Immigrating to Canada as a Skilled Worker with Express Entry (FSWP)

March 28, 2023

One of the three Express Entry programs is the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP). Since its inception in 1967, this program has helped many foreign nationals obtain permanent resident status in Canada. The FSWP is a structured program that completely eliminates subjectivity. Applicants are selected based on their score in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS ), which is determined by age, education, language skills and other factors. The FSWP is one of Canada's most popular immigration routes. This program allows people from around the world to apply for permanent residence in Canada based on a number of criteria, including age, education, work experience and English or French language skills.

The Federal Skilled Worker Program does not require a job offer or Canadian work experience to qualify, making it the simplest Canadian immigration option for international visitors. Express Entry is currently used to process all applications for the Federal Skilled Worker Program. Prior to 2015, there was no list of occupations in demand. All you have to do now is show that you have worked full-time in a skilled occupation (TEER 0, TEER 1, TEER 2 and TEER 3 categories of the Canadian National Occupational Classification or NOC) for at least one year in the last ten years. This includes all management positions, as well as occupations that require university training, specialized training or apprenticeship training. Over 8,000 job types are now included. Since this program uses the Express Entry system, applications for permanent residence are normally approved within six months or less for the majority of applications.

In general, it takes about a year to obtain residency status under the FSWP, but this varies considerably depending on your CRS score and the Canadian immigration plan. This is one of the best-known Express Entry programs. The Express Entry system includes the Federal Skilled Worker Program. The FSWP is Canada's main avenue for economic immigration, enabling skilled workers and their family members from outside the country to become permanent residents. This program is designed for talented individuals with foreign work experience who wish to live permanently in Canada. To apply for this program, ambitious candidates must first check whether their profile matches the basic requirements of the Skilled Worker Program. Here are the minimum requirements:

National Occupational Classification (NOC): One year of uninterrupted full-time or equivalent paid work experience within the last 10 years in a skilled occupation classified as RRIF 0, RRIF 1, RRIF 2 or RRIF 3.
Proficiency in Canada's official languages (English and/or French), Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 for all skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking).
Proof of educational credentials (certificate, diploma or degree) obtained in Canada or an Educational Credentials Assessment (ECA) report for educational credentials (certificate, diploma or degree) obtained outside Canada.

IRCC determines the eligibility of applicants for the Federal Skilled Worker Program based on its own scoring system. However, only the top-ranked Express Entry applicants will receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence in Canada. The Express Entry applicant profile also includes applicants from the Skilled Trades Program and the Canadian Experience Class, who are ranked according to the Global Ranking System (GRS).

Permanent residence for skilled workers

The Skilled Worker permanent residence visa is intended for those who have the skills, abilities or work experience to contribute to the Canadian economy. The Federal Skilled Worker Program requires applicants to demonstrate that they meet minimum requirements. These requirements include managerial, professional or technical work experience, as well as successful completion of a points-based assessment. Those who are accepted will be granted permanent residency in Canada, enabling them to live and work here. Because of their training and professional experience, skilled workers and professionals find it easier to become permanent residents. Every year, a large number of Canadians retire, substantially increasing the demand for skilled labour. Immigrants are generally perceived in Canada as skilled, and they innovate, start businesses and thus create jobs for Canadians.

To apply under Express Entry's Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), you don't need to have a job offer in Canada, but having one can help you receive an Invitation to Apply more quickly.

What makes the Federal Skilled Worker Program so popular?

The goal of the program is to help skilled foreign nationals become more direct contributors to Canada's economy and GDP. The Express Entry pool plays an important role in Canada's immigration system, with the government frequently creating programs to help newcomers integrate into the Canadian economy and society. The Skilled Worker program is aimed at most foreign nationals who apply to immigrate to Canada through the Express Entry system. Fast processing times are one of the most important reasons why this is the best option for aspiring permanent residents of Canada. The Federal Skilled Worker Program can give you permanent resident status in as little as six months or less if you qualify. It's one of the greatest opportunities you can consider if you haven't studied, worked or lived in Canada.

