The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) has been one of the most popular immigration programs.
Skilled worker is a person who can compete and succeed in the country’s knowledge-based economy and has the ability to be self supporting upon the arrival in Canada. In order to qualify, the applicant must score a minimum of 67 points out of the possible 100 points.
As of January of 2015, since the introduction of the Express Entry system, the 2014 accepted occupation list no longer applies and there are no limits on how many applicants are accepted under each occupation.
All applicants must meet the following minimal requirements to apply as a skilled worker:
- You must have at least one year of continuous full-time, paid work experience or the equivalent in part-time continuous employment
- You must have had this experience within the last 10 years
- Your work experience must be Skill Type 0 (managerial occupations) or Skill Level A (professional occupations) or B (technical occupations and skilled trades) on the Canadian National Occupation Classification (NOC)
What are the selection factors?
Your application to come to Canada as a skilled worker will also be assessed against a point system consisting of six selection factors. The six selection factors are:
| Factor 1 | Education | Maximum 25 points |
|---|---|---|
| Factor 2 | Ability in English and or French | Maximum 28 points |
| Factor 3 | Experience | Maximum 15 points |
| Factor 4 | Age | Maximum 12 points |
| Factor 5 | Arranged employment | Maximum 10 points |
| Factor 6 | Adaptability | Maximum 10 points |
| Total | Maximum 100 points | |
| Pass Mark | 67 points |
Below is a detailed description of all factors that are to be assessed.
Factor 1 – Education
(maximum of 25 points)
Points are awarded for earned educational credentials as well as the number of years of full‑time studies or full‑time equivalent studies. To be awarded points, you must meet both stated criteria.
Full‑time studies: At least 15 hours of instruction per week during the academic year. This includes any period of workplace training that forms part of the course.
Full‑time equivalent studies: If you completed a program of study on a part‑time or accelerated basis, count the length of time it would have taken to complete the program on a full‑time basis.
Use the chart below to determine your points. If you have not completed the number of years of study that correspond to your highest educational credential, award yourself points based on the number of years of study.
| Doctoral level | 25 |
| Master’s level or professional degree | 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 (also called high school) | 5 |
Factor 2 – Ability in English and/or French
(maximum of 28 points)
The ability to communicate and work in one or both of Canada’s official languages is very important to you as a skilled worker. Proficiency in English, French or both will help you in the Canadian labour market.
You will be awarded up to 28 points for your basic, moderate or high proficiency in English and French. You will be given points based on your ability to:
- listen
- speak
- read
- write
Proof of language proficiency
International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
Use the following table to determine how many points you will be awarded for your test scores with the International English Language Testing System (IELTS):
| Level | Points (per ability) | Test results for each ability | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speaking | Listening | Reading (General Training) | Writing (General Training) | ||
| CLB9 | 6 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| CLB8 | 5 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| CLB7 | 4 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| CLB6 and lower |
0 (not qualified) |
Less than 6.0 | Less than 6.0 | Less than 6.0 | Less than 6.0 |
Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP)
Use the following table to determine how many points you will be awarded for your test scores with the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP):
| CLB Level | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Test d’évaluation de français (TEF)
Use the following table to determine how many points you will be awarded for your test scores with the Test d’évaluation de français (TEF):
| Level | Points (per ability) | Test results for each ability | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speaking (expression orale) | Listening (compré-hension orale) | Reading (compré-hension écrite) | Writing (expression écrite) | ||
| CLB9 | 372+ | 298+ | 248+ | 372+ | |
| 6 | |||||
| CLB8 | 5 | 349-371 | 280-297 | 233-247 | 349-371 |
| CLB7 | 4 | 309 | 248 | 206 | 309 |
| CLB6 or lower |
0 (Not qualified) | 271 or lower | 217 or lower | 181 or lower | 271 or lower |
Second Official Language: Maximum 4 points – CLB 5 in all abilities
Factor 3 – Work experience
(maximum of 15 points)
You will earn points for the number of years you have spent in full-time (37.5 hours per week), paid work.
Minimum work experience requirements
You must meet the following minimum work experience requirements to be eligible to apply as a skilled worker:
- You must have at least one year of full-time, paid work experience or the equivalent in part-time employment.
- Your work experience must be in an occupation of Skill Type 0, or Skill Level A or B of the Canadian National Occupation Classification (NOC).
- You must have had this experience within the last 10 years.
| Experience | Maximum 15 points |
|---|---|
| 1 year | 9 |
| 2-3 years | 11 |
| 4-5 years | 13 |
| 6 or more years | 15 |
Factor 4 – Age
(maximum of 12 points)
Points are given for your age on the date that your complete application is received.
| Age | Points |
|---|---|
| 18 to 35 | 12 |
| 36 | 11 |
| 37 | 10 |
| 38 | 9 |
| Less one point per year | – |
| 46 | 1 |
| 47 and over | 0 |
Factor 5 – Arranged employment
(maximum of 10 points)
In some cases, you can get points if you have a permanent, full-time job offer from a Canadian employer. The job must be arranged before you apply to come to Canada as a federal skilled worker.
A valid job offer has to be:
- for full-time, permanent and not seasonal work, and
- in an occupation listed as Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B of the National Occupational Classification (NOC).
