What is the difference between FSW and CRS?

Individuals wishing to migrate to Canada are aware that Canada follows a points-based system but are often confused between the two types of points requirements for Canadian permanent residency. Canada immigration includes both the FSW and the CRS points systems. These two points systems are a source of confusion to a majority of PR applicants. To clear this, we will explore the difference between the two.

FSW points system

The FSW points system belongs to the Federal Skilled Worker Program or FSWP, one of the immigration programs under Canada Express Entry. The FSWP is an immigration program preferred by workers who wish to migrate to Canada with a PR visa. This program does not require Canadian work experience or a Canadian job offer.

In order to enter the Express Entry program through the Federal Skilled Worker program you must meet the eligibility requirements. If you meet these eligibility requirements, you can enter the Express Entry pool. The eligibility of a candidate is measured through a points grid which is known as the FSW points.

The minimum eligibility requirements to qualify for the FSWP include the following factors:

Work Experience: You should have 12 months of full-time skilled work experience or an equal period of part-time work experience. The work experience must have been acquired continuously and from a single employer. If your work experience has to be considered as skilled experience, you must have experience under an occupation which is classified as Skill Level O, A or B.

Language Proficiency: You must have a score equivalent to Canadian Language Benchmark level 7 (CLB 7) in an approved language proficiency test in either English or French.

Education: Your educational qualification must be equal to at least a Canadian high school diploma. If you have done your education outside Canada, you should get an Educational Credentials Assessment (ECA).

FSW Points Grid: Apart from this you must have a minimum score of 67 points out of 100 in the FSW points grid. You will be given points under the following criteria:

Age

Maximum 12 points

Those between 18–35 years get maximum points. Those above 35 get lesser points while the maximum age to qualify is 45 years.

Education

Maximum 25 points

Applicant’s educational qualification must be equal to higher secondary education under Canadian standards.

Language Proficiency

Maximum 28 points (English and/or French)

Applicants must have at least 6 bands in IELTS. They get extra points if proficient in French.

Work Experience

Maximum 15 points

For minimum points applicants should have at least one-year of full-time work experience. More years of work experience means more points.

Adaptability

Maximum of 10 points

If the spouse or common law partner of the applicant is willing to migrate to Canada, he is entitled to 10 extra points for adaptability.

Arranged employment

Additional 10 points (not mandatory).

A maximum of 10 points if applicants have a valid offer from a Canadian employer.

Using the Canada points calculator, you can know whether you are eligible to apply for the FSWP which is part of the Express Entry program.

Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points system

If you are eligible under the FSWP, your profile will be entered in the Express Entry pool where you will be given a CRS score based on the following factors:

• Skills
• Education
• Language Ability
• Work Experience
• Other Factors

Based on your CRS score your profile will be allotted a rank in the Express Entry pool. The maximum score in the CRS points system is 1200. Out of these 600 points are given to ‘core factors’ of the applicant which include age, education, job offer, language skills, adaptability etc.

The other 600 points are added to the CRS score if the candidate gets a provincial nomination through the Provincial Nomination Program (PNP).

The CRS score keeps changing with every Express Entry draw.

If the candidate has the required CRS score required in an Express Entry draw, then he will get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for a PR visa.

While the FSW points determine your eligibility to apply for the FSWP program under Canada’s Express Entry and enter the Express Entry pool, the CRS score determines your ranking in the pool and determines your eligibility to get an ITA for PR visa.

Features, FSW Points & CRS points — Y-axis, UAE

Applicants for Canada immigration must be aware of the difference between the FSW and CRS points systems to make a successful PR application.