Express Entry

The application process for skilled immigrants who want to settle in Canada permanently and take part in our economy. Immigration to Canada is open to skilled foreign workers, trades persons, and graduates with ability in English and/or French. Individuals of any age may become a candidate, but preference is given to younger workers seeking immigration to Canada.

What is Express Entry?
Express Entry is an online system that we use to manage applications for permanent residence from skilled workers. Since January 2015, eligible individuals can express their interest in becoming a permanent resident of Canada. Candidates are assigned a score (out of 1,200 points) based on their education, career history, and other personal details, and will be ranked against other candidates under what is called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). When draws from the Express Entry pool occur, the top-ranking candidates are invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence. While in the pool, candidates can strive to increase their CRS points total, and thus their ranking, by proving better human capital factors, for example by re-taking a language test or completing additional work experience. Moreover, a candidate may obtain a qualifying job offer or a provincial nomination through one of the many Express Entry-aligned Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams. A provincial nomination is particularly valuable, as it results in 600 additional CRS points being awarded to the candidate, who will then be invited to apply in a subsequent draw from the pool.

Advantage of Express Entry:
Express Entry has proven to be a quick route for immigration to Canada, with more than 80 percent of applications processed within six months. The process is entirely online, and it is easy to track the status of the application. Furthermore, Express Entry is a system that rewards proactive individuals who can prove to the government that they are likely to be economically successful upon settlement in Canada.

Eligibility for Express Entry programs
ExpressEntry manages applications for three economic immigration programs:
Federal Skilled Worker Program
Federal Skilled Trades Program
Canadian Experience Class
Provinces and territories can also recruit candidates from the Express Entry pool through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) to meet local labour market needs. Canadian provinces are allowed to select the candidates from express entry pool and notify them to apply in their Provincial Nominee Program.

Select a program to see detailed requirements:

Federal Skilled Worker Program : individuals are assessed according to the FSW points system and must score at least 67 points out of 100 in order to be eligible. Points are awarded for age, language ability, level of education, work experience, job offer and adaptability factors.

Federal Skilled Trades Program : Individuals who have CLB 5 in IELTS , 2 years of experience, valid job of 1 year from Canada or certificate of qualification in that skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority will be eligible in this category.

Canadian Experience Class : To be eligible under this category applicants must have completed 1 year skilled experience in Canada and having good language skills

How Express Entry Works:

Step 1: Potential candidates fill out an online Express Entry form.: Candidates who are eligible for the Express Entry program can complete an online profile which will include various details about themselves, including their skills, their language ability, education and previous work experience, amongst others. Candidates who successfully meet the criteria of one or more of the federal economic immigration programs under Express Entry will then be sorted into a pool of eligible individuals. These individuals will be ranked according to their chances of economic success, and the highest ranking candidates, along with those who have qualifying offers of employment or provincial/territorial nominations (who will automatically receive high rankings), will receive a formal invitation to apply for permanent residency. This way of doing things will allow Canada to pick the best possible candidates who are likely to go on to achieve success, rather than simply picking whoever is next in line. Candidates who do not have a valid job offer or provincial/territorial nomination must sign up to the Government of Canada’s Job Bank, so that he or she can be connected to relevant Canadian employers. Eligible employers will need to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment via Employment and Social Development Canada for permanent residence applications. There is no guarantee that candidates who fill out an Express Entry profile will be invited to apply for permanent residence, as this will mainly be determined by their ranking and the other factors mentioned above (offer of employment, provincial/territorial nomination).

Step 2: The Government will invite successful candidates and permanent residency will be processed within 6 months. : Those ranking highly in the pool (based on skills, experience, eligible job offers and relevant nominations where applicable) will then be invited to apply for permanent residency through an ITA (Invitation to Apply), and will have a total of 60 days to submit their electronic application. Electronic applications will be required to be submitted through one of the below programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Most applications will be pushed through swiftly by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), with many expected to be completed within six months. Candidates who have applied for the Express Entry program but who are not invited to apply for permanent residency after a year may then resubmit their profile and re-enter the pool, provided they are still eligible for the program. This is to prevent backlogs and allow for quicker processing and turnaround times. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the Express Entry program will allow faster and more efficient immigration services to skilled immigrants. The program will also enable the Canadian Government to respond faster to Canada’s evolving economic conditions and changing priorities, and will increase flexibility.

Receiving an ITA (Invitation to Apply) :After you have successfully filled out an Express Entry Form to be eligible in an Express Entry pool, foreigners will wait to receive an ITA. Each draw whether it is through a PNP or Express Entry will have a minimum CRS score and those with a ranking CRS score higher than the published one, will receive an invitation. Once one has received an ITA, there is a 60 day period where you must apply and submit all the required supporting documents to become a permanent resident. There are documents and following steps after receiving an invitation to apply including a chance to deny the ITA.

How are Express Entry Points Calculated to Determine a CRS Score?

The Comprehensive Ranking System : ranks eligible candidates for immigration to Canada through Express Entry. Points are given within the following categories: Age, Level of Education, Official Language Proficiency, Second Official Language, Canadian Work Experience.

Proof of funds – Skilled immigrants

Proof of funds is how the applicant show IRCC that they have enough money to settle in Canada. This table shows the minimum amount an applicant needs to immigrate to Canada.