Eligibility criteria for the Federal Skilled Worker Program

To qualify and create a profile in the Express Entry pool under Canada's Skilled Worker Program, you must meet specific requirements. To apply under this program, you must achieve a minimum pass mark of 67 out of 100 on the Skilled Worker Evaluation Grid. Your application is evaluated on factors such as language skills, education, age and work experience. You must have at least one year of full-time work experience in a skilled occupation designated as TEER 0, TEER 1, TEER 2 or TEER 3 in the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC). To be considered, you must meet the following requirements:

You must have a job offer (optional for PTQF).
You must be qualified and able to work in Canada
You need to show that you have enough money to support yourself and your dependents.
You must have at least one year's full-time experience in a qualified job, or the equivalent in part-time work.
You meet the basic language proficiency criteria in French or English.
You must live outside the province of Quebec
You must have a higher education diploma, certificate or degree

Selection criteria for the Federal Skilled Worker Program :

Age: 12 points for people aged 18 to 35. If you are over 35, you will lose points.
Education: Up to 25 points. Depends on your level of education. An Educational Credential Evaluation (EDE) report is required to determine the equivalent of your degree in Canada.
Work experience: Up to 15 points. With years of full-time paid employment (minimum 30 hours per week), you can find the equivalence of your work experience in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). 15 points for full-time employees with 6 or more years' experience in the last 10 years.
Language skills in English and/or French: Up to 28 points. 24 points in the first official language and a further 4 points in the second official language.
Adaptability: Up to 10 points. These are factors that may favour faster integration into Canadian society and economy, such as the spouse's language level, previous studies in Canada, the spouse's previous studies in Canada, the principal applicant's or spouse's previous legal work experience in Canada (at least one year of full-time work under a work permit or authorization, NOC TEER 0, TEER 1, TEER 2 or TEER 3), arranged employment in Canada or an eligible family member in Canada.

Proof of funds

You must show that you have enough money to support yourself or your family. If you have a genuine job offer from a Canadian employer, you don't need one. The amount of funds required depends on the size of your family, whether they are accompanying you or not. This amount is updated every year.

How to create an Express Entry profile

To obtain an invitation to apply under the Federal Skilled Worker category, you must first create an Express Entry profile. Here's how to create a profile:

Language: You must pass a language test recognized by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. You can choose to take a test in French, English or both of Canada's official languages.
Education: you need to have your credentials evaluated. A good Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report is a must. This can be a time-consuming process. So get it done as soon as possible.
Work experience: You need proof of employment. To do this, among other proofs you need to write a reference letter for work experience in the right way.
Fill in the details: When you have all the documents listed above, go to the IRCC website and fill in your information to create an Express Entry profile.

Once you have completed your profile, you will need to wait for an Invitation to Apply (ITA). You can submit your entire application once you have received your ITA. IRCC generally processes applications in six months or less, but this can vary depending on a number of variables. Applicants should be aware that having a higher SCG score improves their chances of obtaining an ITA. While some characteristics, such as age, are beyond your control, you can increase your chances of receiving by focusing on others. For example:

You could aim for the best possible result on your language test.
You can take the language skills test in both official languages, and learn the second official language.
You can continue your studies in your home country and obtain a higher level.
You can continue your studies in Canada, apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit and qualify for the Canadian Experience Class.
You can obtain a work permit to gain Canadian work experience.

Express entry point system

On a grid-based system, all candidates receive points.

It is essential to remember that IRCC has the power to modify the FSWP parameters at any time. Maximum points are frequently modified or lowered in accordance with immigration regulations. Federal Skilled Workers are those with the education, work experience, age and language skills in one of Canada's official languages, who are selected to apply for permanent residence through the Express Entry immigration system. Applicants must meet the following requirements to be admitted to the Express Entry pool as a Federal Skilled Worker:

Prerequisites:

One year of uninterrupted full-time or equivalent uninterrupted part-time paid work experience within the last 10 years in one of the eligible occupations listed in NOC.
Professional experience must be at NOC skill level TERR 0, TERR 1, TERR 2 or TERR 3.
At least a passing grade (67 points) for the 6 skilled worker selection criteria.
Proof of language skills at CLB level 7 or higher in the first language
Have sufficient funds for your establishment in Canada.
Successful safety record and medical examination.

It should also be noted that Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations grant an immigration officer the power to exercise negative discretion and refuse the application in cases where the applicant receives a score of 67 or higher, but the officer believes the applicant would not be able to become economically established in Canada.