Proficiency:
- A minimum score in a recognized language test (e.g., IELTS, CELPIP) demonstrating proficiency in English or French.
- Education:
- A completed secondary or post-secondary educational credential. If your education was completed outside Canada, you may need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).
- Proof of Funds:
- Sufficient financial resources to support yourself and your family after arriving in Canada unless you have a valid job offer.
- Admissibility:
- Applicants must not be inadmissible to Canada for security, criminal, or health reasons.
Selection Factors
The FSWP uses a point-based system assessing candidates in the following areas:
- Age
- Education
- Work experience
- Language ability
- Arranged employment in Canada
- Adaptability (how well you are likely to settle in Canada)
Application Process
- Create an Express Entry Profile: Eligible candidates must create a profile in the Express Entry system, where they will be ranked against others based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
- Invitation to Apply (ITA): Candidates with the highest scores receive an ITA during periodic draws.
- Submit Application: If invited, you will have 60 days to submit a complete application for permanent residence.
- Processing Time: Typically, applications are processed within six months from the submission date.
- Decision: If approved, you and your family can obtain permanent residency in Canada.
Additional Information
- Regular updates on application processes and eligibility criteria can be found on the official Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website.
- Consider seeking advice from a qualified immigration consultant or lawyer for personalized guidance.
FSW: Canada’s Fastest PR Program
The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW) is one of the three main federal immigration programs under the Express Entry system.
- IRCC launched the FSW Program in 1967.
- It’s designed for skilled workers who want to become permanent residents of Canada.
- It assesses eligible candidates based on education, work experience, language proficiency, and other criteria.
Who is Eligible to Apply for the FSW Program?
To be eligible, you must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Skilled Work Experience: You need work experience in specific job categories (as defined by the National Occupational Classification).
- Language Ability: You must take approved language tests in English or French and meet the required scores.
- Education: You should have a certain level of education.
If you meet these minimum requirements, your application will be further evaluated based on additional selection factors.
FSW Selection Factors
Federal Skilled Worker Program applicants get assessed against the FSW Eligibility Point Grid System. The minimum required score to be eligible to apply is 67 points out of a maximum score of 100. Here is a breakdown of the FSW points calculator for six selection factors:
- Education: You can score up to 25 points based on your highest level of education. For example, a master’s or doctoral degree would score higher than a bachelor’s degree.
- Language Skills: You can score up to 28 points for your language abilities. This is based on your performance in the IELTS CELPIP (English) or TEF (French) language tests.
- Work Experience: You can score up to 15 points based on the number of years of full-time paid work experience in a skilled occupation. More years of experience will result in a higher score.
- Age: You can score up to 12 points based on your age at the time of application. Points decrease as you get older.
- Arranged Employment (Valid Job Offer): You can receive up to 10 points if you have a valid job offer in Canada.
- Adaptability: You can score up to 10 points based on factors such as having a close family member in Canada, having studied or worked in Canada, or having a spouse with language proficiency.
Federal Skilled Worker Requirements
The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program is a part of Canada’s Express Entry system, which is designed to attract skilled workers from around the world who want to immigrate to Canada. Here are the basic Federal Skilled Worker eligibility requirements:
1. Minimum Work Experience
- You must have a minimum of one year of continuous paid work experience, full-time or an equal amount of part-time (1,560 hours) in the last ten years.
- Work experience must be in either TEER 0, TEER 1, TEER 3 or TEER 4 categories of the National Occupation Classification (NOC) ver. 2021. You can search your NOC code based on your job title here.
- Applicants must have performed the actions described in the lead statement and a substantial number of the primary duties listed in the NOC description of the occupation under which they are applying.
2. Language Requirements for the FSWP
- Applicants must meet the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of at least level 7 in all categories, i.e. Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing.
- Language test results must not be more than two years old at the time of application.
- Language proficiency tests can be taken in one of Canada’s two official languages: English and French.
- It must be from a designated institution approved by IRCC.
