Federal Skilled Worker Program
Federal economic program for skilled workers whose experience is mostly outside Canada. Candidates must meet minimum rules and score at least 67 of 100 on the selection grid, then compete on CRS score in the Express Entry pool. Suits people with strong language, education and work experience who live outside Quebec.
Who it suits
- Skilled workers with at least 1 year of continuous paid work in a TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupation, in Canada or abroad
- Candidates with CLB 7 or better in English or NCLC 7 or better in French
- People planning to settle outside Quebec
Requirements
- Work experienceAt least 1 year of continuous paid work (1,560 hours total) in one primary NOC in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3, gained within the last 10 years, in Canada or abroad; must match the NOC lead statement and most main duties. ↗ canada.ca
- LanguageCLB 7 (English) or NCLC 7 (French) in all four abilities on an approved test; results under 2 years old. ↗ canada.ca
- EducationForeign education needs an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for immigration purposes; ECA must be under 5 years old. Canadian credentials need no ECA. ↗ canada.ca
- PointsScore at least 67 of 100 on the FSW selection factors (language 28, education 25, work 15, age 12, arranged employment 10, adaptability 10). ↗ canada.ca
- Settlement fundsProof of settlement funds unless currently able to work legally in Canada with a valid job offer. CAD 15,263 for one person (table dated 2025-07-07). ↗ canada.ca
- Where you liveMust plan to live outside Quebec. ↗ canada.ca
How candidates are selected
Ranked by Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score in the Express Entry pool. IRCC invites top-ranked candidates in general, program-specific or category-based rounds; the 67-point grid is only an eligibility test.
Location requirement: none (must plan to live outside Quebec)
Processing: IRCC forward-looking estimate (updated 2026-09-03): about 7 months, about 53,800 people waiting. IRCC service standard is 6 months (listed at 5.1 months actual as of 2025-09-30).
Recent rounds
| Date | Round | Minimum score | Invitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2, 2023 | Federal Skilled Worker round (last FSW-only round), draw 240 | 489 | 3,300 |
| Apr 23, 2024 | Last general round (all programs), draw 294 | 529 | 2,095 |
Related pathways
Atlantic Immigration Program
ClosedHome Care Worker Immigration Pilots (Child Care and Home Support)
ClosedAgriculture and agri-food occupations category
Limited intakeEducation occupations category
OpenHealthcare and social services occupations category
Limited intakeScience, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations category
Official sources
- canada.caProgram pageChecked 2026-10-01
- canada.caLanguage testsChecked 2026-10-01
- canada.caEducational credential assessmentChecked 2026-10-01
- canada.caProof of fundsChecked 2026-10-01
- canada.caRounds of invitationsChecked 2026-10-01
- canada.caIRCC processing timesChecked 2026-10-01
Program rules change often. This page summarizes the official pages listed above; the official page always takes precedence.