Federal Skilled Worker Program

Express Entry: Federal Skilled Worker Program

1. Work experience

   FSW minimum: one year of continuous skilled work in the primary occupation within 10 years

   Within the 10 years before the application, at least 1 year of continuous full-time work (30 hours/week) or 1,560 hours total of equivalent part-time work (part-time weekly hours may be more or less than 15 as long as they total 1,560), in the single NOC 2021 occupation claimed as the primary occupation, which must be in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 and not a restricted occupation. Work may be in Canada or abroad and must be paid (wages or commission); volunteer work and unpaid internships do not count. Paid work done while studying may count if it is continuous and meets all other requirements. During that period the applicant must have performed the actions in the NOC lead statement and a substantial number of the main duties, including all of the essential duties (IRPR 75(2)(a)–(c)). Hours above 30/week in one occupation, or simultaneous full-time jobs, are counted as a single full-time period (IRPR 80(4)). If any minimum requirement is not met the application is refused without further assessment (IRPR 75(3)).

   Express Entry: Federal Skilled Worker ProgramChecked October 18, 2026Reference PR-FSW-001
2. Language

   FSW minimum language CLB/NCLC 7 in all four abilities, and grid language points

   Approved English or French test results, less than 2 years old, showing at least CLB/NCLC 7 in each of speaking, listening, reading and writing in the first official language (below CLB 7 = not eligible to apply). Selection-grid points (max 28): first official language 4 points per ability at CLB 7, 5 per ability at CLB 8, 6 per ability at CLB 9 or higher (max 24); second official language 4 points only if at least CLB/NCLC 5 in all four abilities, otherwise 0 (max 4). Score equivalents for CLB 7 published by IRCC: CELPIP-General 7 in each ability; IELTS General Training 6.0 in each ability; PTE Core speaking 68, listening 60, reading 60, writing 69; TCF Canada speaking 10, listening 458, reading 453, writing 10; TEF Canada (NCLC 7, 'Équivalence ancien score' column) speaking 310, listening 249, reading 207, writing 310.

   Express Entry: Federal Skilled Worker ProgramChecked October 18, 2026Reference PR-FSW-002
3. Education

   FSW minimum education credential and grid education points

   The applicant must submit either a Canadian educational credential (secondary diploma or post-secondary credential from a recognized Canadian institution) or a foreign credential with an equivalency assessment (ECA) that is less than 5 years old on the application date (IRPR 75(2)(e)); for physicians, pharmacists and architects needing a licence, the ECA must come from the designated professional body (IRPR 75(2.1)). Grid points (max 25, IRPR 78): secondary 5; one-year post-secondary 15; two-year post-secondary 19; post-secondary of three years or longer 21; two or more post-secondary credentials, one of three years or longer 22; master's or entry-to-practice professional degree for a licensed TEER 1 occupation 23; doctoral 25. Points are not cumulative except for the two-or-more category, and the highest-scoring credential is used.

   Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (SOR/2002-227)Checked October 18, 2026Reference PR-FSW-003
4. SelectionUntil November 2, 2026

   FSW 67-point pass mark on the six selection factors (until November 2, 2026)

   An eligible applicant must score at least 67 out of 100 on six factors: language (max 28), education (max 25), work experience (max 15), age (max 12), arranged employment (max 10) and adaptability (max 10). These grid points are separate from CRS points. Whether or not the 67 points are reached, an officer may substitute their own evaluation of the likelihood of economic establishment if the points are not a sufficient indicator; a substituted evaluation requires a second officer's concurrence (IRPR 76(3)–(4)). The requirements must be met both on the application date and on the date the visa is issued (IRPR 77).

   Express Entry: Federal Skilled Worker ProgramChecked October 18, 2026Reference PR-FSW-004
5. Selection

   FSW grid: work experience points (max 15)

   Points for full-time work experience (or equivalent part-time) within the 10 years before the application in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupations (other than restricted occupations): 1 year = 9; 2–3 years = 11; 4–5 years = 13; 6 or more years = 15. Experience counts if the lead statement and a substantial number of main duties, including all essential duties, were performed, regardless of whether the NOC employment requirements were met. Each occupation relied on must be identified by its five-digit NOC code in the application; officers need not consider occupations not specified.

   Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (SOR/2002-227)Checked October 18, 2026Reference PR-FSW-005
6. Selection

   FSW grid: age points (max 12)

   Age on the date the application is made: 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; under 18 or 47 and older = 0.

   Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (SOR/2002-227)Checked October 18, 2026Reference PR-FSW-006
7. SelectionUntil November 2, 2026

   FSW grid: arranged employment points (max 10) (until November 2, 2026)

   10 points for a written offer from a single employer (not an embassy, high commission or consulate) of continuous, paid, full-time (at least 30 hours/week), non-seasonal work of at least 1 year after the PR visa is issued, in a TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupation, where the applicant is able to perform and likely to accept the job and one of these applies: (a) in Canada on a work permit based on a positive LMIA for the current employer, who makes the offer; (b) in Canada on an LMIA-exempt work permit issued under an international agreement, significant benefit or federal-provincial agreement (IRPR 204(a)/(c) or 205), working for the employer named on the permit for at least 1 year continuously, and that employer makes the offer; (c) no work permit/not authorized to work, and an officer approves the offer based on an LMIA obtained by the employer; or (d) holding a work permit or authorized to work in other circumstances, and a different employer with an approved LMIA makes the offer. Arranged employment also earns 5 adaptability points.

   Express Entry: Federal Skilled Worker ProgramChecked October 18, 2026Reference PR-FSW-007
8. SelectionUntil November 2, 2026

   FSW grid: adaptability points (max 10 combined) (until November 2, 2026)

   Any combination up to 10 points: accompanying spouse/partner (not a Canadian citizen or PR living in Canada) has CLB/NCLC 4 or higher in all four abilities on an approved test less than 2 years old = 5; applicant completed at least 2 academic years of full-time study (15+ hours/week, authorized) in a program of at least 2 years at a recognized Canadian secondary or post-secondary institution, in good standing = 5; same for the accompanying spouse/partner = 5; applicant's previous full-time authorized work in Canada of at least 1 year in a TEER 0–3 occupation = 10; accompanying spouse/partner's previous full-time authorized work in Canada of at least 1 year = 5; arranged employment points awarded = 5; applicant or accompanying spouse/partner is related by blood, marriage, common-law partnership or adoption to a Canadian citizen or PR living in Canada, aged 18 or older, who is a parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, sibling, aunt/uncle or niece/nephew = 5.

   Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (SOR/2002-227)Checked October 18, 2026Reference PR-FSW-008
9. SelectionFrom November 3, 2026

   FSW grid from November 3, 2026: arranged employment points (max 10), no LMIA needed

   10 points for a valid job offer: from 1 employer (not an embassy, high commission or consulate), continuous, paid, full-time (at least 30 hours a week), not seasonal, for at least 1 year if the applicant is accepted as a permanent resident, and in a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupation the applicant is able to do and likely to accept. As of November 3, 2026, an LMIA is no longer required: IRCC’s job offer page says valid job offers to meet eligibility criteria can be in either a non-high-wage or high-wage occupation, and a temporary public policy exempts candidates invited to apply on or after November 3, 2026 from all LMIA requirements for qualifying job offers used for Federal Skilled Worker eligibility, provided they meet its conditions. Officers assess whether the offer is genuine. Arranged employment also earns 5 adaptability points.

   Express Entry: Job offerChecked October 18, 2026Reference PR-FSW-009
10. SelectionFrom November 3, 2026

    FSW 67-point pass mark on the six selection factors, from November 3, 2026

    An eligible applicant must score at least 67 out of 100 on six factors: language (max 28), education (max 25), work experience (max 15), age (max 12), arranged employment (max 10) and adaptability (max 10). These grid points are separate from CRS points. Whether or not the 67 points are reached, an officer may substitute their own evaluation of the likelihood of economic establishment if the points are not a sufficient indicator; a substituted evaluation requires a second officer's concurrence (IRPR 76(3)–(4)). The requirements must be met both on the application date and on the date the visa is issued (IRPR 77). From November 3, 2026, the arranged employment factor (PR-FSW-009) no longer needs an LMIA.

    Express Entry: Federal Skilled Worker ProgramChecked October 18, 2026Reference PR-FSW-010
11. SelectionFrom November 3, 2026

    FSW grid from November 3, 2026: adaptability points (max 10 combined)

    Any combination up to 10 points: accompanying spouse/partner (not a Canadian citizen or PR living in Canada) has CLB/NCLC 4 or higher in all four abilities on an approved test less than 2 years old = 5; applicant completed at least 2 academic years of full-time study (15+ hours/week, authorized) in a program of at least 2 years at a recognized Canadian secondary or post-secondary institution, in good standing = 5; same for the accompanying spouse/partner = 5; applicant's previous full-time authorized work in Canada of at least 1 year in a TEER 0–3 occupation = 10; accompanying spouse/partner's previous full-time authorized work in Canada of at least 1 year = 5; arranged employment points awarded = 5; applicant or accompanying spouse/partner is related by blood, marriage, common-law partnership or adoption to a Canadian citizen or PR living in Canada, aged 18 or older, who is a parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, sibling, aunt/uncle or niece/nephew = 5. From November 3, 2026, arranged employment (PR-FSW-009) no longer needs an LMIA, so a valid job offer earns the 5 arranged-employment adaptability points whatever it is based on.

    Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (SOR/2002-227)Checked October 18, 2026Reference PR-FSW-011