What is the Express Entry program?
Skilled workers all over the world are choosing Canada for Immigration because of the opportunities, life style and cultural exposures that it provides. One of the best ways to relocate to Canada for a skilled worker is through the express entry Program.
The express entry program is the federal system of Canada Immigration as per which the applicants can relocate based on their point score and rank of each applicant. Those candidates who meet the benchmark point score they are selected for immigration.
There are three sub-streams in the express entry program –
- Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP)
- Federal Skilled Traders Program (FSTP)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Check Your Eligibility
What is the Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP)?
The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program is an important part of Canada's immigration system. It aims to attract individuals who have specific skills and they can contribute to its economy. It is also called the 67-point score program as it calculates the score of the individuals out of 100 and those who get 67 points are selected to relocation. For this one need to understand the eligibility requirements and selection criteria which is an important prerequisite to apply under the program -
Key features of the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program-
Canada PR Federal Skilled Worker visa allows you to work in Canada without the need to be sponsored by an employer, a Canadian work permit or a job offer
- Successful applicants are free to work without any constraints/restrictions, unlike in a work permit
- After three years of stay in the country, the applicant can apply for Canadian citizenship
- Once you get your Canadian Passport & Citizenship, you can travel to many countries in the world without a visa
- You can sponsor your immediate family & relatives to join you in Canada
- Permanent residency include access to government subsidized education and healthcare (Medicare)
- Unrestricted access to Canada's labor market and associated insurance and pension benefits
- The PR visa is now granted in 6-12 months instead of the previous 3+years
- If the application is returned, the fee is refunded by the High Commission
Eligibility requirements for Canada Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
As an aspirant if you wish to move to Canada with the Federal Skilled Worker program then meeting the visa requirements is essential. They are -
Skilled Work Experience: The candidates need to have a minimum of at least one year of full-time or equivalent part-time experience in a skilled occupation listed in the TEER System
There are a lot of occupations listed in the TEER System of Job selection as well –
- TEER 0 (Managerial): It is for management jobs. Like restaurant managers, retail and wholesale trade managers.
- TEER 1(Professional): Jobs that usually call for a degree from a university, including a range of Information Technology (IT) occupations, engineering and construction occupations, legal occupations, and more.
- TEER 2 (Apprenticeship): Occupations that usually require a college diploma, apprenticeship training of 2 or more years, or supervisory occupations. Examples include web technicians and medical laboratory technologists.
- TEER 3 (College Diploma): Occupations that usually require a college diploma, apprenticeship training of less than 2 years, or more than 6 months of on-the-job training.
The points for the same are as follows:
| Time | Points |
|---|---|
| 1 year | 9 |
| 2- 3 years | 11 |
| 4-5 years | 13 |
| 6 years of more | 15 |
Language Proficiency: In any of the two official languages of Canada the Proficiency is much needed and if the applicant is skilled in both English or French then high points are guaranteed. Candidates are required to undertake approved language tests to demonstrate their abilities in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The minimum score in the language scale should be CLB 7.
Education: The candidates should have a minimum of secondary or post- secondary certificate, diploma, or degree. For educational credentials obtained outside Canada, an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is required to verify that the foreign education is equivalent to Canadian standards.
Selection Factors of the FSW Program
The FSW program has a point-based system and the scoring meter is the & 100-point grid”. To be selected the applicants must meet the minimum of 67 point in to six selection factors.
Language Skills (Maximum 28 points)
Points are awarded for ability in English and French. Candidates can earn up to 28 points based on their language proficiency levels.
| Language | Points |
|---|---|
| English (CLB 9) | 6 |
| English ( CLB 8) | 5 |
| French language | 4 |
Education (Maximum 25 points)
Points are allocated based on the level of education. For instance, a PhD earns 25 points, a Master's degree 23 points, and so forth down to a high school diploma, which earns 5 points.
| Education | Points |
|---|---|
| Doctorate degree | 25 |
| Masters degree or equivalent and the Occupation should be in NOC 2016 Skill level A and licensed by a regulatory body (provincial) | 23 |
| Two or more Canadian post-secondary degrees or diplomas or equivalent | 22 |
| Canadian post-Secondary degree or diploma of three years or longer | 21 |
| Canadian Post-secondary degree or diploma of two years | 19 |
| Canadian post-secondary diploma or degree of one year or equivalent | 15 |
| Canadian High school diploma | 5 |
Work Experience (Maximum 15 points)
The more experience an applicant the higher points the candidate can get and there are up to 15 points for six or more years of experience.
| Experience | Points |
|---|---|
| One year | 9 |
| Two – three years | 11 |
| Four to Five years | 13 |
| Six years or more | 15 |
Age (Maximum 12 points)
There are points for candidates who are between the age of 18 and 35 years. There are maximum points for those who are younger.
| Age | Points |
|---|---|
| Under 18 | 0 |
| 18 – 35 | 12 |
| 36 | 11 |
| 37 | 10 |
| 37 | 10 |
| 38 | 9 |
| 40 | 7 |
| 41 | 6 |
| 42 | 5 |
| 43 | 4 |
There are also extra points for Arranged employment and adaptability in the Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP). However, the candidate need not worry a lot about these factors as they are not the mandatory requirements for immigration but having job letter from a Canadian employer or having a sibling or spouse in Canada can put you in an advantageous position.
