The Federal Skilled Worker or FSW program is for applicants who are selected to immigrate to Canada because of their work experience and skills. Candidates for the Federal Skilled Worker Program are only selected to apply through the Express Entry System.

Federal Skilled Worker applicants are chosen as permanent residents based on their education, work experience, knowledge of English and/or French, and other factors. These things often help them succeed in Canada.

The candidate’s work experience must be either Skill Type 0, Skill Level A or Skill Level B on the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC). The applicant’s work experience must be paid, full-time or the equivalent hours part-time. Full-time means at least 30 hours per week. The applicant must have had that work experience during the last 10 years. These limits do not apply if you have a permanent job offer.

Applicants under the Federal Skilled Worker program need at least 67 points to be eligible to apply under this class. Applicants get different points based on their education, abilities in English and/or French (Canada’s 2 official languages), their work experience, their age, whether or not they have arranged employment in Canada, and their adaptability.

Applicants under the Federal Skilled Worker Program must apply using the Express Entry System and complete an Expression of Interest or an EOI profile. Applicants will be placed in a pool of candidates. Applicants with the highest score and ranking in the Comprehensive Ranking System or CRS may be invited to apply for permanent residence to Canada and will have 90 days to complete and submit an electronic application for permanent residence. Expression of Interest profiles will be valid for 12 months.

Successful applicants and holders of a Canadian Federal Skilled Worker visa may become permanent residents of Canada. Permanent residents are entitled to live, work and study in Canada on a permanent basis.

Additional benefits for Canadian permanent residents includes access to government-subsidized education and healthcare (Medicare), as well as unrestricted access to Canada’s labour market and associated insurance and pension benefits. Permanent residents also have the ability to apply for Canadian citizenship and the opportunity to sponsor family members to join them in Canada.