Federal Skilled
Worker Program

The Federal Skilled Worker Program, also known as the FSWP, is a points-based Canadian immigration program created for skilled immigrants who have the required education, work experience and other qualities needed for high-demand jobs in Canada.

Professionals hoping to immigrate to Canada using the FSWP need to show proof of experience of at least one year in their chosen field and this work experience must have been achieved within 10 years prior to filing their application.

Points are also given for educational attainment, the mastery of French and English, adaptability, age, and getting a job offer from an employer in Canada that qualifies for the program (at least 67/100 points are required).

When skilled foreign professionals and members of their families are approved for immigration via the country’s Express Entry system, they can work, study and live in Canada as well as receive benefits enjoyed by Canadians such as free healthcare and the ability to stay in Canada for as long as they desire.

FSWP Requirements

The specific requirements needed by foreign professionals to qualify for this program include proof of the necessary work experience in an occupation deemed eligible for the FSWP and receiving a minimum of 67/100 points for six selection factors – proof of qualifying employment in Canada, adaptability, age, education, relevant work experience, and level of English and French language abilities. Part of this process will involve attaining a passing score on an English or French language evaluation exam, receiving an Education Credential Assessment (ECA) and filing an Express Entry profile.

Other general requirements include:

Submission of documents that show that the criteria for FSWP requirements have been met
A certification of good health
A certification of good character
Proof of financial resources showing the ability of the individual to support himself or herself financially as well as their family members when they immigrate to Canada
Payment of the non-governmental fees and the governmental fees

Work Experience

The FSWP uses a system based on points for skilled professionals who want to immigrate to Canada. Their work experience must fall under one of the categories described by the National Occupation Classification in Canada. Work experience must have been attained in an eligible occupation within 10 years prior to filing the application and for a minimum duration of one year for it to be considered valid. The jobs are classified into three groups:

1. Management Jobs

Managerial jobs in Canada are classified under Skill Type 0. They include construction managers, financial managers, engineering managers, marketing managers, transportation managers, managers of human resources, manufacturing managers, telecommunications managers, the managers of utilities, and many more.

2. Professional Jobs

Jobs that are recognized as being in the professional classification in Canada are under Skill Level A. These jobs in Canada require a degree from an accredited university or other post-secondary education. The professions include accountants, architects, computer programmers, aerospace engineers, audiologists, teachers of secondary schools, university professors, psychologists, optometrists, physicians, registered nurses, occupational therapists, veterinarians, geoscientists, software engineers, petroleum engineers, oceanographers, mechanical engineers, financial analysts, mathematicians, electrical engineers, dentists and many other high-demand jobs.

3. Technical Jobs and Skilled Trades

These Canadian jobs are at the Skill Level B classification. They include technical skills that require training or educational attainment after secondary school. Examples include (but are not limited to): bakers, chefs, carpenters, aircraft mechanics, butchers, electricians, crane operators, glaziers, welders, plumbers, drillers of gas wells, technicians for medical laboratories, mechanics for heavy-duty equipment, machinists, operators of logging machinery, operators of power systems and power engineers.

The Points System

At least 67 out of 100 points must be achieved to apply for the FSWP and Express Entry to Canada. Here is a list of the maximum points possible in each of the six selection factors:

Age = 12 points
A job offer from a Canadian company, with a contract of a minimum of one year, in Skill Level 0, A or B = 10 points
Adaptability = 10 points
Relevant work experience = 15 points
Educational attainment = 25 points
Mastery in the English or French language, or both = 28 points

Supporting Documents

The applicant will need to provide supporting documents during the Canadian visa application process to show that he or she has satisfied the various eligibility requirements for the FSWP and Express Entry.

Examples of the supporting documents include:

The Education Credential Assessment (ECA)
English or French evaluation exam certificates with passing scores taken within the past 2 years
Good health certification of the applicant and entire family immigrating to Canada
Good moral character certification from the police for the applicant and family members
Bank statement or other accepted proof of financial ability to pay for living expenses after moving to Canada

The Fees

FSWP applicants must pay various non-governmental and governmental fees at different stages of the application process.

Examples of non-governmental fees include the payment to receive the Education Credential Assessment (ECA); the fee(s) to take the English and/or French language evaluation exam(s); the cost of having the required medical exam(s); any fee that may be charged to get a police certificate; the cost of getting English or French translations of required documents that were not originally written in English or French; and other non-governmental expenses.

Governmental fees include the Canadian Visa Application Fee; Right of Permanent Residence Fee; and the Permanent Resident Card Fee (paid in that order).

The Application Process

The application process begins when an applicant completes their Express Entry online profile on the Canadian immigration agency’s website. Their profile must reflect all the aforementioned requirements and their information must be complete.

Following the completion of their profile, an official from the Canadian immigration agency reviews the application. Those who have fulfilled the requirements will be added to the candidate pool for Express Entry immigration to Canada.

Applicants from the candidate pool are given an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for the Canadian Visa if they:

Please note that the applicant should update his or her Express Entry profile after receiving a qualifying offer of employment in Canada or a PNP nomination so the Canadian immigration officials will know and possibly issue an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

Following the issuance of the ITA, an applicant has a maximum of 60 days to send the Canadian Visa Application, required fees, and all of the supporting documents to the national immigration agency in Canada. A decision is usually received regarding the Canadian Visa Application in 6 months or less.

If the applicant is approved for Express Entry immigration to Canada through the FSWP, their passport will be stamped with the Permanent Resident Visa and a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) will be sent to them. Afterwards, they must pay for their Permanent Resident Card, which they will carry with them as identification while living in Canada. All the documents involved in this process must be secured and easily accessible when moving to Canada, because they will be required for review at the port of entry.

Benefits of Permanent Residency

The benefits of being a permanent resident of Canada include:

Being able to earn money working in Canada
Free or subsidized public healthcare
Access to Canadian education programs
Ability to reside in Canada for as long as desired
Being allowed to apply for a driving license
Permission to open a bank account
Authorization to travel out of Canada and return
Option to open a business
Opportunity to buy a house
Being able to invite family members to apply for a visa to Canada
Canadian citizenship may be available after 3 years of residence and fulfilling additional criteria

Canada is famous around the world for its beautiful scenery, its multicultural society, its prosperity and its peaceful and welcoming nature. Canadians enjoy a high quality of life and this is why a lot of foreigners are interested in immigrating to Canada. The FWSP provides skilled immigrants the opportunity to live and work in Canada as well as enjoy many of the same benefits that Canadian citizens do.