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Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW)
- Permanent Resident
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FSB
SUMMARY
This program is for skilled workers with foreign work experience who want to immigrate to Canada permanently. Skilled workers are chosen as permanent residents based on their education, work experience, knowledge of English and/or French, and other factors.
You should first create an Express Entry profile (➨page). Under the Express Entry system, applicants will be invited to apply for permanent residence based on the information they enter in an online profile. You cannot apply directly to this program unless you are invited to apply.
Ready to take the next step towards your Canadian immigration journey? Fill out the form below and embark on your path to new opportunities.
ّFSA
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
1- Work Experience
- Managerial jobs (TEER 0)
- Professional jobs (TEER 1)
- Technical jobs and skilled trades (TEER 2 and TEER 3)
2- Language Ability
You must have an approved test results taken within two (2) years and have obtained a minimum score of Canadian Language Benchmark CLB 7 in all for abilities in English or French (➨Appendix 5).
3- Education
You must have one of the following from a high school or a post-secondary institution:
- Canadian educational credential (certificate, diploma, or degree); or
- equivalent foreign credential
Federal Skilled Worker candidates with a foreign education must provide an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report (➨Appendix 3) for their foreign education.
4- Settlement Funds
You must show that you have enough money for you and your family to settle in Canada based on 50% of Statistics Canada’s Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) (➨Appendix 2), unless you are currently able to legally work in Canada or you have a valid job offer from an employer in Canada.
5- Ineligibility
You are not eligible to apply under the Federal Skilled Worker program if you are a refugee claimant in Canada, a failed refugee claimant, had a removal order, are prohibited from entering or being in Canada, do not have status in Canada or are living illegally in your country of residence.
Ready to take the next step towards your Canadian immigration journey? Fill out the form below and embark on your path to new opportunities.
FMRA
CALCULATE YOUR SCORE
Selection Factor | Maximum Points |
Factor1: Education | 25 |
Factor 2: Language Ability | 28 |
Factor 3: Work Experience | 15 |
Factor 4: Age | 12 |
Factor 5: Arranged Employment | 10 |
Factor 6: Adaptability | 10 |
Maximum Points Total | 100 |
Selection Pass Mark | 67 |
Factor 1: Education
Level of Education | Points |
Doctoral (PhD) level | 25 |
Master's degree | 23 |
Professional degree (doctorate) in medicine, veterinary medicine, podiatry, optometry, pharmacy, dentistry, dental surgery, chiropractic, law | 23 |
Bachelor of laws, Bachelors degree in pharmacy | 23 |
Two or more post-secondary credentials, one of which is a three-year or longer post-secondary credential | 22 |
Three-year or longer post-secondary credential | 21 |
Two-year post-secondary credential | 19 |
One-year post-secondary credential | 15 |
Secondary school/high school diploma | 5 |
Factor 2: Language Ability
First official language (English or French) | ||||
Language Level | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing |
CLB 9 or Higher | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
CLB 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
CLB 7 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Below CLB 7 | Not Eligible | Not Eligible | Not Eligible | Not Eligible |
Second official language (English or French) | |
At least CLB 5 in all of the 4 abilities | 4 |
CLB 4 or less in any of the 4 abilities | 0 |
- English: IELTS General or CELPIP General
- French: TEF Canada or TCF Canada
To find out the equivalent CLB level for any of the above approved tests see (➨Appendix 5).
Factor 3: Work Experience
Experience | Points |
6 or more years | 15 |
4-5 years | 13 |
2-3 years | 11 |
1 year | 9 |
Less than 1 year | Not Eligible |
Factor 4: Age
Age | Points |
Under 18 | Not Eligible |
18-35 | 12 |
36 | 11 |
37 | 10 |
38 | 9 |
39 | 8 |
40 | 7 |
41 | 6 |
42 | 5 |
43 | 4 |
44 | 3 |
45 | 2 |
46 | 1 |
47 or older | 0 |
Factor 5: Arranged Employment in Canada
Arrange employment | Points |
Yes | 10 |
No | 0 |
Factor 6: Adaptability
Adaptability | Points |
Spouse/common-law partner’s Language level at least CLB 4 in all abilities in English of French | 5 |
2 years full-time study in Canada (secondary or post-secondary) | 5 |
Spouse/common-law partner’s 2 years full-time study in Canada (secondary or post-secondary) | 5 |
1 year of full-time authorized work in Canada at skill type 0, or skill levels A or B | 10 |
Spouse/common-law partner’s 1 year of full-time authorized work in Canada | 5 |
Arranged Employment in Canada | 5 |
Yours or your spouse/common-law partner’s relatives in Canada (parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, sibling, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew) who are 18 years or older, living in Canada as permanent resident or citizen) | 5 |
Your Total Score |
GCYSA
FCYSA
WHAT STEPS SHOULD YOU TAKE?
