Have you been trying to immigrate to Canada? Are you on the outlook for programs that can get you to Canada? If so, then this article is for you. This article provides a detailed guide on the Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP) which allows skilled workers to immigrate permanently and practice their occupation in Canada.
The Canadian government offers many programs for people to immigrate and settle in the country and FSWP is one of them. Like the millions of people seeking to immigrate here, you are definitely on the lookout for these chances and programs that can get you here. We are pleased to inform you that this could be one of the easiest and best immigration routes to use.
The main perk of this immigration program is that it allows you to immigrate and get a job offer in Canada without any necessary connections and extra charges. Isn’t that what you looking for? Also, the program is merit-based and this means that your chances of success are determined only by your qualifications and merits. Well, the details provided below will get you on the right track for your FWSP immigration journey
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2.9. Where you can live in Canada
The Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP) is a class that offers an opportunity for skilled workers with foreign work experience to migrate to Canada as permanent residents. The FSWC is managed through Express Entry and like all the other programs it is merit-based and one has to meet the minimum requirements to be eligible for application.
However, that does not mean that having the minimum requirements guarantees you a qualification in the program. Once all the minimum requirements are met, your application is then assessed based on 6 other factors, and your success is determined by how well you do in each of them. These factors include;
- Age,
- Education,
- Language skills,
- Work experience,
- Availability of a valid job offer,
- Your likelihood of adaptability in Canada.
The overall point grid of eligibility assessment is 100 points and the current pass mark is set at 67 points.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE FEDERAL SKILLED WORKER PROGRAM
Narrowing down to these requirements, each has a set maximum points that you can earn and one can only be accrued points not more than the maximum points.
Canadian employers mostly rely on Express Entry programs to acquire highly skilled foreign workers who will benefit their company and the Canadian economy at large. In turn, these employees get permanent residency in the country where they can continue working in their job roles. That said, age is an important factor since as you all know productivity reduces with age and a twenty-five-year-old is more energetic and productive than a forty-year-old.
However, that does not mean that those cut out at forty years cannot apply for the FWSP program as their other qualifications are likely to cover the points lost in the age factor. Nevertheless, applicants aged 47 and above are not eligible for the FWSP program, and similarly, those below 18 years of age are. The age bracket of 18 to 35 automatically qualifies for the maximum points in this factor set at 12 points and 1 point is lost with every birthday with 46 years earning the applicant only 1 point. Therefore, the earlier you jump on to this application the better.
Education is a key factor in the FWSP and in general any other Canadian Express Entry program. This is mainly since the quality of education determines your output proficiency and your ability to contribute to Canada economically. As such this particular factor holds a maximum of 25 points in the FSWP assessment. Both Canadian and foreign education credentials are considered in this program. Those who are schooled in Canada, are required to provide relevant documents proving their study either from a secondary institution or post-secondary institution. For foreign education, applicants are required to have an Education Credential Assessment (ECA) report from a designated organization that proves the education is equal to a completed certificate, diploma, or degree from either a Canadian secondary or post-secondary institution.
Language skills have the most maximum points which are set at 28 points. English and French are the main recognized languages in Canada and are thus used for the assessment. Points are given on your ability to read, write, listen and speak in these languages. To prove your language level, one has to take and pass an approved language test. The Canadian language Benchmarks (CLB) is used for English and the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) for French.
The first official language earns you a maximum of 24 points where one has to meet the minimum level of CLB/ NCLC Level 7 which accumulates from 4 points in every section i.e. reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Having a second language can increase your score by a maximum of four points where one has to have at least a CLB 5 in all four language abilities.
Here, one gets points for the number of years you’ve spent working either full-time equivalent to 30 hours per week or 15 hours per week for 24 months as a part-time worker. Since the work experience maximum points are set at 15 points, points are gained by the number of years of experience, and the maximum points are given at 6 or more years of experience.
This program uses the 2021 National Occupation Classification (NOC) which groups jobs into Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) categories based on the job duties and the work that an individual performs. To qualify for the FWSP one has to have skilled work experience in the following categories:
- TEER 0
- TEER 1
- TEER 2
- TEER 3
The following table presents a direct explanation of the TEER categories and skills that fall under each. Note: FSWC are TEER 0 to TEER 3.
