Between its launch in 1967 and the start of the pandemic, the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) was the main immigration pathway for skilled workers to come to Canada. Following a temporary pause that has been in place since December 2020, Express Entry invitation rounds for FSWP candidates are set to resume in July. Also, the processing standard for new applicants is expected to return to six months.
The FSWP is an attractive immigration pathway, as candidates can become eligible with no Canadian experience and no job offer.
Step 1: Meet the FSWP’s eligibility criteria
In order to be eligible to apply under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, potential candidates must meet the minimum requirements for work, language ability, and education. You also need to score at least 67 under the program’s 100-point grid.
The minimum requirements are:
- One year of continuous full-time or equivalent paid work experience in the past 10 years in a skilled occupation classified under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level 0, A or B;
- Validated language ability equivalent to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in English or French across all abilities (reading, writing, listening, and speaking); and
- Canadian educational credential (certificate, diploma, or degree) or foreign credential and Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report.
- FSWP applicants must get at least 67 points on IRCC’s six immigration selection factors. The table below shows the maximum number of points candidates can get for each category.
FSWP grid
| Factors | Points |
| Education | Up to 25 |
| Language Skills | Up to 28 |
| Work Experience | Up to 15 |
| Age | Up to 12 |
| Arranged employment | Up to 10 |
| Adaptability | Up to 10 |
Step 2: Submit your Express Entry profile to the IRCC website
You have 60 days to complete and submit your Express Entry profile, otherwise, you will have to start again.
Once you’ve filled out your profile, you can submit it and IRCC will figure out which Express Entry program you are eligible for.
Step 3: Check for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence
Completing an online Express Entry profile does not guarantee you will be invited to apply for permanent residence. You need to have a score that is high enough to meet the minimum threshold in a given Express Entry draw.
Step 4: If you receive an ITA, apply for immigration
IRCC will ask for proof of the information you submitted in your Express Entry profile. Immigration officers will assess whether the information you provided in your application is different from your profile. If they find false information, or important details left out they may refuse your application, find you inadmissible, or bar you from applying for immigration for five years.
If you do not respond to your ITA in 60 days, IRCC will take your profile out of the pool. To be considered for future draws, you will have to fill out a new Express Entry profile.