3. Education Requirements for Federal Skilled Worker Class
- a Canadian secondary (high school) or post-secondary diploma or degree, or
- a foreign secondary or post-secondary diploma or degree with an educational credential assessment (ECA) report from an IRCC-approved agency shows that the foreign education credential is equal to Canadian educational standards.
- The ECA must be less than five years old on the date of application.
4. Proof of Funds
- Applicants must show proof of sufficient settlement funds to support themselves and their dependents once they arrive in Canada.
- Applicants under this program are NOT required to show proof of settlement funds if:
- They are currently able to work legally in Canada, and they have a valid job offer from an employer in Canada.
How to Apply for Federal Skilled Worker Program?
Here’s a step-by-step process for the Federal Skilled Worker Program:
Step 1: Determine Eligibility for FSWP
You must meet the Federal Skilled Worker Class Requirements mentioned above to apply for the FSW Express Entry Program. Start your assessment here if you want to check if you’re eligible.
Step 2: Education Assessment (ECA)
You can claim FSW points for your education if you have done Education Credential Assessment (ECA) from one of the designated organizations. WES is one of the most popular organizations authorized to issue ECA.
Step 3: Language Proficiency Test (IELTS or Equivalent)
To obtain FSW points based on your Language Proficiency, you need to take tests like IELTS, CELPIP, or equivalent French language tests.
Step 4: Express Entry Profile Creation
After completing your ECA and Language tests, you will get enough FSW points to create an Express Entry profile for the Federal Skilled Worker Program.
Step 5: Receive ITA
Only candidates surpassing the cut-off score of the Latest FSW Draw receive an ITA. Once you successfully receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA), you will get 60 days to prepare and submit an electronic Application for Permanent Residence (eAPR).
Step 6: Medical Exam and Police Verification (PCC)
After that, Federal Skilled Workers must pass a medical exam and police clearance stage to move to the next process phase.
Step 7: Processing Stage
IRCC processes your application at this stage. A visa officer will let you know whether they require more paperwork to apply for Federal Skilled Worker Program.
Step 8: Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR)
IRCC makes the final decision on your FSW application, and you receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR).
Step 9: Move to Canada
After that, you can move to Canada as a skilled worker.
Federal Skilled Worker Program Jobs
You need at least one year of work experience in a job requiring a TEER 0, TEER 1, TEER 2, or TEER 3 to qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Program. Please review the list of all eligible occupations below:
TEER 0
TEER 1
TEER 2
TEER 3
102550100
Federal Skilled Worker Program Processing Time
The processing time for FSWP applications can vary but typically falls within the range of 6 to 8 months for an ideal application. The Federal Skilled Worker Program processing time can fluctuate due to factors such as the volume of applications and changes in immigration policies. You can check the latest processing time for the Federal Skilled Worker program here.
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What is acceptable proof of funds for the Federal Skilled Worker Program?
Federal Skilled Workers must show that they can support themselves and their families after immigrating to Canada. The amount of proof of funds required for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) under Canada’s Express Entry system can vary depending on various factors, including the number of family members accompanying you. Please see the table below for the amount needed based on the size of your family.
| Number of family members (in Canadian dollars) | Funds required |
|---|---|
| 1 | $14,690 |
| 2 | $18,288 |
| 3 | $22,483 |
| 4 | $27,297 |
| 5 | $30,690 |
| 6 | $34,917 |
| 7 | $38,875 |
| If more than 7 people, for each additional family member | $3,958 |
Federal Skilled Worker Processing Fees
The application processing fee for the Federal Skilled Worker Program is as follows:
- Application processing fee – CAD$ 850
- Right of Permanent Residence fee – CAD$ 515
- With Spouse or partner – CAD$ 850
- With a dependent child – CAD$ 230 (per child)
How ELAAR can help you?
If you need assistance with Federal Skilled Worker Program, please get in touch with ELAAR. Our team of experts is led by Keshav Sharma, a Licensed and Regulated Immigration Consultant with many years of immigration experience. Together we can help you optimize your FSW Express Entry profile and maximize your odds of receiving an Invitation to Apply.
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