Federal Skilled Worker Class

Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) applications are assessed based on an applicant’s ability to become economically established upon immigration to Canada. This is Canada’s flagship immigration program for workers, allowing the country to welcome tens of thousands of newcomers every year. This is a key category of Express Entry (EE) program.

Minimum program requirements

To qualify under this program, an applicant must:

Have at least one year of continuous full-time or equivalent paid work experience in the past 10 years in a skilled occupation (National Occupational Classification skill lever 0, A or B)
Get a minimum level of CLB 7 or NCLC 7 for first official language in all 4 language areas (Reading, Writing, Speaking & Listening). To get points for the second official language, you must meet the minimum level of CLB 5 or NCLC 5 in all 4 language areas.
Have a Canadian educational or Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for a foreign education.
In addition to fulfilling eligibility and points requirements, applicants must show that they have sufficient settlement funds to support themselves and their dependents after arrival in Canada. The settlement funds requirement is waived for foreign nationals who are currently working in Canada and/or those who have arranged employment in Canada.

Important Points

The applicant(s) must obtain at least 67 points based on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) immigration selection factors. This is a separate points system from the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) used to ranking all Express Entry profiles. The six selection factors are as follows:

Factors	Points
Education	25
Language	28
Work Experience	15
Age	12
Arrange Employment	10
Adaptability	10

The applicants must plan to reside outside the province of Quebec. The province of Quebec selects its own skilled workers through a unique immigration system.

Check your eligibility to find out if you qualify under Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW Calculator)

Calculate your express entry points

Express Entry draws

FAQ

Is there an eligible occupations list for Federal Skilled Worker program?

There is no eligible occupations list in place currently under Skilled Worker program. Candidates need to have at least one year of work experience in the past 10 years in an occupation classified under Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC) as skill level A or B or skill type 0.

Do I need certain amount of funds to apply under Federal Skilled Worker program?

Yes! Applicants must show that they have sufficient settlement funds to support themselves and their dependents after arrival in Canada. The settlement funds requirement is waived for foreign nationals who are currently working in Canada and/or those who have arranged employment in Canada. This table shows the minimum amount you need to immigrate to Canada. If you have more money, you should list the full amount in your profile or application.

Number of family members	Funds required (in Canadian dollars)
1	$13,213
2	$16,449
3	$20,222
4	$24,553
5	$27,847
6	$31,407
7	$34,967
For each additional family member	$3,560

What is the minimum eligibility requirement to qualify under Federal Skilled Worker program?

To qualify under Federal Skilled Worker category, candidates must:

Have at least one year of continuous full-time, or equivalent, paid work experience in the past 10 years in a skilled occupation (National Occupational Classification skill type 0 or skill level A or B.
Have language test results equivalent to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in English or French in all abilities (reading, writing, listening, and speaking); and
Have a Canadian educational or Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for a foreign education.
Have enough settlement funds for settlement in Canada
Must attain at least 67 points on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)’s six immigration selection factors.

All applicants and their accompanying and non-accompanying dependents are also required to meet Canadian health and security/criminality requirements.

Do I need a job offer from a Canadian employer to qualify under Federal Skilled Worker program?

A valid job offer is not required to qualify under the Federal Skilled Worker Class, but you can get up to 15 points and thereby improve your chances of being eligible. Furthermore, a valid job offer can award you between 50 and 200 points under Express Entry’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), depending on the type of job.

Where I can submit my application under Federal Skilled Worker program?

All Express Entry applications are submitted online. However, applications are initially processed in Canada through the Centralized Intake Office – Case Processing Centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Once approved at first stage, the application will undergo further processing with an appropriate immigration office outside of Canada that serves the country where the applicant is legally residing or the immigration office that serves the applicant’s country of nationality.

Who is included in application under Federal Skilled Worker program?

Express Entry allows the principle applicant to include his/her spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner and dependent children in the application. Upon approval applicant and accompanying family members receive permanent resident visa/status. For Canadian immigration, a dependent child is defined as the following:

under 22 years of age and not a spouse or common-law partner, or
22 years of age or older and unable to support themselves financially due to a physical or mental condition.