Federal Skilled Worker Program
Canada is among the world’s most prominent immigration destinations. The country offers great work opportunities to the immigrants along with high living standards.
The Express Entry program has made work opportunities even more attractive for immigrants. It offers lucrative employment opportunities to skilled professionals with sufficient qualifications and experience.
The skilled workers who have professionally recognized experience are invited to apply for permanent residency to contribute to the economy of Canada. The candidates under Federal Skilled Worker Program must pass through the following selection criteria which include 6 parts and a total of 100 points out of which the minimum acceptable grade is 67. The Express Entry system currently processes 347 high demand occupations in Canada.
There are two points systems in Canada’s express entry program, the 67-point framework and the CRS framework. A candidate to get the Invitation to Apply (ITA) for residency in Canada have to go through either of them.
Selection Criteria
The candidate must meet all the minimum requirements after then the application will be assessed based on:
- Age
- Education
- Work experience
- Must have a valid job offer
- Minimum required scores for English and/or French language skills
- Adaptability (You'll likely be able to adjust to the environment here)
A 100-point grid is used to determine eligibility for the Federal Skilled Worker Program based on these above factors. Points are awarded based on how well you do in each factor. The current pass mark is 67 points.
Selection factors points
The selection factor points are used to assess your eligibility for the Federal Skilled Worker Program. The highest-ranking candidates are invited to apply for permanent residence.
You must take approved language tests in English or French and secure a minimum score of the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB).
The language tests scores are valid for 2 years from the date of the test result.
You should have a certificate, diploma or degree from a secondary institution or post-secondary institution if attended school in Canada.
If attained foreign education, you must have an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for immigration purposes from a designated organization. It must prove that your education is equal to a completed certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian:
- secondary institution (high school) or
- post-secondary institution
You must have work experience in one of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) job groups:
- Managerial jobs (skill type 0)
- Professional jobs (skill level A)
- Technical jobs and skilled trades (skill level B)
Your NOC must show that you performed the duties listed in the lead statement of the occupational description while working in your primary occupation. The skilled work experience must be
- In a similar type of job (have the same NOC) as the job you want for your immigration application (called your primary occupation)
- within the last 10 years
- paid work and not volunteer or unpaid work
- at least 1 year of continuous work or 1,560 hours total (30 hours per week)
Document proof of enough money for you and your family to settle in Canada, not required only if:
- You are currently working legally in Canada
- You have secured a valid job offer from a Canadian employer
The applicant must be admissible to Canada.
The steps to apply for the Federal Skilled Worker Program
The IRCC chooses the most skilled immigrants using its points-based system, which allocates points to
the candidates who are registered and are ranked based on the primary aspects of their profile.
- Firstly, create an Express Entry profile, apply as a skilled worker then make an Expression of Interest (EOI) and finally submit it to CIC.
- Your Express Entry profile will be ranked in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
- You have to pass the minimum clearance score; then only Canadian immigration authorities will send you an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for PR.
- After selection, you will need to submit health and police clearance certificates and other necessary documents. Submit an application for approval to Canada immigration.
- Visa officer will review the submitted application.
- Once approved, submit the permanent residency fee and request your passport.
