Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW)
The Federal Skilled Worker Program is Canada’s primary economic immigration program and provides the opportunity to live permanently in Canada. You can express your interest in immigrating to Canada by creating an online express entry profile.
Based on the information in your Express Entry an applicant receives a CRS score you will receive a score which indicates their position (or ranking) against other candidates. CRS scores are not fixed, and candidates can take active steps to improve their pool placements in Express Entry.
While the CRS Score for Express Entry fluctuates regularly. The Canadian Government draws candidates out of the Express Entry pool according to their economic and political requirements.
However, there is another important score which needs to be considered.
Any Invitation to Apply issued to an applicant in respect of a Federal Skilled Visa must be able to score at least 67 Points on the Federal Skills Worker Program.
The IRCC determines eligibility for the Federal Skilled Worker Program based on its unique scorecard.
To apply for the Federal Specialist Workers Program, a potential candidate must achieve at least 67 points on the 100-point grid of the program.
Federal Skilled Worker points are calculated as follows:
Education Points for the Federal Skilled Worker Visa
Level of Education |
Points (25 max) |
Doctoral (PhD) level |
25 points |
Master’s level or professional degree. Occupation related to the degree must be:
- NOC 2016 Skill Level A, and
- licensed by a provincial regulatory body
Also, Degree program must be in one of the following academic disciplines: Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Dentistry, Podiatry, Optometry, Law, Chiropractic Medicine, or Pharmacy. |
23 points |
Two or more post-secondary credentials, one of which is a three-year or longer post-secondary credential |
22 points |
Three-year or longer post-secondary credential |
21 points |
Two-year post-secondary credential |
19 points |
One-year post-secondary credential |
15 points |
Secondary school/high school diploma |
5 points |
Language Points for the Federal Skilled Worker Visa
Proficiency |
IELTS score equivalence |
Points |
First Official Language |
CLB Level 9 or higher
(Initial Advanced) |
IELTS Listening 8 or above
IELTS Reading 7 or above
IELTS Speaking 7 or above
IELTS Writing 7 or above |
6 points per ability |
CLB Level 8
(Fluent Intermediate) |
IELTS Listening 7.5
IELTS Reading 6.5
IELTS Speaking 6.5
IELTS Writing 6.5 |
5 points per ability |
CLB Level 7
(Adequate Intermediate) |
IELTS Listening 6
IELTS Reading 6
IELTS Speaking 6
IELTS Writing 6 |
4 points per ability |
Below CLB Level 7 |
Not eligible to apply |
Not eligible to apply |
Maximum points for first official language |
24 points |
Second Official Language |
|
CLB 5 and above |
|
4 points for all language abilities |
Maximum |
4 points |
Work Experience Points for Federal Skilled Work Visa
Work Experience |
Points (15 max) |
1 year (at least one year of continuous work or 1,560 hours total) |
9 points |
2-3 years |
11 points |
4-5 years |
13 points |
6 years or more |
15 points |
Age Points for Federal Skilled Worker Visa
Age of Applicant |
Points (12 max) |
18 to 35 |
12 points |
36 |
11 points |
37 |
10 points |
38 |
9 points |
39 |
8 points |
40 |
7 points |
41 |
6 points |
42 |
5 points |
43 |
4 points |
44 |
3 points |
45 |
2 points |
46 |
1 points |
47 and over |
0 points |
Arranged Employment in Canada
If the applicant is currently working in Canada on a work permit, |
and |
- The work permit is valid both when applying and when the permanent resident visa is issued (or the applicant is allowed to work in Canada without a work permit when his or her visa is issued).
- The work permit is based on a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada in an occupation listed under skill type 0 or skill level A or B of the National Occupational Classification (NOC).
- The applicant is working for an employer named on his or her work permit.
- That employer has made a valid job offer based on the applicant being accepted as a skilled worker.
|
10 |
If the applicant is currently working in Canada in a job that is LMIA-exempt because of the following:
- an international agreement (such as, the North American Free Trade Agreement) or
- significant benefit to Canadian interests or
- a federal-provincial agreement
|
and |
- The work permit is valid both when applying and when the permanent resident visa is issued (or the applicant is allowed to work in Canada without a permit when the permanent resident visa is issued).
- The applicant’s current employer has made a valid job offer based on the applicant being accepted as a skilled worker.
- The applicant is currently working for the employer specified on his or her work permit.
- The applicant has been working for that employer for at least 1 year, continuous full-time or part-time equivalent.
|
10 |
If the applicant does not hold a valid work permit and is not authorized to work in Canada. |
and |
- A prospective employer has made a valid permanent, full-time skilled job offer to the applicant; and
- The offer of employment has received a positive LMIA
|
10 |
If the applicant holds a valid work permit or is otherwise authorized to work in Canada without a work permit |
and |
- The applicant is currently working in Canada in a job that is LMIA-exempt, but is not under an international, federal-provincial agreement or because of significant benefit to Canadian interests; and
- A prospective employer other than the one the applicant is currently working for has a positive LMIA and has made a a valid job offer to the applicant based on that LMIA and on the applicant being accepted as a skilled worker.
|
Adaptability Points for Federal Skills Visa Applications
Adaptability |
Points (10 max) |
Principal applicant’s previous work in Canada (minimum one (1) year of full-time work in Canada in an occupation classified as Skill Type 0, A, or B of the National Occupational Classification – NOC) |
10 points |
Principal applicant’s past studies in Canada (minimum two (2) academic years of full-time* study in an at least two year long study program at a secondary or post-secondary educational institution in Canada). |
5 points |
Accompanying spouse/common-law partner’s past studies in Canada (minimum two (2) academic years of full-time* study in an at least two year long study program at a secondary or post-secondary educational institution in Canada). |
5 points |
Accompanying spouse/common-law partner’s past work in Canada (minimum one (1) year of full-time work in Canada while on a valid work permit or with authorization to work) |
5 points |
Arranged employment in Canada |
5 points |
Principal applicant or spouse/common-law partner have a relative** in Canada. The relative must be living in Canada, 18 years or older and a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. |
5 points |
Accompanying spouse/common-law partner’s language ability (English and French language proficiency at CLB 4 level or above in all four language abilities). CLB Level 4 is equivalent to IELTS 4.0 in Writing, 4.5 in Listening, 3.5 in Reading and 4.0 in Speaking). |
5 points |
The IRCC aims to process full applications for qualified workers in six (6) months or less. Find out how long your immigration application will take to process in the Canadian Immigration Processing Times tool.
The Quebec government operates its own Canada Visa immigration system, alongside the federal rapid entry system, and requires qualified workers to apply for permanent residence status or a temporary work permit. Those eligible for permanent residence in Canada under the Federal Skills Work Program (FSWP) must intend to live in the province of Quebec.