Canada Federal Skilled Worker (Professional) Immigration

Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) applications are assessed based on an applicant's ability to become economically established upon immigration to Canada.

As of January 1, 2015, Federal Skilled Worker applications are being processed through the Express Entry immigration selection system for immigration to Canada. Candidates eligible under the Federal Skilled Worker Class must first make an expression of interest in immigrating to Canada by creating an online Express Entry profile.

Express entry is completely computer based system where a qualified and eligible candidate makes a profile in Express Entry and enters a pool. To enter the pool you should meet certain requirements for Education, Experience and language proficiency in English or French. You are ranked based on CRS where points are awarded for Age, education, experience, language, spouse qualification and experience.

Candidates in the Express Entry pool are ranked according to the Comprehensive Ranking System, which ranks candidates under the following components:
• core human capital factors;
• accompanying spouse or common-law partner factors, if applicable;
• skill transferability factors; and
• factors relating to a provincial nomination , qualifying offer of arranged employment, Canadian study experience, a sibling in Canada, and/or French language ability.
There is a total of 1,200 points available under the Comprehensive Ranking System.

On November 1, 2017, the Government of Canada announced multi-year immigration targets for 2018-2020.

In order to be eligible for a Canada Immigration (Permanent Resident) Visa, Federal Skilled Worker applicants must:
• Have at least one year of continuous full-time or equivalent paid work experience in the past 10 years in a skilled occupation (National Occupational Classification skill lever 0, A or B); or
• Qualify for Arranged Employment In Canada with a Labour Market Impact Assessment and a full-time, permanent job offer from a Canadian employer; and
• Pass a minimum threshold of language ability in one of Canada's two official languages, English or French.
In addition, Federal Skilled Worker (Professional) applicants must obtain at least 67 points based on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada's (IRCC) immigration selection factors.