Federal Skilled Worker Program: Eligibility, Requirements & 67-Point System
The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) is one of the federal immigration programs managed through Express Entry for skilled workers with qualifying work experience who want to become permanent residents of Canada. Applicants must meet minimum requirements related to education, work experience and language ability, and score at least 67 out of 100 points under the FSWP selection factors. Candidates who meet the FSWP requirements can submit an Express Entry profile. Eligible candidates who enter the Express Entry pool receive a CRS score and are ranked under the Comprehensive Ranking System.
Federal Skilled Worker Program Eligibility
To qualify under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, an applicant must generally:
- have at least 1 year of continuous, paid skilled work experience within the 10 years before applying;
- have qualifying work experience in an occupation classified under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) as TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3;
- meet the minimum language requirement of CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French in all four language abilities;
- have at least a Canadian secondary school credential or a completed foreign credential supported by an Educational Credential Assessment for immigration purposes;
- score at least 67 out of 100 points under the FSWP selection factors;
- meet the applicable proof-of-funds requirement;
- be admissible to Canada, including meeting applicable medical, criminality and security requirements
- plan to live outside Quebec.
A Canadian job offer and Canadian work experience are not required to qualify. Depending on their background, candidates may also qualify through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). Applicants generally need Express Entry proof of funds, although an exemption applies when they are legally authorized to work in Canada and have a valid job offer from an employer in Canada. The required amount depends on family size and is updated periodically by IRCC.
Applicants who are already in Canada and later submit an eligible permanent residence application may be able to maintain work authorization through a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP).
Work experience gained while living in Quebec may count toward FSWP eligibility, but the applicant must intend to settle outside Quebec.
Skilled Work Experience Requirements
Qualifying skilled work experience is a core requirement of the Federal Skilled Worker Program. Applicants need at least 1 year of continuous work, equal to 1,560 hours, gained within the 10 years before applying.
The work experience used to meet the minimum requirement must:
- be in an occupation classified under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3;
- be in the same NOC as the applicant’s primary occupation;
- include the actions described in the NOC lead statement and most of the occupation’s main duties;
- be paid through wages or commission; and
- have been gained in Canada or abroad.
The primary occupation does not have to be the applicant’s most recent occupation.
The 1,560-hour requirement can be met through continuous full-time work of 30 hours per week for 12 months, an equivalent amount of continuous part-time work, or qualifying work across more than one job. Hours worked above 30 per week do not count toward the 1,560-hour minimum. For part-time employment, applicants may work more or less than 15 hours per week as long as the qualifying hours total 1,560.
Work experience gained while studying may count toward the minimum requirement if it was paid, continuous and meets all other FSWP requirements.
There is no separate list of specific occupations for the Federal Skilled Worker Program. Instead, the primary occupation must fall within NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 and satisfy the applicable skilled work-experience requirements.
Federal Skilled Worker 67-Point System
To qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, applicants must score at least 67 points out of 100 based on six selection factors. These points determine FSWP eligibility and are separate from the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score used in the Express Entry pool. Candidates can use an Express Entry CRS calculator to estimate their ranking score.
Selection factors:
- Language skills: up to 28 points
- Education: up to 25 points
- Skilled work experience: up to 15 points
- Age: up to 12 points
- Arranged employment in Canada: up to 10 points
- Adaptability: up to 10 points
Language Skills — Up to 28 Points
Applicants can receive up to 24 points for their first official language based on their CLB or NCLC level in speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
- CLB/NCLC 9 or higher: 6 points per ability
- CLB/NCLC 8: 5 points per ability
- CLB/NCLC 7: 4 points per ability
- Below CLB/NCLC 7: 0 points
Applicants can receive an additional 4 points for a second official language if they achieve at least CLB/NCLC 5 in all four language abilities.
Education — Up to 25 Points
Education points depend on the applicant’s completed Canadian credential or the Canadian equivalency shown in an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for foreign education.
- Doctoral-level credential: 25 points
- Master’s degree or qualifying professional degree: 23 points
- Two or more post-secondary credentials, with at least one lasting three years or longer: 22 points
- Post-secondary credential of three years or longer: 21 points
- Two-year post-secondary credential: 19 points
- One-year post-secondary credential: 15 points
- Secondary school credential: 5 points
Skilled Work Experience — Up to 15 Points
Applicants receive points based on the number of years of qualifying skilled work experience.
- 1 year: 9 points
- 2 to 3 years: 11 points
- 4 to 5 years: 13 points
- 6 years or more: 15 points
Applicants receive these points only when their skilled work experience meets the program’s qualifying requirements.
Age — Up to 12 Points
- 18 to 35 years: 12 points
- 36 years: 11 points
- 37 years: 10 points
- 38 years: 9 points
- 39 years: 8 points
- 40 years: 7 points
- 41 years: 6 points
- 42 years: 5 points
- 43 years: 4 points
- 44 years: 3 points
- 45 years: 2 points
- 46 years: 1 point
- 47 years or older: 0 points
Arranged Employment in Canada — Up to 10 Points
Applicants may receive 10 points for qualifying arranged employment in Canada when the job offer meets the Federal Skilled Worker Program requirements.
These are FSWP selection-factor points and are separate from the CRS points used to rank candidates in the Express Entry pool.
Adaptability — Up to 10 Points
Applicants can receive up to 10 adaptability points based on qualifying factors such as:
- A spouse or common-law partner’s language ability
- Previous study in Canada by the applicant or accompanying spouse or partner
- Previous qualifying work experience in Canada
- Qualifying arranged employment in Canada
- Certain eligible relatives living in Canada
The total adaptability score cannot exceed 10 points.
67 FSWP Points vs. CRS Score
The Federal Skilled Worker Program’s 67-point system determines whether an applicant meets the program’s selection threshold. It is different from the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System.
Scoring 67 points or more may make a candidate eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, but it does not guarantee an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence. Candidates who receive an invitation can then proceed through the Express Entry application process and processing stages for permanent residence. Eligible candidates who enter the Express Entry pool receive a separate CRS score that is used for ranking in Express Entry draws. Some invitation rounds also use Express Entry category-based selection for candidates who meet specific category criteria.
Language and Education Requirements
Federal Skilled Worker applicants must meet minimum requirements for both official-language ability and education.
For the first official language, applicants must achieve at least CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French in speaking, listening, reading and writing. Higher results provide more points under the FSWP selection system. A second official language can also provide additional selection points when the required level is met.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) accepts CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core for English, and TEF Canada and TCF Canada for French. Language test results must be less than 2 years old when the Express Entry profile is completed and when the permanent residence application is submitted.
Applicants should also prepare the supporting records listed in the Express Entry documents checklist.
Minimum FSWP Language Test Scores
To meet the minimum FSWP language requirement, applicants must achieve at least CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French in all four language abilities.
- IELTS General Training: 6.0 in speaking, listening, reading and writing
- CELPIP-General: 7 in each language ability
- PTE Core: the score equivalent to CLB 7 in each language ability
- TEF Canada: the score equivalent to NCLC 7 in each language ability
- TCF Canada: the score equivalent to NCLC 7 in each language ability
Applicants educated in Canada must have at least a certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian secondary or post-secondary institution.
Applicants with foreign education must have a completed educational credential and an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for immigration purposes. The ECA must be issued by an organization designated by IRCC and must be less than 5 years old when the Express Entry profile is completed and when the permanent residence application is submitted.
An ECA establishes the Canadian equivalency of a foreign educational credential for immigration purposes. It does not provide professional licensing or automatically authorize an applicant to work in a regulated occupation in Canada.
