The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

The Federal Skilled Worker Program, or FSWP, offers the opportunity of Canadian settlement to foreign workers with the skills to meet market needs and contribute to the country’s economy.

The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) was the first programme in the world to assess immigration candidates objectively. Today, the FSWP is one of the three skilled worker programmes managed by Canada’sExpress Entrysystem. This page sets out everything you need to know about the FSWP.

Origins

The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) was introduced by Canada in 1967, marking an important milestone in the country’s immigration history. Before the FSWP, the selection of skilled worker immigrants was based on the subjective judgement of immigration officers. Those officers decided whether a candidate was likely to integrate into the Canadian labour market on the basis of personal impressions and unsystematic assessment.

Recognising the shortcomings of this approach, the Canadian government decided on a comprehensive reform of how candidates were assessed. The result was the world’s first immigration points system, introduced through the FSWP. The system assesses candidates objectively, fairly and transparently, rather than on the basis of personal impressions.

Since its introduction, the FSWP has been continually refined to meet labour market needs. The programme has broadened from attracting highly qualified professionals to covering practical occupations such as manufacturing and services. Notably, in 2015 the FSWP was integrated into Express Entry – the online platform that manages and streamlines the processing of immigration applications. With processing times of just six months, the FSWP has become one of the most popular economic immigration pathways, drawing skilled workers from around the world.

Benefits

The FSWP is now managed through the Express Entry system. Under current plans,Canada aims to welcome more than 100,000 immigrantsthrough Express Entry in 2025, with the majority arriving under the FSWP.
Research by the Canadian government shows that immigrants admitted under the FSWP generally build successful and stable careers in Canada. Processing times for permanent residence through the FSWP are also just six months, far quicker than Canada’s other skilled worker programmes.

The process

Canada uses the Express Entry system to manage three skilled worker programmes, including the FSWP. If you have never lived in Canada and do not fall within the skilled trades category, the FSWP is the most suitable option.

The process involves the following steps:

1. Check the FSWP eligibility requirements and selection criteria.
2. Create an Express Entry profile on the website ofImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
3. The Canadian government typically holdsExpress Entry drawsevery two weeks, inviting the candidates with the highest CRS scores to apply for permanent residence. Successful candidates receiveInvitation to Apply (ITA).
4. If you receive an ITA, you must submit a complete permanent residence application. Once IRCC has finished processing it, you may travel to Canada as a permanent resident.

Minimum requirement

To be eligible to apply under the Federal Skilled Worker Programme (FSWP), candidates must meet minimum requirements for work experience, language ability and education, and score at least 67 out of 100 on the programme’s points grid.

The minimum requirements for the Federal Skilled Worker Programme (FSWP) are:

• At least one year of continuous full-time work (or the equivalent) within the past 10 years in an occupation listed underNational Occupational Classification (NOC)in TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3.

• PointsCanadian Language Benchmark (CLB)a minimum of 7 in each of the four abilities (reading, writing, listening and speaking) in English or French.
• Hold a Canadian credential (certificate, diploma or degree) or a foreign credential accompanied byEducational Credential Assessment (ECA).
• Candidates must score at least 67 out of 100 on the FSWP points grid, which assesses age, education, work experience, arranged employment, language ability and adaptability.
• Candidates may also be required to prove they have sufficient funds to support themselves and their family on arrival in Canada.

Once eligible, candidates may enter the Express Entry pool. The Express Entry pool includes candidates under the Federal Skilled Worker Programme (FSWP),The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)andThe Canadian Experience Class (CEC). All candidates are ranked according to theComprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

In addition, if you qualify under the FSWP you may also be eligible for aoccupation-based Express Entry draws. Meeting these criteria improves your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence.

Points-scoring factors

The selection factors for the Federal Skilled Worker Programme (FSWP) are set out below:

Factor	Points (maximum)
Education	25
Language	28
Work experience	15
Age	12
Arranged employment	10
Adaptability	10

Education

Education points are awarded on the basis of an assessment of the candidate’s academic credentials. For credentials issued abroad, this assessment establishes what the credential would be equivalent to had it been issued in Canada.

Candidates may receive up to 25 points under the Education factor, based on the following criteria:

Language ability	Points (maximum)
Doctorate (PhD)	25
A master’s degree or professional degree. The credential must relate to an occupation under National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER 1 and be licensed by a provincial regulatory body. In addition, the degree programme must fall within one of the following fields of study: medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, podiatry, optometry, law, chiropractic or pharmacy.	23
Two or more post-secondary credentials, one of which must be for a programme of three years or longer	22
A post-secondary credential for a programme of three years or longer	21
A two-year post-secondary credential	19
A one-year post-secondary credential	15
Completion of lower or upper secondary school	5

To receive points under the education factor for a foreign credential, candidates must demonstrate that the credential is equivalent to a certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian educational institution.

FSWP candidates with foreign credentials must therefore provide an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) in order to be awarded education points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

Language

Candidates may receive up to 28 points under the language factor, based on their ability in one or both of Canada’s official languages, English and French. Up to 24 points are awarded for the first official language (English or French) and a further 4 points for the second official language (English or French). Candidates may choose either English or French as their first or second language when applying.

The minimum requirement is set against Canada’s language assessment standard, the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB). The minimum for the Federal Skilled Worker Programme (FSWP) is level 7, defined as intermediate proficiency. Candidates scoring below CLB 7 are not eligible under the FSWP.

All candidates must submit valid language test results in order to receive points under the language skills factor. Only tests from the following organisations are accepted:

• English:International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP)orPearson Test of English (PTE).
• French:Test d’evaluation de francais (TEF)orTest de connaissance du français (TCF).

No other method of demonstrating language ability is accepted. Language test results must be less than two (2) years old at the time the application for Canadian permanent residence is submitted.

