Maple News reports that December 23, 2020, marked a significant turning point for prospective Canadian immigrants when it became the last day Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) candidates were invited through the Express Entry system. It was not immediately clear then, but this would begin a temporary pause on invitations for FSWP candidates—a pause that has now lasted over a year.
Introduced in 1967, the FSWP has historically been Canada’s principal immigration route for skilled workers from abroad. It remained the dominant economic immigration pathway until the launch of the Express Entry system in 2015, which integrated the FSWP with the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). Express Entry streamlined processing by using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to invite only the highest-scoring candidates to apply for permanent residence.
Before the pandemic, FSWP candidates consistently received a large share of Express Entry Invitations to Apply (ITAs). In fact, in 2019, they accounted for around 45% of all invitations. However, 2021 brought a major shift in Canadian immigration strategy as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) prioritized domestic candidates to mitigate COVID-19 disruptions such as travel restrictions.
To hit its ambitious target of welcoming 401,000 new permanent residents in 2021, IRCC focused on transitioning temporary residents already in Canada. As a result, CEC candidates—those with recent Canadian work experience—became the primary recipients of invitations. Notably, on February 13, 2021, IRCC issued a record-breaking 27,332 invitations to CEC candidates in a single draw.
In tandem, IRCC launched a one-time public policy in May 2021 allowing up to 90,000 essential workers and international graduates within Canada to apply for permanent residence. These efforts ensured continuity in immigration despite a global health crisis but also effectively excluded FSWP candidates abroad from opportunities throughout the year.
The continued pause in FSWP draws has caused concern and uncertainty among prospective immigrants outside Canada, many of whom have maintained strong CRS scores but remain uninvited. While IRCC has acknowledged the importance of global talent, no specific timeline for resuming FSWP invitations has been confirmed.
As Canada moves forward with reopening its borders and economic recovery, immigration stakeholders and FSWP candidates alike are hopeful for renewed balance in invitation rounds under Express Entry. Maple News will continue to monitor developments and provide timely updates on the status of the FSWP and other Express Entry streams.