To immigrate through the Express Entry you can choose from the three major programs offered by the government, depending on your eligibility. The three programs are offered for very different categories of applicants so make sure you understand the difference.
- Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) – For people with foreign work experience, such as a salesperson or a software developer
- Federal Skilled Trades (FST) – For people qualified in a skilled trade, such as a carpenter or an electrician
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC) – For people with Canadian work experience, for example someone who is already working in Canada on a work permit
Before we dive deeper into these programs, you’ll also need to know what Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) and National Occupation Classification (NOC) codes are.
| Eligibility criteria | Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) | Federal Skilled Trades (FST) | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type of work experience | Work experience in any country in NOC 0, A or B. | Work experience in any category in a skilled trade under certain groups of NOC B | Canadian work experience in NOC 0, A or B. |
| Amount of work experience | One year continuous experience within the last 10 years (can be a combination of full time or part time or more than one job) | Two years within last 5 years (can be a combination of full time or part-time work) | One year in Canada in the last 3 years (can be a combination of full time or part time work) |
| Language skills (English or French) | CLB 7 or higher | CLB 5 or higher for speaking and listening. CLB 4 or higher for reading and writing | CLB 7 or higher if your NOC is 0 or A. CLB 5 or higher if your NOC is B |
| Education | At least secondary education required | Not required | Not required |
| Job offer | Not required | Not required | A valid job offer for full time employment for 1 year OR A certificate of qualification in that skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority |
Being eligible for more than one program
It is possible for some people to be eligible for multiple programs. For example, if you have one year of work experience in Canada and one year out of Canada and you meet other eligibility requirements, then you could be eligible for both FSW and CEC programs. If that’s the case with you, IRCC will Invite you to Apply for one program based on this preference order:
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
- Federal Skilled Trades (FST)
So, if you are eligible under both FSW and CEC, you will receive your invitation under the CEC category.
Provincial Nominee Program
You may have also heard about Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Under this program, provinces or territories select applicants that they find suitable and offer them additional CRS points for coming to Canada and settling in their province. These additional points, like a top up, can help approved candidates clear Express Entry cut offs. Note that the PNP is an additional layer to the 3 main programs we talked about. Anyone from FSW, FST or CEC category can get a provincial nomination if they qualify and meet the province’s requirements. Each province has a different process and criteria for selection so pick and choose after you have done your research.
Related Topics
Express Entry Explained
Process of PR application
Understanding Express Entry draws
Latest cut offs