Find your points based on the chart below.
| If | And | Points |
|---|---|---|
| You currently work in Canada on a temporary work permit. | Your work permit is valid both when you apply and when the visa is issued (or you are authorized to work in Canada without a work permit when your visa is issued).andCIC issued your work permit based on a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). Your employer would have applied for the LMIA, which you then had to attach to your application to CIC.andYou are working for an employer named on your work permit who has made a permanent job offer based on you being accepted as a skilled worker. | 10 |
You currently work in Canada in a job that is exempt from the LMIA requirement under:
|
Your work permit is valid both when you apply and when the visa is issued (or you are authorized to work in Canada without a permit when your visa is issued). andYour current employer has made a permanent job offer based on you being accepted as a skilled worker. |
10 |
You currently do not:
OR You are currently working in Canada and a different employer has offered to give you a permanent full-time job. OR You are currently working in Canada in a job that is exempt from a Labour Market Impact Assessment, but notunder an international or federal-provincial agreement. |
An employer has made you a permanent job offer based on you being accepted as a skilled worker.andThe employer has a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment from ESDC. |
Factor 6 – Adaptability
(maximum of 10 points)
| Adaptability | Maximum 10 points |
|---|---|
| Your spouse or partner’s language level Your spouse or common-law partner has a language level in either English or French at CLB 4 level or higher in all four language abilities (speaking, listening, reading and writing).To get these points, you must submit test results from an approved agency when you apply. Results can not be more than two years old on the day you apply. |
5 |
| Your past study in Canada You finished at least two academic years of full-time study (in a program at least two years long) at a secondary or post-secondary school in Canada.Full-time study means at least 15 hours of classes per week, and you must have stayed in good academic standing (as set out by the school) during that time. |
5 |
| Your spouse or partner’s past study in Canada Your spouse or common-law partner finished at least two academic years of full-time study (in a program at least two years long) at a secondary or post-secondary school in Canada.Full-time study means at least 15 hours of classes per week, and your spouse or partner must have stayed in good academic standing (as set out by the school) during that time. |
5 |
| Your past work in Canada You did at least one year of full-time work in Canada:
|
10 |
| Your spouse or common-law partner’s past work in Canada Your spouse / partner did at least one year of full-time work in Canada on a valid work permit or while authorized to work in Canada. |
5 |
| Arranged Employment in Canada You earned points under Factor 5: Arranged Employment. |
5 |
| Relatives in Canada You, or, if it applies, your spouse or common-law partner, have a relative, either a
|
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One of our licensed immigration consultants can speak with you in person, online or on the phone about your unique immigration situation and give you a breakdown of your options.
Hello,
Under Federal Skilled Workers Program in the education criteria Master’s gets 23 points and Bachelor’s gets 21 points.If i do master’s and bachelor’s both from Canadian institution will i be getting 44 points or will i be getting points for the the highest qualification i.e for master’s only ?
Thanks.
Highest Qualification only.
Apologies but the points that you receive for having a pre-arranged job don’t seem to be appearing. Can you tell me what they are?
1.Please do i need both Canadian official language for eligibility for the skilled worker express entry or only English especially for Federal section?
I want to know what kind if English language test must be taken by my spouse? Is the academic IETS test approved?
thanks.
I have given IELTS Test. My score is 6.5 overall band. I am 33 years old and post graduate. My spouse is 35 years age and his score is 8 overall band score. CRS is 404 if my husband becomes primary applicant and my crs is 367 if I become primary applicant which is very low. Is there any possibility of getting PR vis if my husband becomes primay applicant? Please let me know at the earliest.
Hi,
My wes results shows a diploma( 2 years) and bachelor’s degree (4 years) then how much do I score for my education in 67 point system?
If I am applying as a Primary Applicant and my Spouse is applying as a Secondary applicant in the same profile, what documents of his need to be shown as Proof of Funds?
He is paying back a student loan to a local bank (loan was taken for his MBA), does that information matter or should be included in the documents?
Also we recently had our “Nikkah” in Pakistan where we are currently living. What documents we need to show as proof of marriage?
He is an accompanying spouse to Canada (appearing for his IELTs and getting his ECA done). I have done these 2 things already.
So if you have more than 1 post graduate qualification only the highest will get points and not points for both qualifications. And, for the English Language requirement, you get points for each ability e.g. speaking gets points, writing gets points etc?
I’m working as a senior assistant in business process service at DXC technology. Could you please help me to recognize my national occupation code
Hi my brother lives in canada, but he is on student visa. Does that count ?
My work experience is 3 years and 1 month. My query is which range should I select in Federal skill worker program, that is- 2-3 or 4-5. Thank you.
hi!does adaptablility point count only for married people? as i am single but i have both canadian study and work experience. so, am i getting 10 point or only married people?
Can I claim points for job experience with 2 different NOCs?
I have a masters degree and work experience of more than 7 years and my NOC falls under C category, will i qualify express entry ? if i get the maximum points on IELTS?
Please advise.
My son has completed Master of Engineering from McMaster University in Canada. The degree is equivalent to 2 years full time but completed in 1 year in accelerated mode. University has given letter regarding degree being equivalent to 2 years full time study. How do we get adaptability points, which seeks 2 academic years of full time study. While creating Express Entry profile if we enter degree start date and degree end date as per transcript, then it shows one year and he does not get 5 points for adaptability and becomes ineligible under 67 point scale. How to proceed?
Aly Schneider said that she is one of the Canadian immigration agents and she wants to assist me in starting the process. Is this agent authentic?
i need the best possible and reliable way to migrate to canada
Do you get an invitation for permanent residency if you have scored 5.5 bands in any one module? And if I get an invitation, should I accept the invitation?
I am a Nigerian and a nominee for the Federal Skilled Worker program, under Ontario Skilled Trade Stream.
My question is how can I track my application as well as obtain current information on the stream?
I got 6.5 overall bands in general training, three and two years bachelors degree from WES, age is 30, and 5+ years work experience in HR.
Is there any suggested program for this profile?