Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Program
Last updated: October 3, 2019
Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Program is designed to bring skilled workers to Canada (except Quebec) permanently. People working in managerial, technical, professional jobs and skilled trades usually qualify to be skilled workers and fall under this program. Managed via Express Entry, an online application system, FSW is one of the most popular programs that lead to permanent residence in Canada.
Minimum Requirements
To be eligible for this program, you must meet the minimum requirements for skilled work experience, language ability and education. In a nutshell, you must;
- have worked for at least one (1) full year (1,560 hours) in a Skilled Level 0, A or B job within the last ten (10) years
- have scored at least Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in all four language abilities (writing, reading, listening, speaking)
- have a high school diploma
Selection Criteria Factors
Once you meet the minimum requirements, you must score at least 67 out of 100 points, based on what is called a selection criteria. The selection criteria basically gives you points for how well you rank in six factors. These six factors are:
- age
- education
- work experience
- valid job offer
- language skills
- adaptability
If you score 67 or more points, you are eligible to be called a Federal Skilled Worker class person under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations of Canada.
Your application will have to prove that you have enough financial means to support yourself and your family, if any. Also, you must not be inadmissible to Canada. Inadmissibility may be based on security, financial, criminal, misrepresentation and medical grounds. If you were found inadmissible to Canada, your application will be rejected. If that is your case, professional help from a regulated Canadian immigration consultant or lawyer is strongly advised for a re-application.
Please note that meeting the minimum requirements and scoring 67 and above only allows you to create an Express Entry profile. It does not guarantee permanent residence. You will be subject to another scoring system in Express Entry, which is called Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Based on your CRS score, you may or may not be invited to apply to become a permanent resident of Canada.
I can create your Express Entry profile as a Federal Skilled Worker and tell you about your chances for an Invitation to Apply (ITA). And once you have your ITA, I can submit your permanent residence application. Please fill out the free assessment form to learn about where you stand or directly book a consultation session with me to discuss further.