Federal Skilled Worker (Express Entry)
The Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP) is one of the unique programs gives an opportunity to the applicant who is eligible to obtain permanent residency in Canada. The FSWP is a program under Express Entry Canadian Immigration System.
Express Entry is a popular program which is designated by the government to provide permanent residency option for people on the basis of their abilities and skills to contribute to Canada’s economy, based on age, education, work experience, language proficiency and some other parameters.
Express Entry manages applications for three economic immigration programs:
• Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Federal Skilled Trades Program
• Canadian Experience Class
Federal Skilled Worker Program
This program is for skilled workers with foreign work experience who want to immigrate to Canada permanently.
This program has minimum requirements for:
• skilled work experience
• language ability
• education
You must meet all the minimum requirements to be eligible.
Selection factors
If you meet all the minimum requirements, we’ll then assess your application based on:
• age
• education
• work experience
• whether you have a valid job offer
• English and/or French language skills
• adaptability (how well you’re likely to settle here)
These factors are part of a 100-point grid used to assess eligibility for the Federal Skilled Worker Program. You earn points for how well you do in each of the 6 factors.
The current pass mark is 67 points. Ref. IRCC website
Federal Skilled Trades Program
To be eligible, you must:
Meet the required language levels for each language ability:
• writing
• reading
• listening
• speaking.
Have at least 2 years of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time work experience) in a skilled trade within the 5 years before you apply,
Meet the job requirements for that skilled trade as set out in the National Occupational Classification, except for needing a certificate of qualification.
Have a valid job offer of full-time employment for a total period of at least 1 year or a certificate of qualification in that skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority.
Skilled work experience
Skilled trades for the Federal Skilled Trades Program are organized under these groups of the National Occupational Classification (NOC):
• Major Group 72, industrial, electrical and construction trades
• Major Group 73, maintenance and equipment operation trades
• Major Group 82, supervisors and technical jobs in natural resources, agriculture and related production
• Major Group 92, processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors and central control operators
• Minor Group 632, chefs and cooks
• Minor Group 633, butchers and bakers
• The major NOC groups are subdivided into different occupations, and they are all skill type B.
You must show that you performed the duties set out in the lead statement of the occupational description in the NOC. This includes all the essential duties and most of the main duties listed.
If you do not show that your experience meets the description in the NOC, we won’t accept your application.
Find the NOC code, title and skill type or level for your job.
Federal Skilled Trades Program applications must be made based on the 2016 version of the NOC.
Education
There is no education requirement for the Federal Skilled Trades Program. But, if you want to improve your rank in the Express Entry pool, there are 2 ways you can do this.
- If you went to school in Canada, you can get points for a certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian:
- secondary (high school) or
- post-secondary school
OR
- If you have foreign education, you can get points for:
- a completed foreign credential, and
- an Educational Credential Assessment report from an approved agency showing that your education is equal to a completed certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian:
- secondary (high school) or
- post-secondary school
Language ability
You must:
- meet the minimum score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 for speaking and listening, and Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 for reading and writing
- take approved language tests for:
- writing
- reading
- listening
- speaking
- enter the test results in your Express Entry profile
Your language tests are valid for 2 years after the date of the test result. They must be valid on the day you apply for permanent residence.
Canadian Experience Class
You must:
- meet the required language levels needed for your job for each language ability
- writing
- reading
- listening
- speaking
- have at least 1 year of skilled work experience in Canada, in the last 3 years before you apply. The work was:
- full-time or
- an equal amount in part-time
- have gained your work experience by working in Canada legally
According to the Canadian National Occupational Classification, skilled work experience means:
- Managerial jobs (skill level 0)
- Professional jobs (skill type A)
- Technical jobs and skilled trades (skill type B)
You must show that you performed the duties set out in the lead statement of the occupational description in the National Occupational Classification. This includes all the essential duties and most of the main duties listed.
Self-employment and student work experience
Self-employment and work experience gained while you were a full-time student (such as a co-op work term) doesn’t count under this program.
Education
There is no education requirement for the Canadian Experience Class.
But, if you want to improve your rank in the Express Entry pool, there are 2 ways you can do this.
- If you went to school in Canada, you can get points for a certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian:
- secondary (high school) or
- post-secondary school
OR
If you have foreign education, you can get points for:
- a completed foreign credential, and
- an Educational Credential Assessment report from an approved agency showing that your education is equal to a completed certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian:
- secondary (high school) or
- post-secondary school
Language ability
You must:
- meet the minimum language level of:
- Canadian Language Benchmark 7 for NOC 0 or A jobs or
- Canadian Language Benchmark 5 for NOC B jobs
Take approved language tests for:
- writing
- reading
- listening
- speaking
- describe the test results in your Express Entry profile
Your language tests are valid for 2 years after the date of the test result and must be valid on the day you apply for permanent residence.
Ref. IRCC website