Language test scores are converted into CLB levels, which in turn determine the points awarded under the language skills factor for the FSWP, as set out in the table below:

Language	Level	IELTS/CELPIP score	Points
First		Maximum points	24
	CLB 9 or higher	IELTS listening 8 or above, or CELPIP 9 or above IELTS reading 7 or above IELTS speaking 7 or above IELTS writing 7 or above	6 for each ability
	CLB 8	IELTS listening 7.5 or CELPIP 8 IELTS reading 6.5 or above IELTS speaking 6.5 or above IELTS writing 6.5 or above	5 for each ability
	CLB 7	IELTS listening 6 or CELPIP 7 IELTS reading 6 or above IELTS speaking 6 or above IELTS writing 6 or above	4 for each ability
Second		Maximum points	4
	CLB 5 or above		4 for each ability

The principal applicant under the Federal Skilled Worker Programme (FSWP) may also receive points under the adaptability factor if their spouse meets the language requirement:

• The principal applicant may receive5 pointstowards their total scoreFSWPif their spouse or common-law partner demonstrates English or French ability of at least CLB 4 in all four abilities: listening, speaking, reading and writing.
• Language ability also increases a candidate’s score under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) of Express Entry, through the skill transferability factors.

Work experience

Candidates may receive up to 15 points under the work experience factor. The specific requirements are as follows:

• At least 12 months of full-time work (or the equivalent number of hours in part-time work). Full-time work is defined as at least 30 hours per week. Part-time work may be fewer or more than 15 hours per week, provided the total reaches 1,560 hours.
• The work experience must be in an occupation classified by the Canadian government under National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3.

Work experience	Points (maximum)
1 year (at least one year of continuous work or 1,560 hours in total)	9
2 – 3 years	11
4 – 5 years	13
6 years or more	15

Age

Candidate’s age	Maximum points
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 over	0

Arranged employment

Candidates under the Federal Skilled Worker Programme (FSWP) may receive up to 10 points under the arranged employment factor if they hold a full-time, long-term job offer from a Canadian employer.

Scenario	Requirements	Points
If the candidate is currently working in Canada on a work permit.	– The work permit must be valid both when the application is submitted and when the permanent resident visa is issued (or the candidate must be authorised to work in Canada without a work permit at the time the visa is issued). – The work permit must be based on aThe Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)positive fromEmployment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)for an occupation under TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC). The candidate must be working for the employer named on the work permit. – That employer must have made a valid job offer, conditional on the candidate being approved as a skilled worker.	10
If the candidate is currently working in Canada in an LMIA-exempt position for one of the following reasons: – An international agreement (for example, the North American Free Trade Agreement – NAFTA). – Significant benefit to Canada. – A federal-provincial agreement.	– The work permit must be valid both when the application is submitted and when the permanent resident visa is issued (or the candidate must be authorised to work in Canada without a work permit at the time the visa is issued). – The candidate’s current employer has made a valid job offer, conditional on the candidate being approved as a skilled worker. – The candidate is currently working for the employer named on the work permit. – The candidate has worked for that employer for at least one year, on a continuous full-time basis or the part-time equivalent.	10
If the candidate does not hold a valid work permit and is not authorised to work in Canada.	– A prospective employer has made a valid, long-term, full-time job offer to the candidate. – The job offer is supported by a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).	10
If the candidate holds a valid work permit or is authorised to work in Canada without a work permit.	– The candidate is currently working in Canada in an LMIA-exempt position, but the exemption is not based on an international agreement, a federal-provincial agreement or significant benefit to Canada. – A prospective employer other than the current employer has obtained a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) and made a valid job offer to the candidate on the basis of that LMIA and of the candidate being approved as a skilled worker.	10

Important note:Candidates already in Canada whose application has been accepted for processing under the Federal Skilled Worker Programme (FSWP) and whoseWork Permittemporary status is due to expire may be eligible for aBridging Open Work Permit (BOWP). This permit allows them to remain and work in Canada until a final decision is made on their immigration application.

In addition, candidates may receive a further 5 points under the adaptability factor if they have arranged employment. Such a job offer also increases their score under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) of Express Entry.

Adaptability

Candidates may receive up to 10 points under the adaptability factor, which reflects their capacity to integrate and settle in Canada. Adaptability points may be awarded for full-time work experience in Canada, for a spouse’s credentials, or for a combination of the various adaptability factors.

Adaptability points are awarded on the basis of criteria expected to help a candidate settle more easily in Canada, including:

Adaptability factor	Maximum points
The principal applicant has Canadian work experience (at least one year of full-time work in an occupation under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3)	10
The principal applicant has studied in Canada (at least two years of full-time study in a programme lasting at least two years at a Canadian secondary or post-secondary institution)	5
The spouse or common-law partner has studied in Canada (at least two years of full-time study in a programme lasting at least two years at a Canadian secondary or post-secondary institution)	5
The spouse or common-law partner has worked in Canada (at least one year of full-time work on a valid work permit or with authorisation to work)	5
Arranged employment in Canada	5
The principal applicant, or their spouse or common-law partner, has a relative in Canada (the relative must be aged 18 or over, a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and living in Canada)	5
Language ability of the spouse or common-law partner (CLB 4 or above in English or French, equivalent to IELTS 4.0 Writing, 4.5 Listening, 3.5 Reading and 4.0 Speaking)	5

Full-time study is defined as at least 15 hours of classes per week. Throughout this period the candidate must remain in good academic standing to qualify for adaptability points.

Relatives who count towards adaptability points include: parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, siblings of the spouse, aunts or uncles, and nieces or nephews (the children of the spouse’s siblings).

Further information about the Federal Skilled Worker Programme (FSWP) is available on the government website athere.