- You have to have a work experience under one of the occupations described in National Occupational Classification (NOC), levels 0, A or B (managerial or professional level). The minimum length of work must be one year and you have to work under chosen occupation on a full time basis;
- The minimum language ability (English or French) must be no lower than 4 for reading, writing, speaking and listening;
- Your education credentials have been evaluated by the approved educational institution in Canada (if you received your education outside of Canada);
- To accumulate minimum 67 points out of 100 for language skills, education, work experience, age, existence of a job offer from a Canadian employer and adaptability;
- You have to have enough money to support you and family members after immigrating to Canada (for one person it will be $11,824 CA); if you have a job offer or demonstrate that you are able to work in Canada (having all licenses, if applicable to your profession), you don’t have to show you bring money;
- You are of good health and do not have a criminal record.
What should you know before making a profile on Express Entry for Federal skilled workers?
Who is eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker program?
Before creating an Express Entry profile as a Federal Skilled Worker, you must meet minimum requirements and score at least 67 out of 100 on the program’s selection factors. Meeting the minimums lets you enter the pool; your Comprehensive Ranking System score then determines your competitiveness.
| Selection factor | What counts |
|---|---|
| Skilled work experience | 1+ year of continuous skilled work |
| Language ability | At least CLB 7 in English or French |
| Education | Canadian credential or ECA of a foreign one |
| Age, arranged employment, adaptability | Additional points toward the 67 |
Get your documents before you create the profile
An Express Entry profile is a declaration, and you are expected to be able to prove every claim in it within sixty days of an invitation. That is not enough time to obtain a language test, an educational credential assessment, police certificates from every country you lived in, and detailed employer reference letters. Candidates who enter the pool optimistically and are then invited routinely have to decline the invitation — losing the draw and sometimes the score that produced it.
The 67 points is a floor, not a target
Meeting the Federal Skilled Worker grid only makes you eligible. Once in the pool you are ranked against everyone else by the Comprehensive Ranking System, and recent draw cut-offs sit far above the minimum. So the practical question is never "do I have 67" but "what is my CRS, and what raises it" — usually language results first, then education, Canadian experience, or a provincial nomination worth 600 points.
Proof of funds and the mistakes it causes
Federal Skilled Worker applicants must show settlement funds unless they have arranged employment in Canada, and the required amount rises with family size — including family members who are not coming with you. The funds must be genuinely available and unencumbered: an official letter from the bank on its letterhead, showing account numbers, balances and the average balance over recent months. Borrowed money parked in an account shortly before applying is exactly what officers look for, and presenting it as your own can be treated as misrepresentation rather than a mere shortfall.
Declare everything, including problems
Previous refusals, prior removals, criminal charges anywhere in the world and every family member — declared or not — must appear. An omission discovered later is treated as misrepresentation, carrying a five-year bar, and a conviction can create criminal inadmissibility that no score can overcome. Address these before you file, not after.
Express Entry is an IRCC application; Karb Law's legal team assists with the full process, and represents clients before the IRB if a status issue arises. See all practice areas or request a free assessment before you build your profile.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What are the minimum requirements for the Federal Skilled Worker program?
You need at least one year of continuous skilled work experience, language ability of at least CLB 7, and eligible education (a Canadian credential or an Educational Credential Assessment of a foreign one). You must also score at least 67 out of 100 on the selection factors.
Is 67 points enough to be selected?
Scoring 67 lets you enter the Express Entry pool, but it does not guarantee an invitation. Once in the pool, candidates are ranked by the Comprehensive Ranking System, and only those with scores above each draw’s cut-off are invited to apply.
Official resources
External links are provided for general information only and are not legal advice.
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