Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC)

Up to 24 points may be awarded for your first language ability, with a further four points on offer if you can prove ability in a second language. An additional five points may be obtained if the spouse/common-law partner of a candidate also proves language ability; these points are available under the ‘adaptability’ factor, outlined below.

All candidates, regardless of background, are required to prove language ability in English and/or French. There are three tests recognized for the purpose of assessing language ability:

1. IELTS (International English Language Testing System)

• Only the IELTS General edition is recognized for immigration purposes (the Academic version is not).
• This test is available at test centres internationally.

2. CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program)

• This test is available within Canada only.

3. TEF (Test d’Évaluation de Français)

• This French test is available internationally.

In order to gauge a common equivalence of ability among candidates who take different tests, test scores are converted into what are known as Canadian Language Benchmarks, or CLBs, which range from 1 to 12. For the FSWC, candidates who obtain a test score equivalent to 9 or higher in any single language ability in their first language are awarded the full number of points available for that ability.

CELPIP test results align with CLBs perfectly, whereas IELTS and TEF results do not.

Points are assigned on the following basis:

First language ability

Second language ability

Spouse / common-law partner’s language ability (first language only)

Points for level of education are assessed on the following basis:

Some notes on work experience and the Federal Skilled Worker Class:

• Only skilled work experience is counted. Skilled work experience is work experience in an occupation that falls under a National Occupational Classification (NOC) code at 0, A or B level.
• A minimum of nine points must be obtained under the work experience in order for a candidates to be eligible under the Federal Skilled Worker Class.

Points are available for work experience on the following basis.

Points are available for age on the following basis:

Having ‘arranged employment’ in Canada can result in 10 points being awarded. This is when a candidate receives a qualifying offer of full-time employment in Canada under one of the following scenarios:

The candidate is currently working in Canada on a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)-based work permit in a skilled occupation.

• The work permit must be valid when the application is made.
• The employer has made a full-time job offer in a skilled occupation to the candidate.

OR

The candidate is currently working in Canada on a LMIA-exempt work permit or a work permit issued under a provincial/territorial agreement.

• The work permit must be valid when the application is made.
• The employer has made a full-time job offer in a skilled occupation to the candidate.

OR

The candidate holds a valid Canadian work permit or is otherwise authorized to work in Canada, but does not fall into either of the above scenarios.

• The work permit authorization is valid when the application is made.
• A prospective employer has offered a permanent, full-time job to the candidate.
• This job offer is supported by a positive LMIA.

OR

The candidate does not hold a valid Canadian work permit.

• A prospective employer has offered a permanent, full-time job to the candidate.
• This job offer is supported by a positive LMIA.

In any of the above scenarios, 10 points may be awarded under the arranged employment factor. A further five points may be awarded for arranged employment under the adaptability factor (see below).

Federal Skilled Worker Class candidates may obtain up to 10 points under the adaptability factor, which assesses individuals’ and families’ ability to become established in Canada from an economic and social point of view.

Though the table below shows the various ways whereby a candidate may be awarded points under this factor, please note that you ‘max out’ once you receive 10 points for adaptability.

*The relative must be at least 18 years of age and may be the relative of the candidate or his or her spouse/common-law partner. The relative may be a parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, sibling, aunt, uncle, niece or nephew, and the relative must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.