The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) is one of the three main economic immigration programs under Canada’s Express Entry system. It’s designed for skilled workers with foreign work experience who want to immigrate to Canada permanently. The FSWP criteria focus on factors that have been shown to help immigrants prosper in Canada.
Eligibility Criteria:
To be eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, applicants must:
1. **Skilled Work Experience**: Have at least one year (1,560 hours total / 30 hours per week), continuous full-time or an equal amount in part-time, paid work experience in the last 10 years in a National Occupational Classification (NOC) code type 0, A, or B job.
2. **Language Ability**: Take an approved language test in English or French for writing, reading, listening, and speaking and score at least a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in all four abilities.
3. **Education**: Have completed a secondary (high school) or post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian institution, or have a foreign credential and a valid Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from an approved agency showing that the foreign education is equal to Canadian standards.
Selection Factors:
In addition to meeting the above minimum requirements, applicants are also assessed based on six selection factors. To be eligible, you must score at least 67 points out of 100 on the FSWP point assessment grid, which evaluates:
1. **Education** (maximum 25 points)
2. **Language Skills** in English and/or French (maximum 28 points)
3. **Work Experience** (maximum 15 points)
4. **Age** (maximum 12 points)
5. **Arranged Employment in Canada** (maximum 10 points)
6. **Adaptability** (maximum 10 points), which includes your spouse’s or partner’s language level, your past studies in Canada, your spouse’s past studies in Canada, your past work in Canada, your spouse’s past work in Canada, arranged employment, relatives in Canada, and your or your spouse’s ability to adapt.
Application Process:
1. **Check Eligibility**: Ensure you meet the minimum requirements.
2. **Language Test and ECA**: Take an approved language test and get your foreign credentials assessed.
3. **Create an Express Entry Profile**: Submit your profile online. This includes information about your age, work experience, language ability, education, and more.
4. **Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA)**: If your profile meets the requirements and ranks high enough in the Express Entry pool, you may receive an ITA for permanent residence.
5. **Apply for Permanent Residence**: Submit a complete application with all the necessary documents and pay the fees within 60 days of receiving your ITA.
Additional Notes:
– The FSWP is competitive, and being eligible does not guarantee that you will receive an ITA for permanent residence.
– The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score plays a crucial role in your chances of receiving an ITA.
– Improving your language scores, gaining additional work experience, and obtaining higher education can help increase your CRS score.
– Consider getting professional advice or assistance from a recognized consultant or lawyer to navigate the process more effectively.