Everything you should know about Canada FSW Program for Immigration

by Visa Consultant Immigration Expert

Known as the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canada FSW program is one of the highly sought-after programs managed under the Express Entry System for processing permanent residency applications. All three economic immigration programs under the express entry system are highly competitive and use a comprehensive ranking system (CRS) to invite the most eligible candidates to Canada.

FSW Program Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to apply for the FSW program, an applicant must meet certain eligibility requirements in terms of years of experience, education, level of skills, English or French language proficiency, age, etc.

Work experience- a minimum of one year of full-time paid work experience in the last ten years.

Language skills- must have Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 on an approved English or French language test.
Education- A minimum of a Canadian high school diploma or the equivalent in foreign education.
Funds availability- must have sufficient funds to manage expenses and support themselves and immediate family members in Canada.
Residence in Canada- must have the intention to live outside the province of Quebec.

After meeting the aforementioned eligibility requirements, an applicant must secure at least 67 points in the point calculator system as part of express entry process.

Once the candidate fulfils all the basic requirements, they can submit an Express Entry profile for the FSW program. While doing so, candidates must ensure that they also meet Canada’s admissibility requirements, like medical conditions, background checks, etc.

Federal Skilled Worker Program- Application Process

All eligible applicants must submit an express entry profile to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). However, it’s important to note that mere submitting an express entry profile does not guarantee you a Canada PR visa. Only after submitting the profile, candidates will get a CRS score and be considered for future immigration draws based on the points received. Only the highest ranking candidates will receive an Invitation to Apply.

FSW candidates may also include their spouse and dependent family members in the application. This way they do not need to apply for a Canada spouse visa separately.

Documents Required

When submitting your Express Entry profile, an FSW candidate will need to provide the following documents:

· Education credential assessment

· Copy of a valid passport

· Proof of language proficiency

· Identification related documents

· Copy of bank statements

· Documents related to work experience and education

If a candidate receives an ITA, he/she has 60 days to submit an official application for permanent residence in Canada.