Most people immigrating to Canada consider the Federal Skilled Worker program first. This program, also known as FSW, is one of four essential economic immigration programs in Canada. It is, therefore, the main program that skilled workers apply as economic immigrants.
For a successful application, you must have the skills, education, and training that the government of Canada needs. To ensure the government selects the right candidates, applications to the Federal Skilled Worker program go through the Express Entry system. This system will assign migration points based on your credentials then rank your profile against all FSW candidates.
If selected, you may settle anywhere in Canada except Quebec. Apply directly to Quebec if you would like to live there since Quebec has separate economic migration programs.
Contents
- The six selection factors of the FSW program
- Other FSW requirements you must meet
- Best Practices After the First Assessment
- How to file your FSW application
Six selection factors for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (or FSW)
IRCC implements a grid of factors to assess candidates to the Federal Skilled Worker Program. You will, therefore, get points based on how you perform against these base requirements. If you intend to apply for skilled immigration, though, you must score at least 67 points.
You must meet requirements to apply to the Federal Skilled Worker (or FSW) Program. The maximum points of each migration factor are listed below.
| Factor | Points |
|---|---|
| Age | 12 |
| Education | 25 |
| Language Proficiency | 28 |
| Work Experience | 15 |
| Arranged Employment | 10 |
| Adaptability | 10 |
Age
We hurry our clients along once they have decided to apply because age is a factor that’s very easy to get high points for. And, it’s free! No need to spend to get maximum points.
Though IRCC locks in your age on the day they receive your application, it’s still best to apply to the FSW program before you turn 36. You may get 12 points if you apply to the program between 18 to 35.
| Age | Points |
|---|---|
| Under 18 | 0 |
| 18-35 | 12 |
| 36 | 11 |
| 37 | 10 |
| 38 | 9 |
| 39 | 8 |
| 40 | 7 |
| 41 | 6 |
| 42 | 5 |
| 43 | 4 |
| 44 | 3 |
| 45 | 2 |
| 46 | 1 |
| 47 and older | 0 |
Education
You may get a maximum of 25 points for this factor. The best way to know if your education is the equivalent of a Canada degree, certificate, or diploma is through authentication. Several organizations provide Educational Credential Assessment (or ECA) which include:
- World Education Services.
- International Credential Assessment Service of Canada.
- Comparative Education Services of the University of Toronto.
- International Qualifications Assessment Service.
Check for your highest education achievement on the left. Then see the corresponding points on the right column.
| Education | Points |
|---|---|
| Doctorate (PhD) level | 25 |
| Master’s level | 23 |
| Two or more post-secondary degrees – at least one for a program of at least three years | 22 |
| Post-secondary degree – three years or longer | 21 |
| Post-secondary degree – two years | 19 |
| Post-secondary degree – one year | 15 |
| Secondary school | 5 |
Language skill
Canada has two official languages, English and French. You must get a minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark 7 for each language ability. If you’ve already taken one English language test, Check the equivalent Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of your English language test scores.
- You may use the results of your language tests for two years after the test date.
- Moreover, the results must still be valid on the day you apply for permanent residence.
- If the results expire while your application is still in the Express Entry pool, you will have to retake the test.
These are the migration points you will get per CLB level for IELTS and CELPIP, respectively.
| Level | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLB 9 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 pts/ability |
| CLB 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 pts/ability |
| CLB 7 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 pts/ability |
| Level | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLB 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 6 pts/ability |
| CLB 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 5 pts/ability |
| CLB 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 4 pts/ability |
Work experience
Before anything, review the jobs you held in the past ten years. It is essential you do because you will have to nominate a primary occupation that you will use in your application.
Once you have decided, use the following as your guide for the work experience factor.
- Your work experience will be counted, regardless of where you worked, if you were studying or while you were self-employed.
- Only paid work counts, so you must have earned wages or commissions.
- You must, at the minimum, have completed 1,560 hours continuously.
- The work you are nominating may be any of the following:
- Full-time at one job, working 30 hours per week.
- Full-time at more than one job.
- The equivalent in part-time work for 24 months, working 15 hours per week.
- Use the National Occupational Classification, or NOC. Your work experience must be either Skill Type 0, Skill Level A or belong to Technical Occupations and Skilled Trades, for Skill Level B.
These are the points you may get for work experience.
| Work Experience | Points |
|---|---|
| 6 or more years | 15 |
| 4-5 years | 13 |
| 2-3 years | 11 |
| 1 year | 9 |
Arranged Employment
You may get points 10 points for this factor if a Canadian employer offers you paid, continuous employment for at least one year. Also, for IRCC to consider the job offer valid:
- Your employer should have offered you the job before your application as a Federal Skilled Worker.
- Also, the proposed job must be full-time for at least 30 hours/week.
- The job must be listed as a Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B occupation in the NOC.
- You can do the job offered to you.
- If your profession is regulated in Canada, you will qualify for licensure or certification in Canada.
There are several situations where you may get maximum points. Let us know if you need help to check if you qualify.
