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Federal Skilled Worker / Express Entry

Federal skilled worker Program (Express Entry)

Federal Skilled workers are defined by Citizenship and Immigration Canada as people selected based on their education, work experience, knowledge of English and/or French, and other criteria that have been shown to help them become economically established in Canada. If you want to qualify to immigrate to Canada as a federal skilled worker you have to score 67 points or higher (out of 100). If you score lower than the pass mark of 67 points, you won't qualify to immigrate to Canada as a federal skilled worker. The much awaited Alberta Express Entry Stream has been unveiled by the province, along with a new Alberta Opportunity Stream. Alberta is the latest province to implement an Express Entry-based provincial nomination stream.

Six selection factors – Federal skilled workers (Express Entry)

If you score 67 points or higher (out of 100), you may qualify to immigrate to Canada as a federal skilled worker.

If you score lower than the pass mark of 67 points, you won’t qualify to immigrate to Canada as a federal skilled worker.

A. Skilled work experience

(Maximum 15 points)

Your work experience must be:

  • in the same type of job as your primary NOC
  • within the last 10 years
  • paid work (volunteer work, unpaid internships don’t count)
  • at skill type 0, or skill levels A or B of the 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC)
  • at least 1 year (1,560 hours total / 30 hours per week), continuous:
    • full-time at 1 job: 30 hours/week for 12 months = 1 year full time (1,560 hours)
    • equal amount in part-time: 15 hours/week for 24 months = 1 year full time (1,560 hours)
    • 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)

You must show that you did the duties set out in the occupational description in the NOC. This includes most of the main duties listed.

If you can’t show that your work experience meets the description in the NOC, you aren’t eligible under this program.

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

B. Language ability

(Maximum 28 points)

You must:

You must show that you meet the requirements in English or French. Your test results must not be more than two years old on the day you apply for permanent residence.

CELPIP
First official language (Maximum 24 points)
CLB Level Ability: Speaking Ability: Listening Ability: Reading Ability: Writing Points per ability
7
CELPIP-G		 7 7 7 7 4
8
CELPIP-G		 8 8 8 8 5
9
CELPIP-G		 9 9 9 9 6
10 and above
CELPIP-G		 10+ 10+ 10+ 10+ 6
Second official language (4 points if you meet the minimum threshold in all four language abilities)
CLB Level Ability: Speaking Ability: Listening Ability: Reading Ability: Writing Points (total)
5 and above 5 – 12 5 – 12 5 – 12 5 – 12 4
IELTS
Responsive Table
First official language (Maximum 24 points)
CLB Level Ability: Speaking Ability: Listening Ability: Reading Ability: Writing Points per ability
7 6.0 6.0 – 7.0 6.0 6.0 4
8 6.5 7.5 6.5 6.5 5
9 7.0 8.0 7.0 7.0 6
10 and above 7.5 – 9.0 8.5 – 9.0 8.0 – 9.0 7.5 – 9.0 6
Second official language (4 points if you meet the minimum threshold in all four language abilities)
CLB Level Ability: Speaking Ability: Listening Ability: Reading Ability: Writing Points (total)
5 and above 5.0 – 9.0 5.0 – 9.0 4.0 – 9.0 5.0 – 9.0 4
TEF
Bootstrap Table
First official language (Maximum 24 points)
NCLC Level Ability: Speaking (expression orale) Ability: Listening (compréhension de l’orale) Ability: Reading (compréhension de l’écrit) Ability: Writing (expression écrite) Points (per ability)
7 310 – 348 249 – 279 207 – 232 310 – 348 4
8 349 – 370 280 – 297 233 – 247 349 – 370 5
9 and above 371+ 298+ 248+ 371+ 6
Second official language (4 points if you meet the minimum threshold in each of the four language abilities)
NCLC Level Ability: Speaking (expression orale) Ability: Listening (compréhension de l’orale) Ability: Reading (compréhension de l’écrit) Ability: Writing (expression écrite) Points (per ability)
5 and above 226 – 371+ 181 – 298+ 151 – 248+ 226 – 371+ 4

C. EDUCATION

(Maximum 25 points)

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

  • secondary (high school) or
  • post-secondary school

If you have foreign education, you must have:

You will need to get an ECA for your foreign degree, diploma or certificate if:

A. You want to be considered for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) under Express Entry, and

B. You want to receive Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for your foreign education

  • for yourself as an Express Entry candidate, or
  • for your spouse or common-law partner coming with you to Canada.

