Federal Skilled Worker Program

The Federal Skilled Worker Program is for skilled workers who have foreign work experience and want to become permanent residents.

Skilled workers

We choose skilled workers based on education, work experience, language skills, and other criteria. They include:

managers and supervisors
people in jobs that usually need:
- a university degree
- a college diploma, or
- apprenticeship training

Minimum requirements

Skilled work experience

First, find out the National Occupational Classification (NOC) for your job. Then check if it meets the requirements for skilled work experience.

Find your NOC

Your skilled work experience must:

be in 1 of these TEER categories: 0, 1, 2, or 3
- TEER stands for training, education, experience and responsibilities.
have the same NOC as the job you want to use for your immigration application (called your primary occupation)
- Your primary occupation may not be your most recent work experience.
show that you performed:
- the actions in the lead statement of the NOC job description, and
- most of the main duties listed
have been obtained within the last 10 years, in Canada or abroad
be paid work (you must have been paid wages or earned commission—volunteer work or unpaid internships don’t count)
be at least 1 year of continuous work or 1,560 hours total (30 hours per week)

Your skilled work experience must meet all the requirements to be eligible.

How to count your work hours

You can meet the 1,560 hour requirement in a few different ways:

full time at 1 job: up to 30 hours/week for 12 months = 1 year full time (1,560 hours)
equal amount in part-time work: for example, 15 hours/week for 24 months = 1 year full time (1,560 hours)
- You can work as many part-time jobs as you need to meet this requirement.
full time at more than 1 job: 30 hours/week for 12 months at more than 1 job = 1 year full time (1,560 hours)

Part-time work experience

For part-time work, you can work more or less than 15 hours/week as long as it adds up to 1,560 hours. You can work more than 1 part-time job to get the hours you need to apply.

We don’t count any hours you work above 30 hours/week.

Student work experience

Work experience gained while you were studying may count towards your minimum requirements if the work:

was paid by wages or commissions
was continuous (no gaps in employment), and
meets all the other requirements of the Program

Language ability

You must:

take approved language tests in English or French
meet the minimum score in all 4 abilities:
- writing
- reading
- listening
- speaking

Education

If you went to school in Canada, you must have a certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian:

secondary institution (high school) or
post-secondary institution

If you have foreign education, you must have:

a completed educational credential and
an Educational Credential Assessment for immigration purposes

Selection factors

If you meet all the minimum requirements, we'll use selection factor points to help assess your eligibility.

We’ll assess your selection factors and assign an overall score out of 100.

If you score 67 points or higher, you may qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker Program. You can then submit a profile to the Express Entry pool.
If you score lower than 67 points, you won’t qualify for the program.

These points are different from the points we use to rank your profile in the Express Entry pool.

Language skills (maximum 28 points)

First official language (maximum 24 points)

Check the table below and add the points that match your skill level.

Points
First official language	Speaking	Listening	Reading	Writing
CLB level 9 or higher	6	6	6	6
CLB level 8	5	5	5	5
CLB level 7	4	4	4	4
Below CLB level 7	Not eligible to apply	Not eligible to apply	Not eligible to apply	Not eligible to apply

Second official language (maximum 4 points)

You can get 4 points only if you have a score of at least CLB 5 in each of the 4 language abilities.

Second official language	Points
At least CLB 5 in all of the 4 abilities	4
CLB 4 or less in any of the 4 abilities	0

Education (maximum 25 points)

You must include your Canadian credential or your foreign credential and Educational Credential Assessment report when you apply.

Find out how to read your report and calculate your points for education.

Skilled work experience (maximum 15 points)

To get selection factor points, your work experience will count if it was:

in Canada or abroad
while you were studying
while being self-employed

Use this chart to find the number of points based on your number of years of skilled work experience.

Experience	Maximum 15 points
1 year	9
2-3 years	11
4-5 years	13
6 or more years	15

Age (maximum 12 points)

You’ll get points based on your age on the day we get your application.

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

Arranged employment in Canada (maximum 10 points)

You can get points if you have a job offer of at least 1 year from a Canadian employer. You must get the job offer before you apply to come to Canada as a Federal Skilled Worker.

A valid job offer has to be:

for continuous, paid, full-time work (minimum of 30 hours/week) that is:
- not seasonal
- for at least 1 year
in an occupation listed in TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the NOC

We must be convinced that:

you’re able to do the job offered to you
you’ll be able to become licensed or certified when in Canada (if the occupation is regulated in Canada)

To get 10 points for a valid job offer, one of these situations must also apply.