Adaptability
You may get 10 points at the most for this factor as it predicts how well you may settle in Canada. Hence, IRCC considers the following:
| Factor | Points |
|---|---|
| If you or your spouse or common-law-partner (CLP) have a Canadian citizen or permanent resident relative living in Canada. | 5 |
| Past studies in Canada if you, your spouse or CLP: * Studied full-time, at least 15 hours per week. * The program must be at least two academic years long. * The person who studied should have been in good academic standing all throughout the course. | 5 points for you or your spouse or CLP |
| For your past full-time work in Canada. You must have been employed for at least one year under NOC Skill Type 0, A or B. You should have had a valid work permit or have been authorized to work in Canada. | 10 |
| Past, full-time work of your spouse or CLP in Canada if s/he was employed for at least one year under NOC Skill Type 0, A or B. S/he should have had a valid work permit or have been authorized to work in Canada. | 5 |
| If you earned 10 points for arranged employment. | 5 |
| If your spouse or CLP has English or French language test results at CLB 4 or higher in all language abilities. | 5 |
To gain points for the relative factor, your family member must be at least 18 years old. This relative must be related to you, your spouse or CLP as one of the following:
- Parent
- Grandparent
- Child
- Grandchild
- Sibling
- Aunt or uncle by blood or marriage
- Niece or nephew
Other FSW requirements you must meet
Once you have acquired at least 67 points, you must still comply with other requirements listed below.
- Settlement funds. You must show proof that you have enough financial resources for you and your family members.
- Security background and health checks. A panel of doctors, authorized by IRRC, conducts the medical examinations.
Be sure you know what you documents you must gather to prove you have sufficient funds to prepare to apply to the Federal Skilled Worker program.
Panel Physicians in the Philippines
Here’s a list of Panel Physicians for the Philippines, their contact phone numbers and website or email address.
- Baguio City
- Nationwide Health Systems Baguio, Inc.
- Damaso C. Bangaoet III, Larry Haya, Mary Rose Villanueva
- www.nhsiphilippines.com
- 63-74-661-5801
- Nationwide Health Systems Baguio, Inc.
- Cebu City
- Nationwide Health Systems Cebu, Inc.
- Odette Basal, Julieta Remedios Coruna, Grace Juntilla, Rina Seares, Rhea Compayan
- +63 32 238-6053 or +63 32 417-3709
- Nationwide Health Systems Cebu, Inc.
- Davao City
- Nationwide Health Systems Davao, Inc.
- Nancy Therese Pasigado-Alba, Gladys Ogatis-Sermon, Charito Casia, Cinderela Baruiz
- +63 82 2965136
- Nationwide Health Systems Davao, Inc.
- Manila
- St. Luke’s Medical Center Extension Clinic
- Maria Helen Yulde, Noel Victor Ramos, Sharon Dizon, Benezet Teofilo II Estrella, Mary Arlene Bongosia, Gracia Perpetua Lagarejos, Delisa Dawn Madrid, Renato Recio, Ferdinand Lu, Redentor Alquiroz, Michelle T. Mangaser, Cheryl T. Uy, Mariano Dumia II, Ma. Flor Reburiano, Maria Cristina Santiago, Ma Teresa Tan-Valencia, Maria Dalisay Mendoza, Ma Erlie Villanueva
- +632 526 0208, +632 524 6081, +632 521 0020
- St. Luke’s Medical Center Extension Clinic
- Makati
- IOM Manila Health Center
- E-mail address: mhc.can@iom.int
- +(63 2) 883-9333, +(63 2) 511-8770, 0917 593 4688
- IOM Manila Health Center
- Taguig City
- St. Luke’s Medical Center
- www.slec.ph
- +(63 2) 789-7702 / 789-7703
- St. Luke’s Medical Center
Once your profile is in the Express Entry pool, you will be competing against applicants from many countries. Check how your profile ranks against the other applicants. Track the most recent Express Entry draws.
Best practices after your first assessment
If you score less than 67 points during your self-assessment, you will not qualify to apply under the Federal Skilled Worker Program. There are some remedies, though, if you want to improve your score.
And, even if you meet 67 points, the system must select your profile within one year. And, if your profile is selected, you must meet Canada’s basic admissibility requirements.
At IVC, we try not to leave the success of your application to chance. We, therefore, recommend that you do the following before and after you apply:
- Don’t delay an application as age is the least expensive factor for which you can get points.
- If you fall short of 67 points, check your other options for skilled immigration. You may qualify to apply to any of the Provincial Nominee streams. Or, if you’d like to be better prepared for life in Canada, check the option of studying first.
- Be sure neither you nor any of your dependents have serious health issues. Certain medical conditions may render you and your family inadmissible.
- Review your previous migration history as IRCC is strict with applicants with visa fraud records. Removal from Canada or another country is also a serious issue.
- Be sure you do not have a record at NBI clearances since a conviction for a criminal offense will make you inadmissible.
- Monitor your rank in the Express Entry pool so you can make counter-measures if your points are below the CRS cut-off.
How to file your FSW application
Are you ready to file an application? If you believe you are eligible because you got 67 points, here are your additional tasks.
- Open an Express Entry profile. Remember to provide the following:
- Educational Credentials Assessment
- Results of your language proficiency test
- Identification documents
- Once the Express Entry system accepts your application, it will then assess your profile using another method, the Comprehensive Ranking System or CRS. Remember to monitor the CRS draws!
- Wait for your selection if you reach the CRS bi-monthly cut-off scores.
As you can see, the procedure itself is easy. However, submitting a profile to IRCC does not guarantee you will be selected. You will be considered for an Invitation to Apply or ITA for permanent residence only if you meet the cut-off for draws from the pool.
If IRCC sends you an ITA, you must prepare further documents then submit an electronic application.
Even Do-It-Yourself people need some help to determine their best legal and valid options to live overseas.
