Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW)
The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program is managed under the Express Entry system and uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to rank candidates who wish to settle permanently in Canada. Unlike the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates, Federal Skilled Workers are not required to have Canadian work experience to enter the Express Entry pool. Instead, candidates must meet a minimum points requirement based on factors such as work experience, language ability, and education. Once in the pool, applicants with the most competitive CRS scores will receive invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residence.
Instead, FSW focuses on your skills, education, and potential to succeed in Canada. The system ranks everyone using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), and those with top scores get invited to apply for permanent residence.
Do You Qualify?
To be eligible, you need three key things:
- French or English language skills
- Relevant work experience
- Proper education
Basic Requirements
More specifically, you’ll need:
- At least 12 months of continuous full-time skilled work experience in the last 10 years (or equivalent part-time hours) in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupations
- Score at least CLB 7 on an approved English or French language test
- Have a Canadian high school diploma or foreign equivalent
- Show you have enough money to support yourself and any family members when you arrive
- Plan to live outside Quebec (they have their own immigration system)
Points System
Here’s the important part: you must score at least 67 points on the Federal Skilled Worker points grid, which evaluates factors like your age, education, work experience, and language abilities.
Once you clear that 67-point threshold, you can enter the Express Entry pool where you’ll compete with other candidates based on your CRS score.
| Factors | Points |
| Education | Up to 25 points |
| Language Skills | Up to 28 points |
| Work Experience | Up to 15 points |
| Age | Up to 12 points |
| Arranged Employment | Up to 10 points |
If a candidate meets the requirements listed above, they must also demonstrate that they score at least 67 out of 100 points on the FSW eligibility points grid. If a candidate meets these requirements, they can submit an Express Entry profile for the Federal Skilled Worker program. Finally, candidates and their dependents must undergo medical examinations and obtain security clearances as part of the Canadian immigration application process.
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