Canada Visa for Work: Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP)
As Canada’s economy continues to grow, the country is facing a shortage of skilled workers while the number of retirees is increasing, resulting in a reduced workforce. To address this issue, the Canadian government and organizations have been actively seeking skilled workers to fill numerous job vacancies across the country.
In order to attract a large number of skilled workers who can seamlessly integrate into Canada’s economy, the Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP) was established. This program offers a long-term Canadian work visa, also known as a Permanent Visa to Canada, to foreign nationals in various high-demand managerial, professional, and technical occupations that typically require a college or university education or advanced training.
Previously, the immigration process for a work visa to Canada was not effectively meeting the growing needs of the country’s dynamic labor market. Many skilled workers were struggling to find jobs in their field, and employers were also facing challenges in finding workers with the required skills and qualifications. As a result, the Canadian government, in consultation with business leaders and experts, updated the requirements for the Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP) to offer a Permanent Residence (PR) Visa to Canada to foreign skilled workers who are well-positioned to meet the needs of businesses across the country and secure jobs in their specific field. Not only were the application requirements for the FSWP updated, but the Canadian immigration system was also improved to provide a faster pathway to a PR Visa to Canada through the new “Express Entry” system, which was officially launched on January 1, 2015.
Who can apply for the FSWP?
The Canadian government aims to grant Permanent Resident (PR) Visa to Canada to approximately 142,500 to 176,000 “economic immigrants” in 2019 through various Canadian immigration programs, including the Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP). Skilled foreign workers and their eligible family members who are granted a PR Visa to Canada through the FSWP are authorized to live and work in Canada on a long-term basis, access free basic healthcare (after a short waiting period), enroll in educational programs, and enjoy the high standard of living that Canada is renowned for. Another significant benefit of being granted a PR Visa to Canada through the FSWP is the option to apply for Canadian citizenship after living in Canada as a permanent resident for at least four years and meeting other requirements.
Recent changes to this long-term Canadian work visa program will better select skilled foreign workers who meet Canada’s current and evolving economic needs. By placing more emphasis on language proficiency, education, age, and skill profile of skilled foreign workers, candidates selected under the Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP) will be able to seek jobs in Canada that closely align with their training more efficiently. These changes will also streamline the process for Canadian employers and expedite the process for employers and international skilled workers in relation to arranged employment offers in Canada.
The Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP) is a points-based Canadian immigration program designed to offer a Permanent Residence (PR) Visa to Canada to a large number of eligible skilled workers (and their eligible family members) who meet specific criteria. Points are awarded for factors considered important to the success of skilled foreign workers who move to Canada, such as:
- English/French language skills (maximum of 28 points)
- Education (maximum of 25 points)
- Work experience (maximum of 15 points)
- Age (maximum of 12 points)
- Qualifying Canadian job offer (maximum of 10 points)
- Adaptability (maximum of 10 points)
A minimum of 67 points out of a maximum of 100 points is required to qualify for the FSWP. Applicants must also have their English and/or French language abilities assessed by taking the IELTS and/or TEF tests and obtain an acceptable score, obtain a positive Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from one of three organizations authorized by the Canadian government, and meet health and character standards, among other criteria.
Please note that if you wish to live and work in Quebec, you cannot apply for immigration to Canada through the FSWP and must instead apply through the Quebec Skilled Workers Program (QSWP).
One of the key eligibility requirements for the FSWP is to have at least one year of continuous full-time paid work experience in the past 10 years in a qualifying occupation listed by the National Occupational Classification (NOC) as being at Skill Type 0 (certain management occupations), Skill Level A (professional occupations usually requiring a degree), or Skill Level B (technical jobs and skilled trades usually requiring a degree or apprenticeship training).
As of January 1, 2015, there are numerous managerial, professional, and other high-demand occupations that are eligible for the FSWP, including:
- Accountants
- Architects
- Audiologists and Speech Pathologists
- Banking, Credit, and Other Investment Managers
- Chemical Engineers
- Chemists
- Civil Engineers
- College and Other Vocational Instructors
- Computer and Information Systems Managers
- Computer Programmers and Interactive Media Developers
- Construction Managers
- Database Analysts and Data Administrators
- Dentists
- Dietitians and Nutritionists
- Electrical and Electronics Engineers
- Elementary and Kindergarten Teachers
- Engineering Managers
- Financial and Investment Analysts
- General Practitioners and Family Physicians
- Geoscientists and Oceanographers
- Human Resources Managers
- Land Surveyors
- Managers in Health Care
- Mechanical Engineers
- Occupational Therapists
- Optometrists
- Petroleum Engineers
- Pharmacists
- Physicists and Astronomers
- Physiotherapists
- Professional Occupations in Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations
- Psychologists
- Purchasing Managers
- Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses
- Restaurant and Food Service Managers
- Retail and Wholesale Trade Managers
- School Principals and Administrators of Elementary and Secondary Education
- Secondary School (High School) Teachers
- Securities Agents, Investment Dealers, and Brokers
- Senior Managers – Construction, Transportation, Production, and Utilities
- Senior Managers – Financial, Communications, and Other Business Services
- Software Engineers and Designers
- Specialist Physicians
- Translators, Terminologists, and Interpreters
- University Professors and Lecturers
Please note that the above occupations are just a limited sample of the many occupations that qualify for the FSWP, and there are many additional occupations that are also eligible for this popular Canadian immigration program.
Note:
On January 1, 2015, the Canadian government launched its new “Express Entry” immigration system for eligible skilled foreign workers applying for Permanent Residence (PR) Visa to Canada through the Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP) and certain other “economic immigration” programs. The main objective of the new “Express Entry” Canadian immigration system is to expedite the process of approving qualified skilled foreign workers for a PR Visa to Canada so they can help meet the workforce needs of Canadian companies.