TEER categories and examples of jobs
| TEER | Occupation types | Examples |
| TEER 0 | Management occupations | Advertising, marketing, and public relations managers Financial managers |
| TEER 1 | Occupations that usually require a university degree | Financial advisors Software engineers |
| TEER 2 | Occupations that usually require
|
Computer network and web technicians Medical laboratory technologists |
| TEER 3 | Occupations that usually require
|
Bakers Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants |
| TEER 4 | Occupations that usually require
|
Home childcare providers Retail salespersons and visual merchandisers |
| TEER 5 | Occupations that usually need short-term work demonstration and no formal education | Landscaping and grounds maintenance laborers Delivery service drivers and door-to-door distributors |
Table 1: Accessed from https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/eligibility/find-national-occupation-code.html
Before applying for the FSWP one does not need to have a job offer but having one can get you points if you have a valid job offer of at least one year from a Canadian employer.
For a job offer to qualify as a valid job offer, it has to meet the following requirements;
- Be continuous, paid, and full-time work of minimum 30 hours per week. This means that it is neither seasonal nor less than a year.
- The occupation must fall under the TEER categories of the FWSC i.e. TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 of the National Occupation Classification.
Not only that, the RCIC has to be convinced that;
- The applicant is capable of performing the job classified in the offer
- The applicant will be able to be licensed/ certified when they are in Canada for regulated occupations in the country.
This factor has a maximum of 10 points.
In this section, the RCIC is keen on evaluating how well you will cope and adapt to the new country. This is important as moving to a new country can be quite overwhelming and adaptability levels differ from one person to another. This factor is not mandatory but nice to earn extra points. One earns a maximum of 10 points.
One of the easiest ways to score these points is to bring along your spouse to Canada as a student. In Canada, the family is held in very high regard as it is considered the most important basic unit of society. Moreover, most Canadian employers believe that one is likely to have exemplary performance levels if they have the family as their major driving force.
The following elements are used to assess how well you and your spouse are likely to settle into the country.
| Adaptability | Points earned (Maximum 10) |
| Your spouse’s language level. Proof of the stated qualification must be presented during the application | 5 |
| Your past studies in Canada. One has to have completed at least 2 full-time academic years of study either at a secondary or post-secondary level. | 5 |
| Your spouse’s past studies in Canada | 5 |
| Your past work in Canada. At least 1 year of full-time work was completed in Canada either in an occupation that required skills in the FSWC TEERS or having a valid Canadian work permit. | 10 |
| Your spouse’s past work in Canada. At least 1 year of full-time work in Canada or a valid work permit | 5 |
| Valid job offers from a Canadian employer | 5 |
| You or your spouse have a relative who; lives in Canada is an adult (18 years and older) or is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident | 5 |
- A spouse is defined under the Canadian Family Law and one is considered a spouse either if you are or were married or common-law (you have lived together with another person in a marriage-like relationship for a specified period)
- A relative must either be a parent, grandparent, child/grandchild, you/ your spouse’s sibling, you/your spouse’s aunt or uncle either by blood/marriage, or you/your spouse’s niece or nephew.
You must show that you have enough money for you and your family to settle in Canada unless you:
- are currently able to legally work in Canada
- have a valid job offer from an employer in Canada
You must be admissible to Canada.
2.9. Where you can live in Canada
You must plan to live outside the province of Quebec. The province of Quebec selects its skilled workers through a different program. If you plan on living in Quebec, see Quebec-selected skilled workers for more information.
Here at Milele Immigration Services, we offer an eligibility check for applicants. Before embarking on any immigration program, it is recommended that you always understand how and where you fit in the Canadian immigration system and your chances of success to avoid wasting time and money. These chances of success are determined by your points and the industry trends. Knowing your score beforehand will:
- Give you confidence while applying for the program and significantly improve your chances of selection.
- Additionally, an eligibility check gives you the advantage of knowing which areas to improve on (e.g. improving your education level and language tests) to increase your chances of success during your next application.
However, for more conclusive details and eligibility checks, kindly book your consultation with us via https://mileleimmigrationservices.ca/book-consultation/ for a chance to speak to our principal RCIC, Loise Githiga. We are determined to help you immigrate to Canada Professionally, Authentically, and Honestly.