Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW): Requirements and 67-Point Grid

The Federal Skilled Worker Program is one of the three programs managed through Express Entry. It is the main federal route for people who have skilled work experience abroad and want to move to Canada permanently. You do not need Canadian work experience or a job offer.

FSW has two separate tests:

1. Minimum requirements plus the 67-point FSW grid. These decide whether you can enter the Express Entry pool at all.
2. The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Once you are in the pool, this score decides whether you get invited. It is a different system from the 67-point grid.

Many people confuse the two. Passing 67 points only gets you into the pool. Your CRS score is what matters in draws.

Skilled work experience

• At least 1 year of continuous full-time work (1,560 hours, about 30 hours a week) or an equal amount of part-time work.
• It must be in the last 10 years, paid, and in one occupation.
• The job must be in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC). Your duties must match the NOC description.

Language

• CLB 7 or higher in all four abilities (speaking, listening, reading, writing) in English or French.
• Accepted tests include IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General, PTE Core, TEF Canada, and TCF Canada. Results must be less than 2 years old. See language tests and our CLB converter.

Education

• A Canadian secondary or post-secondary credential, or a foreign credential with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from a designated organization. See ECA credential assessment.

Other rules

• Show proof of funds unless you are already authorized to work in Canada and have a valid job offer.
• Be admissible to Canada (health, security, criminality). See inadmissibility.
• Plan to live outside Quebec.

IRCC scores you on six selection factors. You need at least 67 out of 100.

Note that arranged employment still counts on this grid, even though job offer points were removed from the CRS on March 25, 2025. Adaptability points come from things like past study or work in Canada, a relative in Canada, or your spouse's language skills.

Check your score with our FSW 67-point calculator.

There is no fixed score. After you enter the pool, you compete on the CRS, which has a maximum of 1,200 points. Candidates with no Canadian experience often score lower than Canadian Experience Class candidates, so many FSW applicants look for a boost:

• French. Strong French adds up to 50 CRS points and may qualify you for French-language draws.
• Category-based draws. Recent experience in a targeted occupation, such as healthcare or trades, can make you eligible for draws with lower cutoffs.
• A provincial nomination. This adds 600 points. See the PNP overview.
• Retaking a language test. Higher scores raise points in several CRS sections at once.

Estimate your score with the CRS calculator and compare with recent cutoffs on the Express Entry draws tracker.

As of September 2026 (fees rose on April 30, 2026), IRCC charges these fees for economic programs such as Express Entry and the PNP, in Canadian dollars:

Biometrics cost $85 per person, or $170 for a family applying together. Check the IRCC fee list before paying, because fees change. Budget as well for a language test, an ECA, medical exams, and police certificates.

How much money do you need to show?

FSW applicants must show settlement funds unless they are authorized to work in Canada and have a valid job offer. The amounts depend on family size:

These amounts were updated by IRCC on July 7, 2025, and no 2026 update had been published as of September 22, 2026. IRCC normally updates them once a year, so check the official proof of funds page. Family size includes your spouse and dependent children even if they are not coming with you. Our proof of funds calculator does the math for you.

How long does it take?

IRCC aims to process most Express Entry applications in about 6 months after you submit. Check the IRCC processing times tool or our processing times page for current times.

IRCC relies on reference letters from your employers. A strong letter is printed on company letterhead and shows:

• Your job title, start and end dates, and hours worked per week.
• Your main duties, written in your own words (they should match the lead statement and most main duties of your NOC code).
• Your salary and benefits.
• The name, title, and contact details of the person signing.

Back it up with pay slips, tax records, or employment contracts where you can. If an employer has closed or refuses to write a letter, IRCC may accept other evidence, but you need to explain why. Missing or vague letters are a common reason for refusal.

Bringing your family

You can include your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children under 22 in your application. They get permanent residence with you. Every family member must pass medical and security checks, even if they will not come to Canada right away. Proof of funds amounts rise with each family member.

If you have 1 year of skilled work in Canada in the last 3 years, you may also qualify for the Canadian Experience Class, which has no education requirement, no proof of funds, and a lower language minimum for some jobs. You can qualify for both at once. Your Express Entry profile will show which programs you are eligible for. Read CEC vs FSW for a side-by-side comparison.