FSWP VS. FSTP: A Comparison

Two of the most popular Canadian immigration programs for skilled foreign workers are the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).

Some people confuse the FSWP and the FSTP, because their names are similar, yet, there are distinct differences in their requirements, application procedures and other aspects. 

Nonetheless, the FSWP and FSTP have some similarities as well.

This article will provide you with an overview of the FSWP and FSTP, including how these Canadian immigration programs are similar and how they are different, so keep reading to learn more!

Table of Contents

Overview of The FSWP (Federal Skilled Worker Program)

Requirements

  • This points-based Canadian immigration program requires at least 67 out of 100 points based on 6 factors:
    • Education
    • Work experience
    • English and/or French language skills
    • Age
    • Qualifying Canadian job offer
    • Adaptability
  • One year of full-time paid work experience in the past 10 years in a job listed in the 2021 NOC as:
    • TEER 0 (various management jobs)
    • TEER 1 (jobs for which a university degree is normally required)
    • TEER 2 (jobs that normally require a college diploma or apprenticeship of 2 or more years, or are supervisory)
    • TEER 3 (jobs that normally require a college diploma or apprenticeship less than 2 years or at least 6 months of on-the-job training)
  • Receive a score equivalent to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 for reading, writing, speaking and listening on an authorized evaluation exam for English (such as the IELTS General Training Exam) or French (such as the TEF Canada) taken during the past two years
  • Education Credential Assessment (ECA) – You must receive a favorable ECA of your education if it was received outside of Canada to show that it is equivalent to a Canadian education.
  • Proof of Funds – You must have enough money to support yourself and your family while living in Canada.
  • Good Health and Character – You must be in good health and not have a criminal record.

Express Entry Points Score

  • Applicants will need to file an online Express Entry profile with their relevant details.
  • A Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points score will be calculated (1200 points are possible).
  • Those who qualify for the FSWP will be placed in the Express Entry pool of candidates.
  • An Invitation to Apply (ITA) may be issued to candidates in the pool who:
    • have the highest CRS scores; or
    • receive a provincial nomination; or
    • get a qualifying Canadian job offer; or
    • are in a high-demand category.
  • Candidates who receive an ITA must file the application for Canadian permanent residency within 60 days.
  • A decision is usually received within 6 months after the Canadian PR application is filed via Express Entry.

Overview of The FSTP (Federal Skilled Trades Program)

Requirements

  • Two years of full-time paid work experience in the past five years in a qualifying skilled trade:
    • Major Group 72 (technical trades and certain transportation controllers or officers)
    • Major Group 73 (general trades)
    • Major Group 82 (supervisors for natural resources or agriculture and similar production)
    • Major Group 83 (various jobs in natural resources or related production)
    • Major Group 92 (controllers and operators of utilities; supervisors of manufacturing, processing and utilities)
    • Major Group 93 (aircraft assemblers and inspectors; central control and process operators)
    • Minor Group 6320 (bakers, butchers and cooks)
    • Unit Group 62200 (chefs)
  • Satisfy the English or French language requirements for the FSTP by receiving at least a certain minimum score on an approved evaluation exam for English (such as the IELTS General Training Exam) or French (such as the TEF Canada) taken within the past two years:
    • Speaking and Listening scores each equivalent to CLB 5
    • Reading and Writing scores each equivalent to CLB 4
  • Receive a Certificate of Qualification for your skilled trade from the province or territory where you will work in Canada or have a qualifying job offer of full-time paid employment in Canada for your skilled trade lasting at least one year from a Canadian employer
  • Proof of Funds – You must have enough money to support yourself and your family while living in Canada.
  • Good Health and Character – You must be in good health and not have a criminal record.

Express Entry Points Score

  • Applicants will need to file an online Express Entry profile with their relevant details.
  • A Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points score will be calculated (1200 points are possible).
  • Those who qualify for the FSTP will be placed in the Express Entry pool of candidates.
  • An Invitation to Apply (ITA) may be issued to candidates in the pool who:
    • have the highest CRS scores; or
    • receive a provincial nomination; or
    • get a qualifying Canadian job offer; or
    • are in a high-demand category.
  • Candidates who receive an ITA must file the application for Canadian permanent residency within 60 days.
  • A decision is usually received within 6 months after the Canadian PR application is filed via Express Entry.

FSWP & FSTP Similarities

The FSWP and FSTP are similar in several respects such as:

  • Both are designed for skilled foreign workers with occupations that are in high demand in Canada.
  • Applicants must receive a certain score on an approved evaluation exam for the English or French language.
  • Application for Canadian immigration through the FSWP or FSTP is done through the Express Entry system.
  • An Express Entry profile is created online and a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score is calculated.
  • FSWP and FSTP candidates in the Express Entry pool must receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
  • Once the ITA is received, FSWP and FSTP candidates have 60 days to file a Canadian immigration application.
  • There is a common requirement to be in good health, not have a criminal record and show Proof of Funds.
  • FSWP and FSTP applicants normally receive a decision within six months after filing the Canadian PR application.

FSWP & FSTP Differences

There are differences between the FSWP and the FSTP such as:

  • The FSWP requires 1 year of experience in the past 10 years, while the FSTP requires 2 years in the last 5 years.
  • Language skills for the FSTP are easier to satisfy (i.e., a lower exam score is needed) than for the FSWP.
  • A minimum number of points (67/100) is required for the FSWP, whereas the FSTP does not use a point system.
  • Education for the FSWP is largely received at the university level, while the FSTP generally requires vocational training.
  • The FSWP requires an Education Credential Assessment (ECA) for an education received outside of Canada.
  • The FSTP requires a qualifying job offer if a Certificate of Qualification has not been received, whereas the FSWP does not require an offer of employment in Canada, however, points can be awarded toward the FSWP point score.

Which Canadian Immigration Program Is The Best Fit For You?

You should now have a better understanding of the differences between the federal skilled worker and trades programs for Canadian immigration.

The question may arise, however, as to which of these Canadian immigration programs is the best fit for you.

This will depend on your occupation, years of experience, English or French language skills and other factors.

Keep in mind that the FSWP and FSTP are only two of several Canadian immigration programs and other options with different criteria and procedures may be available, such as the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP).  

Conclusion

If you want to live and work in Canada, but don’t know which Canadian immigration program is right for you, don’t worry!

Canadian Visa Expert and its team can help to make the complex immigration procedure easier for you to understand and to complete correctly.

Since 2012, Canadian Visa Expert has been working with authorized immigration consultants who can evaluate your eligibility for immigration to Canada and guide you through each step of the application procedure if you qualify.

The first step is to learn whether you satisfy the criteria for a particular Canadian immigration program.

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GENERAL INFORMATION

Discover Frequently Asked Questions from Our Support

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.

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