Settlement funds are needed for Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP)
The Federal Skilled Workers needs to have enough settlement funds without a valid offer of arranged employment when they enter the Express Entry pool.
When an application is made this declaration needs to be proven –
| Number of Family Members | Funds Required |
|---|---|
| 1 | $14,690 |
| 2 | $18,288 |
| 3 | $22,483 |
| 4 | $27,297 |
| 5 | $30,690 |
| 6 | $34,917 |
| 7 | $38,875 |
| If more than 7 people, for each additional family member | $3,958 |
How to apply for the Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP)?
The steps to apply for the FSWP –
- Step 1: Make sure you check your score on the FSW points grid and meet the eligibility requirements
- Step 2: After creating the profile it’s time to get your documents ready such as passport, language test scores and Educational Credentials Assessment (ECA).
- Step 3: Create an Express Entry profile
- Step 4: Get a score under the CRS. IF you are eligible for one of the Express Entry-alignedProvincial Nominee Program streams then you can get a 600-point bonus score
- Step 5: Receive an invitation to apply after which you have 60 days to submit a complete application.
- Step 6: submit an e-application after medical and criminal checks
- Step 7: Your e-application is reviewed
- Step 8: Receive confirmation of permanent resident status and complete your landing
- Step 9: Get your PR card
Processing time for the Skilled worker Canada through the Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP)
The profile of the Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP) is valid for one year after which if the applicant is not selected in the Canada FSW draw then he or she will have to create a new profile. It is the applicants who are in the pool and they are shortlisted who receive the Invitation to Apply (ITA). The applicants have 60 days to submit the documents after the ITA application is received. FSWP is the fast-processing program and the processing of the application takes six months. Sometimes it can take longer than expected if there is any complexity and/or completeness in your application
Cost of applying for the Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP)
The cost of processing fee along with the right of permanent residence fee for the principal applicant is CAD 1365 and in the case of Spouse, common-law or conjugal partner (with right of permanent residence fee) it is CAD 1365. In the case of a dependent child under the age of 22 who is not a spouse or common-law/conjugal partner it is CAD 230 for each dependent.
Following table shows the processing fee for Canada PR Visa through the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) in 2024:
| Application | Fees (In-CAD) |
| Processing Fee | $825 |
| Right of Permanent Resident Fee | $500 |
| Include spouse or common-law partner (Processing Fee without Right of Permanent Resident Fee) | $1325 |
| Include a dependent Child (per child) | 225 |
What are the advantages of FSWP?
The main advantage of the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) to apply for Canada PR Visa is as follows:
- For any candidate to be eligible for FSWP, they do not require a connection to Canada. If the candidate is able to meet the minimum requirements of the program, it is an excellent option for the candidates living outside of Canada to apply for Canada PR Visa through this program.
- It is the immigration program with the highest percentage of ITAs issued.
But, there is also a potential disadvantage; as if the candidate is eligible under this program it is not sure that they will get an ITA. For this, they have to meet the minimum CRS score required for Canada PR Visa.
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FAQ
The FSWP is a Canadian immigration program designed for skilled workers who want to immigrate to Canada permanently.
To be eligible for the FSWP, you must meet certain criteria related to your:
- Education
- Work experience
- Language proficiency (English or French)
- Age
- Arranged employment offer (optional)
The CRS is a points-based system used to rank eligible candidates in the Express Entry pool. Factors such as education, work experience, language proficiency, and arranged employment offer contribute to your CRS score.
The minimum CRS score required for FSWP can fluctuate depending on the number of applicants and the number of invitations issued.
ITAs are issued through regular draws from the Express Entry pool. The frequency of draws can vary.
Yes, you can improve your CRS score by:
- Obtaining a higher language test score
- Getting a job offer in Canada
- Applying for a provincial nomination
The processing time for FSWP applications can vary depending on the volume of applications and the complexity of your case. However, it typically takes several months.
The costs associated with applying for the FSWP include the Express Entry profile fee, the right of permanent residence fee, and potentially other fees for medical exams and language tests.
Comments
Avinash Singh
I'm planning to apply for the FSWP. What is the minimum CRS score required for this program right now?
2024 Sep 16 02:15
Priya Patel
I've heard that the FSWP process can be quite competitive. What are some tips for increasing my chances of getting an ITA?
2024 Sep 06 12:05
Rajeev Kumar
I'm concerned about my English language proficiency. What is the minimum IELTS score required for FSWP?
2024 Aug 01 11:01
Meena Sharma
I'm planning to apply for a provincial nomination to improve my CRS score. Which provinces are most welcoming to skilled workers from India?
2024 July 10 06:29
Vivek Gupta
I'm wondering if there are any exemptions to the work experience requirement for certain professions or educational backgrounds.
2024 July 02 10:21
Kavita Nair
I'm planning to immigrate to Canada with my family. Are there any specific requirements for family members accompanying me on the FSWP application?
2024 June 03 03:14
Rahul Desai
I've heard that the FSWP requirements can change over time. Is it important to stay updated on the latest changes?
2024 May 16 09:35
Neha Gupta
I'm planning to apply for the FSWP online. What are the steps involved in the online application process?
2024 May 02 11:11
Amit Patel
I'm concerned about the cost of living in Canada. Is it significantly higher than in India?
2024 May 30 04:03
Priya Nair
This blog post has been very helpful. Thank you for providing such valuable information about the FSWP.
2024 May 30 04:03
