If you have been following our site for a while, remember that we have discussed the Federal Skilled Worker pathway available through the Canadian Express Entry Program. If this is the first time you hear about this, don’t worry. I shall detail how to migrate to Canada using this pathway. The Canadian government created this pathway as a way for skilled immigrants worldwide to apply for a Permanent residence visa, as it prioritizes foreign workers with suitable work experiences in their various professions.
The Express Entry Program is a point-based system created by the federal government of Canada that allows skilled workers from any part of the world to submit an application requesting a permanent residence visa. A Comprehensive Ranking system ranks applicants in the express pool, and the selected profile is issued an Invitation-to-apply (ITA) to apply for the visa through the Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Eligibility Criteria
The minimum requirements for this pathway are:
- A minimum work experience of at least one year in a skilled occupation under the NOC skill type 0, A, or B
- A minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 7 or an IELTS score of 6 in each ability (Reading, writing, speaking, and listening)
- A degree equivalent to a Canadian post-secondary diploma or an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report if the applicant is schooled outside Canada.
- A minimum score of 67 in the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) point grid
How to Apply
Once you have gauged your eligibility, you can start the application process by doing the following:
- Create a profile on the IRCC portal, and you will be required to submit the following documents: a valid passport.
- a language test result (a CLB or IELTS result)
- an educational credential assessment report
- You will be sent an ITA if you meet the required cut-off mark for the pathway. Fill and submit the relevant documents needed to the IRCC portal within 60 days after you receive your ITA.
- Submit a medical certificate and Police Clearance Certificate (PCC).
- Once the application has been reviewed, the applicant will be issued a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR)
- Apply for the Canadian Permanent Residence Visa
Processing Fee
The processing fee costs $825, but additional charges may include:
- A $500 right of permanent residence fee,
- $1325 for spouse/ common-law partner processing fee (if included) and
- a $225 fee per dependent child (if any).
The FSWP takes 6 to 8 months for the application to be processed.
This pathway is the best way to immigrate to Canada as a skilled worker, so follow the due process during your application. I wish you the best of luck.