Situation 1

You currently work in Canada on a work permit and you meet all of the following conditions:

Your work permit is valid both when you apply and when the permanent resident visa is issued (or you’re allowed to work in Canada without a work permit when your visa is issued).
We issued your work permit based on a positive labour market impact assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada in an occupation listed in TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the NOC.
You’re working for an employer named on your work permit.
That employer has made a valid job offer based on you being accepted as a skilled worker.

Situation 2

You currently work in Canada in a job that is exempt from the LMIA requirement because of 1 of the following:

an international agreement (such as, the North American Free Trade Agreement) or
significant benefit to Canadian interests or
a federal-provincial agreement

You must also meet all of the following conditions:

Your work permit is valid both when you apply and when the permanent resident visa is issued (or you’re allowed to work in Canada without a permit when your permanent resident visa is issued).
Your current employer has made a valid job offer based on you being accepted as a skilled worker.
You are currently working for the employer specified on your work permit.
You have been working for that employer for at least 1 year, continuous full-time or part-time equivalent.

Situation 3

You must meet all of the following conditions:

You currently don’t have a work permit, or don’t plan to work in Canada before you get a permanent resident visa.
An employer has a LMIA.
That employer has made you a valid job offer based on that LMIA and on you being accepted as a skilled worker.

Situation 4

You must meet all of the following conditions:

You have a valid work permit or are allowed to work in Canada without a work permit.
You’re currently working in Canada in a job that is exempt from a LMIA, but it is not under an international, federal-provincial agreement or because of significant benefit to Canadian interests.
An employer other than the one you are currently working for:
- has a LMIA
- has made you a valid job offer based on that LMIA and on you being accepted as a skilled worker.

Adaptability (maximum 10 points)

You and your spouse or common-law partner who will immigrate with you to Canada can earn points for adaptability.

You and your spouse can earn a maximum of 10 points by combining any of the elements below. These elements assess how well you and your spouse are likely to settle in Canada.

Adaptability	Maximum 10 points
Your spouse or partner’s language level Your spouse or common-law partner has a language level in either English or French at CLB 4 level or higher in all 4 language abilities (speaking, listening, reading and writing). To get these points, you must submit your spouse or common-law partner’s test results from an approved agency when you apply. The language tests are valid for 2 years after the date of the test result. They must be valid on the day you apply for permanent residence.	5
Your past studies in Canada You completed at least 2 academic years of full-time study (in a program at least 2 years long) at a secondary or post-secondary school in Canada. Full-time study means at least 15 hours of classes per week. You must have stayed in good academic standing (as set out by the school) during that time.	5
Your spouse or partner’s past studies in Canada Your spouse or common-law partner completed at least 2 academic years of full-time study (in a program at least 2 years long) at a secondary or post-secondary school in Canada. Full-time study means at least 15 hours of classes per week, and your spouse or partner must have stayed in good academic standing (as set out by the school) during that time.	5
Your past work in Canada You did at least 1 year of full-time work in Canada: In a job listed in TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the NOC And, with a valid work permit, or while authorized to work in Canada	10
Your spouse or common-law partner’s past work in Canada Your spouse or partner did at least 1 year of full-time work in Canada on a valid work permit or while authorized to work in Canada.	5
Arranged employment in Canada You earned points for having arranged employment.	5
Relatives in Canada You, or your spouse or common-law partner, have a relative who is: living in Canada 18 years or older and a Canadian citizen or permanent resident This relative must be a: parent grandparent child grandchild your or your spouse’s sibling (child of your or your spouse’s parent) your or your spouse’s aunt or uncle (by blood or marriage) your or your spouse’s niece or nephew (grandchild of your or your spouse’s parent)	5

Proof of funds

You must show that you have enough money for you and your family to settle in Canada.

You don't need proof of funds if you:

are currently able to legally work in Canada, and
have a valid job offer from an employer in Canada

Admissibility

You must be admissible to Canada.

Some people aren’t allowed to come to Canada. There are different reasons we may not let you into Canada, such as security, criminal or medical reasons.

Where you can live in Canada

You must plan to live outside the province of Quebec. The province of Quebec selects its own skilled workers. If you plan on living in Quebec, see Quebec-selected skilled workers for more information.

When you fill out your profile, we’ll ask you where you plan to live in Canada. You don’t have to settle in that province or territory.

If you’re a Provincial Nominee, you must settle in the province or territory that nominated you.

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Date modified:: 2024-12-13

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