To be eligible under a) or to get points under b) you must include ECA results as part of your Express Entry profile.

The ECA report must show that your completed foreign credential (degree, diploma or certificate) is equal to a completed Canadian secondary school (high school) or post-secondary credential.

You must submit an ECA for all levels of completed foreign education you want us to consider. It is up to you to decide which credentials to have assessed by a designated organization.

Bootstrap Table
Education Maximum 25 points
University degree at the Doctoral (PhD) level or equal 25 points
University degree at the Master’s level or equal OR University level entry-to-practice professional degree (or equal). Occupation related to the degree must be:
  • NOC 2016 Skill Level A, and
  • licensed by a provincial regulatory body
 23 points
Two or more Canadian post-secondary degrees or diplomas or equal (at least one must be for a program of at least three years) 22 points
Canadian post-secondary degree or diploma for a program of three years or longer, or equal 21 points
Canadian post-secondary degree or diploma for a two-year program, or equal 19 points
Canadian post-secondary degree or diploma for a one-year program, or equal 15 points
Canadian high school diploma, or equal 5 points

D. AGE

(Maximum 12 points)

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

Bootstrap Table
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

E. Arranged employment in Canada

(Maximum 10 points)

You can get points if you have a, full-time job offer of at least one 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 that is:
    • not seasonal
    • for at least one year
  • in an occupation listed as Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B of the NOC.

You can get 10 points for a valid job offer. To be valid, one of these cases must apply:

1. You currently work in Canada on a temporary work permit and

  • your work permit is valid both when you apply and when the visa is issued (or you’re authorized 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 (ESDC). Your employer would’ve applied for the LMIA, which you then had to attach to your application to us
  • you’re working for an employer named on your work permit who has made a permanent job offer based on you being accepted as a skilled worker

2. You currently work in Canada in a job that is exempt from the LMIA requirement under:

  • an international agreement (such as, the North America Free Trade Agreement) or
  • a federal-provincial agreement and
    • your work permit is valid both when you apply and when the visa is issued (or you’re authorized to work in Canada without a permit when your visa is issued)
    • your current employer has made a permanent job offer based on you being accepted as a skilled worker

3. You currently don’t:

  • have a work permit, or
  • plan to work in Canada before you get a permanent resident visa

OR

you’re currently working in Canada and a different employer has offered to give you a permanent full-time job

OR

you’re currently working in Canada in a job that is exempt from a Labour Market Impact Assessment, but not under an international or federal-provincial agreement

AND

an employer has:

  • made you a permanent job offer based on you being accepted as a skilled worker and
  • a positive LMIA from ESDC

F. Adaptability

(Maximum 10 points)

If you have a spouse or common-law partner who will immigrate with you to Canada, they can earn points for adaptability too. You can only get points for each item once.

The maximum number of points in this section is 10.

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 four language abilities (speaking, listening, reading, and writing). To get these points, you must submit test results from an approved agency when you apply. Results can't be more than two years old on the day you apply. 		5
Your past study in Canada
You finished at least two academic years of full-time study (in a program at least two years long) at a secondary or post-secondary school in Canada. Full-time study means at least 15 hours of classes per week, and you must have stayed in good academic standing (as set out by the school) during that time. 		5
Your spouse or partner’s past study in Canada
Your spouse or common-law partner finished at least two academic years of full-time study (in a program at least two 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 one year of full-time work in Canada:
  • in a job listed in Skill Type 0 or Skill Levels A or B of the National Occupational Classification (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 / partner did at least one 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 under Factor 5: Arranged Employment. 		5
Relatives in Canada
You, or if it applies, your spouse or common-law partner, have a relative:
  • living in Canada
  • 18 years or older and
  • a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
This relative must be a:
  • parent
  • grandparent
  • child
  • grandchild
  • child of a parent (sibling)
  • child of a grandparent (aunt or uncle)
  • grandchild of a parent (niece or nephew)

G. Proof of funds

You must show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family after you arrive in Canada, unless you:

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

The amount of money you need to support your family is set by the size of your family. To calculate the size of your family you must include:

  • yourself
  • your spouse or partner
  • your dependent children and
  • your spouse’s dependent children

This includes your spouse or dependent children who are permanent residents or Canadian citizens.

You will need to show proof that you have enough money when you apply to immigrate.

Number of Family Members Funds Required (in Canadian dollars)
1 $12,474
2 $15,530
3 $19,092
4 $23,181
5 $26,291
6 $29,652
7 $33,013
For each additional family member $3,361

Note: All Excerpts are from IRCC

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