Canada

Federal Skilled Worker Program

Policy overviewReviewed 2026-09-03

For skilled workers with Canadian or foreign work experience. Applicants who meet the minimum requirements must also score at least 67 points across six selection factors; entering the Express Entry pool does not guarantee an invitation.

Core requirements

Work experienceRequired

At least 1 continuous year (1,560 hours) of paid work within the last 10 years in the same primary NOC, in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3, while meeting the NOC duty requirements.

LanguageRequired

An approved English or French test with at least CLB 7 or NCLC 7 in all four abilities for the first official language.

EducationRequired

A Canadian secondary or post-secondary credential is required; foreign education requires both a completed credential and an Educational Credential Assessment for immigration purposes.

Job offerNot required

A job offer is not a minimum eligibility requirement, though a valid offer may count toward the program's selection factors. Job-offer CRS points were removed on March 25, 2025.

Settlement fundsConditional

Proof of funds is generally required, unless the applicant is authorized to work in Canada and has a valid job offer. Amounts change periodically and should be checked at application time.

Official sources

General educational information only, not personalized immigration or legal advice. Requirements can change; confirm them with the responsible government authority before acting. Next scheduled review: 2026-12-03.