An Overview of Canada’s Skilled Worker Immigration | MiExper

The Federal Skilled Worker Program and Express Entry Immigration under the Economic Class were both launched by the Canadian government on January 1, 2015.

Federal Skilled Workers who fulfill the minimum entry requirements for 347 qualified occupations can participate in Express Entry by submitting an expression of interest profile to the Express Entry Pool. A Comprehensive Ranking System is used to rate the candidate profiles in the pool. The applicants with the top rankings will be invited to submit an application for permanent residency. After getting an invitation, candidates have 90 days to submit a complete application.

Federal Skilled Worker Eligibility

Federal Skilled Workers are those who are chosen through the Express Entry Immigration system to apply for permanent residency and who meet the necessary criteria for education, job experience, age, and language proficiency in one of Canada's official languages.

In order to be accepted into the Express Entry Pool as a Federal Skilled Worker, candidates must fulfil the requirements listed below:

1. Must possess one of the 347 qualified occupations specified under the relevant National Occupational Classification system for one year of continuous full-time paid work experience, or the equivalent in part-time employment, within the preceding ten years;
   • Education;
   • Language;
   • Employment experience;
   • Age;- Arranged employment;
   • Adaptability;
2. According to the National Occupational Classification system, the job experience must fall into Skill Type 0 (Managerial Occupations), Skill Level A (Professional Occupations), or Skill Level B (Technical Occupations and Skilled Trades);
3. Must obtain a sufficient number of points on the skilled worker point grid, which consists of six selection criteria (67 points are currently required to pass);
4. Obtain a language evaluation from a reputable third party and show intermediate-level language proficiency in either French or English (equivalent to the Canadian Language Benchmark of 7);
5. Possess adequate funds for settlement;
6. Complete a successful security clearance and medical examination.

Selection Factors for FSW

Candidates must receive a minimum of 67 points on the skilled worker selection grid, which assigns points for education, language, employment experience, age, arranged Canadian employment, and adaptability, in order to be chosen under the FSW program. Candidates must also demonstrate sufficient work experience and language proficiency.

Education (max 25 points):

Candidates with PhD degrees are given the maximum of 25 points for their educational background. A designated third party will assess foreign credentials to determine their Canadian equivalent, and points will be given based on that equivalent. Currently, the following organisations have been designated for credential evaluation:

• Comparative Education Service: World Education Services;
• International Credential Assessment Service of Canada;
• Medical Council of Canada;
• University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies

Language (max 28 points):

Only candidates who can demonstrate intermediate to high level competence in either English or French, one of Canada's official languages, will be taken into consideration. For this selection factor, candidates who match the minimum requirement must receive at least 16 points. Up to 24 points can be awarded based on linguistic proficiency.

The advantages of bilingualism are viewed as minimal for a person's successful economic establishment in Canada, and the current point system caps the number of points that can be awarded for a second official language at four.

Workplace Experience (max 15 points):

The new program has a minimum qualification period of one year and a maximum consideration period of six years. Must reach a minimum of 9 points to be eligible.

Age (max 12 points):

Candidates between the ages of 18 and 35 will receive up to 12 points. After age 35, the allocation is reduced by 1 for each additional year, and after age 47, no points are given.

Arranged Employments (either 0 or 10 points):

Individuals who have an accepted job offer in Canada are given points. The Arranged Employment Opinion process will be replaced with the Labour Market Opinion (LMO) employment validation process, which is typically used in the processing of applications for Canadian work permits, in an effort to streamline labour market-related processes and reduce processing times for employers and their potential employees.

A candidate's prospective employer must prove to Human Resources and Skills Development Canada that hiring a foreign worker would have neutral or favourable economic effects on the local labour market in order to legitimise an employment offer and receive points for this selection factor.

Candidates that have an accepted job offer will receive 10 points for this selection factor and an additional 5 points for adaptability, for a total of 15 points.

Adaptability (max 10 points):

Applicants who have at least a full year of full time Canadian work experience in a managerial, professional, technical or skilled trade occupation will be awarded maximum points. As mentioned above, a validated offer of employment will provide 5 adaptability points. Other considerations awarding points under this selection factor include: A close adult relative living in Canada; Applicant or spouse has studied in Canada; Spouse has previous Canadian work experience; Spouse has knowledge of one of Canada’s official languages.