The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program is one of the most popular Canadian immigration routes to obtain permanent residency in Canada. What makes the FSW unique is that it offers candidates with foreign work experience and no connections to Canada the opportunity to join a pool of eligible candidates to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
The FSW program allows individuals from all over the world to apply for permanent residency in Canada based on several factors, including:
- Age
- Education
- Work experience
- English or French language skills
- Financial (settlement funds)
The FSW program does not require employment to qualify, nor any Canadian work experience, making it the easiest Canadian immigration route for potential immigrants.
How do I apply for the FSW program?
Eligible applicants must submit their FSW profiles online through the Express Entry file management system at Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The Express Entry file management system uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to rank candidates seeking permanent residency in Canada. Only after an Express Entry profile is submitted will an applicant receive a CRS score and be considered in future Express Entry draws for Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residency.
When an applicant submits their Express Entry profile, they must submit the following information:
Canadian qualifications or foreign equivalent Education Credential Assessment (ECA)
To claim credit for education, an FSW applicant must submit a valid ECA report. There are five organizations in Canada that are authorized to issue ECA reports. This is not a requirement for qualifications earned at a Canadian educational institution.
Language Proficiency – English or French
All applicants wishing to participate in the Express Entry program must provide language results from an approved language test taken within the past two years. Accepted tests for English include the IELTS exam, the CELPIP exam, and coming soon in 2024, the Pearson language exam. Accepted tests for French include the Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEF) and the Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada (TCF Canada).
Personal identification documents
Applicants must provide details of their identification documents. It is recommended that the applicant and any accompanying family members have a valid passport for travel.
If an applicant successfully receives an ITA, they have 60 days to submit their permanent residency application to IRCC. Their permanent residency application is submitted electronically online through the applicant’s GCKey portal that has been created.
Since the launch of the Express Entry system, the lowest score selected is 75 in 2021, but we do not anticipate this happening again.
Settlement Funds
For the FSW program, you must demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to support yourself and your family after you arrive in Canada, unless you are already working in Canada with a valid work permit. This money cannot be borrowed and must be available at the time of application. This money cannot be used for the immigration process and must remain available until the day you arrive in Canada.
