All three programs are managed through Express Entry, but each has different eligibility requirements:
🎯 Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
For skilled workers with foreign work experience
Minimum Requirements:
- Work experience: At least 1 year continuous full-time (or equivalent part-time) skilled work in the past 10 years
- Skill level: NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation (formerly NOC 0, A, or B)
- Language: Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in all four abilities (speaking, listening, reading, writing)
- Education: Canadian high school diploma or foreign credential with Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
- Proof of funds: Sufficient funds to support yourself and family in Canada (unless you have valid job offer or Canadian work experience)
- Admissibility: Pass medical and security/criminal checks
Selection Factors (67 points needed):
- Education: up to 25 points
- Language: up to 28 points
- Work experience: up to 15 points
- Age: up to 12 points (peak at 20-29 years old)
- Arranged employment: up to 10 points
- Adaptability: up to 10 points
Who it's for: International workers with skilled experience abroad who have never worked in Canada
🍁 Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
For workers with Canadian work experience
Minimum Requirements:
- Canadian work experience: At least 1 year full-time (or equivalent part-time) skilled work in Canada within the last 3 years
- Skill level: NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation
- Language: CLB 7 for NOC TEER 0 or 1 jobs; CLB 5 for NOC TEER 2 or 3 jobs
- Legal status: Must have gained experience while authorized to work in Canada (with valid work permit)
- Plan to live outside Quebec: Must intend to live in a province or territory other than Quebec
Who it's for: Temporary workers and international students who have gained Canadian work experience
Advantages:
- ✅ No education requirement
- ✅ No proof of funds needed
- ✅ Lower language requirement for NOC TEER 2 & 3
- ✅ Canadian experience gives higher CRS points
🔧 Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
For qualified tradespersons
Minimum Requirements:
- Work experience: At least 2 years full-time (or equivalent part-time) work in a skilled trade within the last 5 years
- Eligible trades: Must be in an eligible skilled trade under NOC TEER 2 or 3 (major groups 72, 73, 82, 83, 92, 93)
- Language: CLB 5 in speaking and listening; CLB 4 in reading and writing
- Job offer OR certificate: Either a valid full-time job offer for at least 1 year, OR a certificate of qualification from a Canadian provincial/territorial authority
- Meeting trade requirements: Must meet employment requirements of the trade as set out in the NOC
Eligible Trade Categories:
- Industrial, electrical, and construction trades
- Maintenance and equipment operation trades
- Supervisors and technical occupations in natural resources, agriculture, and related production
- Processing, manufacturing, and utilities supervisors and central control operators
- Chefs and cooks
- Butchers and bakers
Who it's for: Electricians, welders, plumbers, carpenters, heavy equipment operators, industrial mechanics, and other skilled tradespeople
