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The Federal Skilled Worker selection factors are listed below. Click on each factor to
learn more:
Factors Points
Education Up to 25 points
Language Skills Up to 28 points
Work Experience Up to 15 points
Age Up to 12 points
Arranged Employment Up to 10 points
Adaptability Up to 10 points
Processing Times
IRCC aims to process complete Federal Skilled Worker applications in six (6) months or less.
Please consult the Canada Immigration Processing Times Tool to find out the processing
times for immigration applications.
Processing Fees
The table below outlines the processing fees for the Federal Skilled Worker program:
Application CAD*
Principal applicant ($550 processing fee + $490 right of permanent residence fee) $1,040
Spouse or common-law partner ($550 processing fee + $490 right of permanent
$1,040
residence fee)
A dependant child of the principal applicant who is under 22 and is not a spouse or
$150 per
common-law partner, or is 22 or older who has been unable to be financially self-
child
supporting since before the age of 22, due to a physical or mental condition
The age factor is one of the six factors for which points are awarded by Immigration,
Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Officers in determining whether a Skilled
Worker applicant will be accepted or refused.
Up to 12 points will be awarded under the age factor on the following basis:
Age of Applicant Points (12 max)
18 to 35 12 points
36 11 points
37 10 points
38 9 points
39 8 points
40 7 points
41 6 points
42 5 points
43 4 points
44 3 points
45 2 points
46 1 points
47 and over 0 points
Education
points are awarded based on an assessment of the applicant's educational credentials. For any
foreign-obtained credentials, this assessment will include a determination of the equivalent to
that credential if it were obtained in Canada.
Up to 25 points will be awarded to the applicant under the Education Factor on the following
basis:
Points
Level of Education
(25 max)
Doctoral (PhD) level 25 points
Master's level or professional degree. Occupation related to the degree must be:
The work experience factor is one of the six factors for which points are awarded by Canadian
Immigration Officers in determining whether a Federal Skilled Worker applicant will be accepted or
refused under the Federal Skilled Worker Class.
Up to 15 points are awarded under the work experience factor, based upon the number of
years of experience. The applicant requires at least 12 months of full-time* skilled work
experience (or the equivalent in part-time work), and points can be earned for up to six years
of work experience. This work experience must be acquired in an occupation listed by the
Government of Canada as having a 0, A or B NOC code.
1 year (at least one year of continuous work or 1,560 hours total) 9 points
*Full-time work refers to at least 30 hour per week. For part-time work, the applicant could
have worked more or less than 15 hours per week as long as it adds up to 1,560 hours.
IELTS
Proficiency Points
score equivalence
First Official Language
IELTS Listening 8 or
above
IELTS Reading 7 or
CLB Level 9 or higher above
6 points per ability
(Initial Advanced) IELTS Speaking 7 or
above
IELTS Writing 7 or
above
IELTS Listening 7.5
IELTS Writing 6
Not eligible to
Below CLB Level 7 Not eligible to apply
apply
Maximum points for first official language 24 points
Second Official Language
At minimum CLB 5 in Listening, Speaking, 4 points for all
Reading or Writing abilities
Maximum 4 points
Points are also awarded to a principal applicant under the Federal Skilled Worker Program's
adaptability factor for a spouse or common-law partner's language skills.
The spouse or common-law must have a proven language level in either English or French
equivalent to CLB 4 level or higher in all four language abilities: speaking, listening, reading
and writing. The principal applicant may obtain five (5) points towards his or her overall
Federal Skilled Worker points under the adaptability factor for a spouse or common-law
partner's language ability. Language skills can also award Federal Skilled Worker candidates
points under Express Entry's Comprehensive Ranking System skill transferability factors.
IELTS to CLB
TEF to CLB
CELPIP to CLB