Eligibility for FSW Canada and SIX selection factors

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Specific eligibility criteria – Federal skilled workers

A. Basic eligibility– Federal skilled workers

We can only process your application if you:

• have one year of continuous full-time (or an equal amount of continuous part-time) paid work experience
  • in one of the eligible occupations within the last ten years, OR
• have a valid offer of arranged employment, OR
• are an international student who is enrolled in a PhD program in Canada (or who graduated from a Canadian PhD program within the past 12 months) and meet the factors below.

Also, no matter which of the three groups above you apply under, you must:

• include the results of your official language test showing that you meet the minimum language threshold (Canadian Language Benchmark 7) in all four language skill areas (speaking, listening, reading and writing) when you apply, and
• include either a completed Canadian educational credential or a completed foreign educational credential with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from an approved organization, and
• have at least one year of continuous full-time (or an equal amount in continuous part-time) paid work experience within the last ten years in the primary occupation you state in your application.

Remember that even if your application is eligible to be processed, you must meet all of the other FSW program requirements, such as meeting the pass mark on the selection grid and having enough money to support you and your family in Canada.

See basic eligibility criteria for each of the three groups below.

1. Eligible occupations

2. Arranged employment

3. PhD students

If you are eligible, we will tell you that we have sent your application to one of our offices for processing. They will assess the rest of your application. Once they have started this process, we cannot give you a refund on your fee.

Note: If you got an Educational Credential Assessment, it does not guarantee you a job in your field or that you will be able to get a license in Canada. If you plan to work in an occupation that is regulated in Canada, you should contact the regulatory authority in the province where you plan to live.  They can give you important information about getting your license, including any steps you can take before you leave your home country.

There are many ways to immigrate to Canada. If you do not meet the criteria to apply under the FSWP, you may qualify under another category. Learn more about your options.

Six selection factors – Federal skilled workers

If you are eligible to apply as a federal skilled worker, we will assess you on a point system based on six selection factors.

Selection Factor	Maximum points
English and/or French skills	28
Education	25
Experience	15
Age	12
Arranged employment in Canada	10
Adaptability	10
Total	100
Pass mark: 67 out of 100 points

If your score is 67 points or higher, you may qualify to immigrate to Canada as a federal skilled worker.

If your score is lower than the pass mark of 67 points, you will not qualify to immigrate to Canada as a federal skilled worker. It is better not to apply at this time.

Principal applicant

If you are married or you live with a common-law partner, either you or your spouse can apply as the principal (main) applicant.

Look at each selection factor and see which one of you is most likely to meet the eligibility requirements and earn the most points. That person should apply as the principal applicant. The other person would apply as a dependant.