Step 1: Create Express Entry Profile
Now that you meet all the requirements, you can create an Express Entry Profile (➨page) for yourself.
Your Express Entry profile is an online system where you submit information about yourself to the Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada.
Once accepted into the pool of candidates, you’ll be ranked in the Express Entry pool using a points-based system called Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) (➨page). Your score is based on the information in your profile. The highest-ranking candidates from the pool will be invited to apply for permanent residence. However there are occasional program-specific draws with a lower score. There have been 2 rounds of invitation per month in average.
Some invitation rounds may only invite candidates for 1 program, for example only from Federal Skilled Trades. Program-specific draws are designed to give candidates with specific skill sets, who would not normally qualify through general draws, the opportunity to receive an invitation. The program-specific draws take place less frequently.
Check your CRS score (➨page) and then compare with previous rounds of invitations to see how likely you are to get an invitation in the next round. You may calculate your score using the online CRS tool at (➨immilib.com/CRS-Tool).
If you’re not invited to apply within twelve (12) months of submitting your Express Entry profile, it will automatically expire and removed from the system. You can still create a new profile. If your profile is about to expire, you can print out screen shots of your profile to make it easier to re-enter your data.
Recent Draws – Express Entry | |||
Draw # | Date of Draw | No. of ITA | Min. Score |
329 | Dec 3, 2024 | 800 | 466 |
327 | Nov 20, 2024 | 3000 | 463 |
324 | Nov 15, 2024 | 800 | 478 |
321 | Oct 23, 2024 | 1800 | 433 |
318 | Oct 10, 2024 | 1000 | 444 |
314 | Sep 13, 2024 | 1000 | 446 |
310 | Aug 15, 2024 | 2000 | 394 |
305 | Jul 18, 2024 | 1800 | 400 |
302 | Jul 8, 2024 | 3200 | 420 |
Updates and Complete list of previous Draws available at: immilib.com/EE-Draws |
Step 2: Submit your application online
You can only apply for permanent residence through Express Entry if you’ve received an invitation to apply.
Your Express Entry invitation to apply is valid for 60 days only. To apply, sign in to your account and click the link to apply for permanent residence under Express Entry.
Apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (if applicable)
For those of you who are currently in Canada on a valid work permit, once you submit your PR application, you may apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) (➨page). This will let you continue working on a valid work permit until your PR application is finalized.
Permanent Residence Application | |
Submit Online Application: | |
IRCC Express Entry Profile | |
Official Program Guide: | |
immilib.com/FSW-Guide | |
IRCC Application Fees: | |
Main applicant: | $950 |
Spouse: | $950 |
Each child: | $260 |
RPRF main applicant: | $575 |
RPRF spouse: | $575 |
Biometrics: | $85 |
(per person if applicable) | |
Processing Time: | |
immilib.com/FED-PT | |
Document Checklist: | |
immilib.com/FSW-Doc | |
Contact: | |
1-888-242-2100 (in Canada) 1-613-944-4000 (outside Canada) Web Form: Visa Office: |
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Step 3: Biometrics
During processing, you will be asked to submit your biometrics.
Before you go, check the location’s website for its services and fees at (➨immilib.com/Biometrics). Depending on the location, you may need to make an appointment.
Step 4: Medical and Background Checks
Medical Check:
Instructions on how to get the medical exam done will be sent to you upon completion of selection based on the program’s eligibility criteria. You and your dependents must go for the medical exam within 30 days of receiving these instructions. Only an approved panel physician (➨immilib.com/PP) can do a complete medical exam for immigration reasons.
Once the exam is done, the physician will send the results to IRCC and will give you a document confirming that a medical exam is done.
Background Check:
Background check is a required procedure to verify your criminal and/or security background to ensure you are admissible to Canada. Criminality and Security together are background checks. Criminality check is performed by RCMP (Police Service of Canada), and Security by CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) and CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency).
Step 5: Landing in Canada
If your application is approved, you will be asked to pay your right of permanent residence fee if you haven’t already done so. You will receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR) and if you are from a country that requires a visa you will also be issued a permanent resident visa.
You will only become a Permanent Resident of Canada when you cross a Canadian port of entry. This is referred to as ‘landing in Canada’ (➨page).
You must land in Canada before the expiry date, which appears on your Canada Immigration Visa. Usually, the expiry date is one (1) year from the time medical examinations were completed. As this is not always the case, be sure to verify the expiry date as soon as the Canada Immigration Visa is received.
Ready to take the next step towards your Canadian immigration journey? Fill out the form below and embark on your path to new opportunities.
FWSYTA
WELCOME TO CANADA!
FWA