The FSW 67-point grid, explained
The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW) is one of the three programs that feed the Express Entry pool. Before you can enter the pool under FSW, you must score at least 67 out of 100 on its six selection factors. This is a pass/fail check, separate from the CRS score that ranks you once you are in.
You can run the grid in the FSW calculator.
Minimum requirements
Even with 67 points, you must also have:
- One year of continuous skilled work experience, full time (or the equivalent part time), within the last ten years, in one occupation at NOC TEER level 0, 1, 2 or 3.
- CLB 7 in all four abilities of your first official language. See the CLB conversion tables.
- An Educational Credential Assessment for education completed outside Canada.
- Proof of funds to support yourself and your family, unless you are authorized to work in Canada and have a valid job offer. IRCC updates the amounts every year; see its proof of funds page.
The six factors
| Factor | Maximum points |
|---|---|
| Language skills | 28 |
| Education | 25 |
| Work experience | 15 |
| Age | 12 |
| Arranged employment in Canada | 10 |
| Adaptability | 10 |
| Total | 100 |
1. Language (up to 28)
Your first official language earns points per ability: 6 at CLB 9 or more, 5 at CLB 8 and 4 at CLB 7, for up to 24. Below CLB 7 in any ability, you are not eligible. A second official language at CLB 5 or more in all four abilities adds 4.
2. Education (up to 25)
| Credential | Points |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 25 |
| Master's or professional degree | 23 |
| Two or more credentials, one of them three years or longer | 22 |
| Three-year or longer degree or diploma | 21 |
| Two-year post-secondary program | 19 |
| One-year post-secondary program | 15 |
| Secondary school | 5 |
3. Work experience (up to 15)
| Years of skilled work | Points |
|---|---|
| 1 year | 9 |
| 2 to 3 years | 11 |
| 4 to 5 years | 13 |
| 6 years or more | 15 |
4. Age (up to 12)
Age earns 12 points from 18 to 35, then one point less for each year after 35, reaching zero at 47.
| Age | Points |
|---|---|
| Under 18 | 0 |
| 18 to 35 | 12 |
| 36 | 11 |
| 37 | 10 |
| 40 | 7 |
| 45 | 2 |
| 46 | 1 |
| 47 or older | 0 |
5. Arranged employment (10)
A valid job offer of at least one year from a Canadian employer, in a skilled occupation, earns 10 points. This is separate from CRS, where job offers no longer add points.
6. Adaptability (up to 10)
Any combination of the following, capped at 10:
- Your own previous skilled work in Canada (at least one year): 10
- Your own previous full-time study in Canada (at least two years): 5
- Arranged employment in Canada: 5
- A relative in Canada who is a citizen or permanent resident: 5
- Your spouse's or partner's language at CLB 4 or more: 5
- Your spouse's previous study in Canada: 5
- Your spouse's previous work in Canada: 5
An example
A 31-year-old with a bachelor's degree, CLB 8 in all abilities, three years of skilled work and no ties to Canada scores 20 (language) + 21 (education) + 11 (experience) + 12 (age) = 64. That is short of 67. Raising one ability to CLB 9 adds only 1 point, but moving all four to CLB 9 gives 24 for language and a total of 68, which passes.
FSW versus CRS
Passing the 67-point grid only gets you into the pool. Your rank in the pool, and therefore whether you are invited, depends entirely on the CRS score.
Sources
Run your own numbers: the CRS, FSW, BC PNP and SINP calculators work in your browser and keep everything you enter on your device.
Open the calculators