FSWP VS. FSTP: A Comparison

You will need to receive at least 67 out of 100 points which are based on six factors (work experience, education, English/French language skills, age, adaptability and qualifying job offer in Canada). Another requirement for the FSWP is to have at least one year of full-time paid work experience in the past 10 years in an occupation listed in the 2021 NOC as TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3. Additionally, you will need to meet the English or French language criteria; receive a favorable Education Credential Assessment (ECA) if your education was obtained outside of Canada; and satisfy the good health, good character, proof of funds and other requirements.

You must have at least two years of full-time paid work experience in an eligible skilled trade during the previous five years. The English or French language criteria for the FSTP must also be satisfied. Applicants will need either a Certificate of Qualification for their skilled trade from the province/territory where they want to work in Canada or a qualifying offer of employment in their skilled trade lasting at least one year from an employer in Canada. The good health, good character, Proof of Funds and other criteria must also be satisfied. 

In general, a ‘federal skilled worker’ is a skilled foreign worker who has an occupation categorized in Canada’s 2021 National Occupation Classification (NOC) as TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3. The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) is a Canadian immigration program designed for these types of skilled immigrants, who also have a certain minimum amount of full-time paid work experience in their eligible occupation; meet the English/French language requirements; and satisfy other criteria for immigration to Canada.

The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) is for skilled immigrants with at least one year of full-time paid work experience in the past 10 years in an occupation categorized by the 2021 NOC as TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3. The FSWP is also a points-based Canadian immigration program that requires at least 67 out of 100 points based on six factors. The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Program is for those with at least one year of full-time paid work experience during the past three years obtained in Canada (such as international students and temporary foreign workers) in a TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupation. Many full-time international students will work in Canada in a skilled occupation after graduation with a Graduate Work Permit and then apply for Canadian permanent residency from inside Canada once they satisfy all of the criteria. Application for the FSWP and CEC is made via the Express Entry system.

According to the Canadian immigration agency, it is possible to qualify for both the FSWP and FSTP (or the CEC); however, the Invitation to Apply (ITA) which is given through the Express Entry system would be for only one program. For example, if you were eligible for both the FSWP and the FSTP, you would receive an ITA for the FSWP. In the event that you were eligible for the FSWP, FSTP and the CEC, you would get an Invitation to Apply for the CEC.

Skilled workers are those who have a post-secondary education in an occupation for which a certain level of skill is generally required. In regards to the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), these are occupations categorized by Canada’s National Occupation Classification (NOC) as TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3. Examples of ‘skilled worker’ occupations include various types of managers (for example, construction manager, financial manager, marketing manager, etc.); occupations that usually require a university degree (for example, accountant, architect, computer programmer, dentist, engineer, nurse, physician, university professor, etc.); and occupations requiring other post-secondary training (for example, aircraft mechanic, auto mechanic, baker, butcher, carpenter, chef, crane operator, dental hygienist, electrician, ironworker, machinist, plumber, welder, etc.).

A ‘skilled worker’ is categorized by Canada’s 2021 National Occupation Classification (NOC) as TEER 0 (management jobs); TEER 1 (jobs that normally require a university degree); TEER 2 (jobs that normally require a college diploma or training as an apprentice for two or more years, as well as supervisory positions); or TEER 3 (jobs that normally require a college diploma or training as an apprentice less than two years or on-the-job training lasting longer than six months). Occupations categorized as TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 are eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP). 

In order to be eligible for a skilled worker visa to Canada, you must satisfy all of requirements for the particular Canadian immigration program. In general terms, this means meeting the criteria for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) or Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Program. Each of these three Canadian immigration programs requires the applicant to have a certain amount of work experience in a skilled occupation categorized as TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 (depending on the particular program). Other criteria must also be satisfied. Additionally, you will need to create an online Express Entry profile, be placed into the pool of candidates and receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residency.

A temporary Work Permit allows an individual to work in Canada for a limited amount of time, whereas a Permanent Resident Visa for skilled foreign workers authorizes a person to live, study and work in Canada for an unlimited period of time. Some temporary Work Permits allow individuals to work in Canada for a specific employer, while other temporary Work Permits have the option to work in Canada for almost any employer. Before the temporary Work Permit expires, the foreign worker needs to apply for an extension if the criteria are satisfied or apply for Canadian permanent residency if the requirements are met or leave the country if some other legal status cannot be attained. Consequently, many skilled foreign workers prefer to apply for Canadian permanent residency through programs such as the FSWP and FSTP so they and their family members can live and work in Canada long-term and eventually apply for Canadian citizenship.

Skilled foreign workers who apply for Canadian immigration must generally demonstrate that they possess a certain level of proficiency in either the English or French language by receiving a particular score or higher on an approved language evaluation test, such as the IELTS General Training Exam for English or the TEF Canada for French. The minimum IELTS score for the English language for skilled foreign workers applying for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) is 6.0 for speaking, 6.0 for reading, 6.0 for writing and 6.0-7.0 for listening (equivalent to CLB 7). An IELTS score higher than the minimum may be needed, however, in order to reach 67 out of 100 points required for the FSWP.