How to Immigrate to Canada As A Skilled Worker: The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program is for people who are selected to immigrate to Canada because of their work experience and skills.
Important Note: As of January, 1, 2015 candidates for the Federal Skilled Worker Program will be selected to apply through the Express Entry System. If you have applied before January 1, 2015, your application will be considered according to the former system.
Canada plans on welcoming over 1.3 million new immigrants between 2022 and 2024! There are many methods to take in order to immigrate to Canada in 2023, and we will explain the 5 easiest ways to do so in detail below. If you are interested in learning about every possible way to immigrate, visit our main Canadian Visa immigration page.
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Immigration to Canada is not easy. There are many steps one has to take in order to successfully apply and get approved for Canadian immigration. Also, the process can take a number of months and in some cases a few years. But if you know what options are available, you can improve your chances of success and avoid “pitfalls”, frustrations and delays. Here, you can learn how to move to Canada through permanent residence, working, visiting, and even studying in Canada.
That said, let’s now look at how to move to Canada as a skilled worker. But before that, you need to check if you’re eligible for the program.
Click on “PAGE 2” to Continue reading on Eligibility.
Read also: 45 Best Paying Part Time Jobs for College Students
Eligibility to Apply as a Federal Skilled Worker (Express Entry).
To be eligible to apply, you must:
- Have a job offer; or
- Be eligible to work in Canada; or
- Be able to prove that you have enough money to support yourself and your dependants after you arrive in Canada;
and Have at least 1 year of full-time (or equivalent) skilled work experience; Meet minimum language levels in English or French; Have a post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree; Plan to live outside the province of Quebec.
What kind of work experience do I need?
Your work experience must be either Skill Type 0, Skill Level A or Skill Level B on the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC).
Your work experience must be paid, full-time or the equivalent hours part-time. Full-time means at least 30 hours per week. You must have had that work experience during the last 10 years.
These limits do not apply if you have a permanent job offer.
The FSW Point System
You need at least 67 points to be eligible to apply as a FSW. You get different points based on:
- Your education;
- Your abilities in English and/or French (Canada’s 2 official languages);
- Your work experience;
- Your age;
- If you have arranged employment in Canada; and
- Your adaptability.
To see how your skilled worker points are broken down and to see if you qualify, visit the Six Selection Factors page.
Please note that the FSW point system is different from Express Entry points.
Click on “PAGE 3” to Continue reading on HOW DO I APPLY AS A FSW AND OTHER INFORMATION.
How do I apply as a FSW?
If you are eligible to apply under the FSW category, you may submit your profile to Express Entry. Express Entry is a new online application system for economic immigration categories, such as the FSW.
For More Information
- Federal Skilled Workers – Information on selection criteria and how to apply. From Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
- Come to Canada – A tool that can help you figure out what your options are if you want to come to Canada as an immigrant, student, worker or visitor. From Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) – The federal department responsible for Canadian immigration and citizenship. Its website has information on immigration policy, programs and services, application kits, and more.
- IRCC Help Centre – A tool that helps answer frequently asked questions on immigration matters. It offers several ways of searching through the information available, including search by keyword. From Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
