Federal Skilled Workers Program: Your Pathway to Canadian Permanent Residence
Welcome to our website page dedicated to the Federal Skilled Workers Program, Canada’s premier economic immigration pathway. This program offers skilled workers and their families the opportunity to achieve permanent residency in Canada.
The Express Entry Profile:
To initiate your journey towards permanent residence as a Federal Skilled Worker, you need to express your interest in immigrating to Canada by creating an online Express Entry profile. This profile is a comprehensive representation of your skills, qualifications, work experience, education, language proficiency, and other relevant factors.
Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) and Pool Ranking:
Based on the information provided in your Express Entry profile, you will be assigned a score under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). This score determines your ranking within the pool of eligible candidates. The CRS evaluates various factors such as age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and adaptability. The higher your CRS score, the better your chances of receiving an Invitation To Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.
Improving Your CRS Ranking:
While in the Express Entry pool, there are steps you can take to enhance your CRS ranking. Some effective strategies include improving your language proficiency, obtaining additional education or certification, gaining more work experience, securing a valid job offer from a Canadian employer, or obtaining a provincial nomination through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Our experienced immigration professionals can guide you in exploring these avenues and maximizing your CRS score.
Invitations To Apply (ITAs) and CRS Cut-Off Score:
The Government of Canada periodically issues Invitations To Apply (ITAs) to the highest-ranked candidates in the Express Entry pool. The CRS cut-off score is the minimum score required to receive an ITA. It is crucial to stay informed about the latest ITA rounds and CRS cut-off scores to gauge your chances of being invited to apply for permanent residence.
The Federal Skilled Workers Program offers skilled workers and their families the opportunity to achieve permanent residence in Canada. By creating an online Express Entry profile and optimizing your CRS ranking, you can enhance your chances of receiving an Invitation To Apply (ITA). Our immigration law firm has a wealth of experience in navigating the Federal Skilled Workers Program. We are committed to providing you with expert guidance, ensuring a smooth and successful immigration journey. Take the first step today and embark on your path to Canadian permanent residence through the Federal Skilled Workers Program.
The Federal Skilled Worker Program is Canada’s primary economic immigration pathway and gives skilled workers, and their loved ones, the opportunity to become permanent residents in Canada.
The first step in pursuing permanent residence in Canada as a Federal Skilled Worker is to make an expression of interest in immigrating to Canada by creating an online Express Entry profile. Based on the information provided in their profile, Federal Skilled Worker candidates obtain a score under Express Entry’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) that determines their ranking in the pool of eligible candidates. Periodically, the Government of Canada issues Invitations To Apply (ITAs) to the highest-ranked candidates in the Express Entry pool and publishes the CRS cut-off score. CRS scores are not fixed and candidates may take steps to improve their ranking while in the pool.
Minimum Eligibility Criteria
Foreign nationals may begin the process of immigration under the Federal Skilled Worker Program by determining whether or not they meet the minimum requirements of the program. The minimum requirements are:
- One year of continuous full-time or equivalent paid work experience in the past 10 years in a skilled occupation classified under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level 0, A or B;
- Validated language ability equivalent to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in English or French across all abilities (reading, writing, listening, and speaking); and
- Canadian educational credential (certificate, diploma, or degree) or foreign credential and Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report.
IRCC determines candidates’ eligibility for the Federal Skilled Worker Program based on its unique points grid. However, only the highest-ranked candidates in the Express Entry pool are issued invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residence.
Candidate profiles in the Express Entry pool, which also includes Federal Skilled Trades and Canadian Experience Class candidates, are ranked based on the CRS.
In order to be eligible to apply under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, potential candidates must meet the minimum requirements for work, language ability, education and obtain at least 67 points under the program’s 100-point grid. The program’s selection factors grid assesses candidates based on factors that include age, education, work experience, arranged employment, language ability, and adaptability.
Selection Factors
The Federal Skilled Worker selection factors are listed below.
| Factors | Points |
|---|---|
| Education | Up to 25 points |
| Language Skills | Up to 28 points |
| Work Experience | Up to 15 points |
| Age | Up to 12 points |
| Arranged Employment | Up to 10 points |
| Adaptability | Up to 10 points |
Settlement Funds
If invited to apply, Federal Skilled Workers will need to prove they can become economically established in Canada with their dependent family members. The settlement funds requirement is waived for foreign nationals who are currently authorized to work in Canada and/ or those who have arranged employment in Canada.
Medical Examinations and Admissibility
IRCC encourages Federal Skilled Worker candidates and their dependents to complete their medical examinations as soon as an ITA is issued. Medical exam results must be valid at the time of applying for permanent residence and when arriving in Canada. Applicants must also obtain security clearances as part of the Canadian immigration application process to prove that they are admissible to Canada.
Processing Times
IRCC aims to process complete Federal Skilled Worker applications in six (6) months or less. Please consult the Canada Immigration Processing Times Tool to find out the processing times for immigration applications.
