Express Entry is the main way the Canadian government provides permanent residence to skilled workers.
Eligible candidates submit their profile over the internet of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). They receive a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. About every two weeks, IRCC invites immigration candidates with the highest CRS scores to apply for permanent residence. This comprehensive CanadaVisa page provides you everything you should consider on immigration to Canada through Express Entry.
What is Express Entry?
Express Entry is an electronic system used to manage the applications of skilled workers who want to become permanent residents of Canada.
Once an interested candidate submits an online profile, the federal government determines if the candidate is eligible for a program managed by Express Entry. Eligible candidates are accepted into the Express Entry pool and are ranked according to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The CRS is a points-based system used by the government to assess and rank candidates in the Express Entry pool. The CRS score is calculated with different candidates' ages, education, work experience, and language skills, along with other factors.
Approximately every two weeks, the Canadian government selects the highest-scoring candidates from the Express Entry pool and provides them with an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.
Express Entry Eligibility and CRS Score
Am I eligible for Express Entry?
To be eligible for Express Entry, candidates must meet the criteria of a minimum of one of the following federal economic immigration programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program: The FSWP is Canada's primary economic immigration pathway. The minimum requirements include a minimum of one year of continuous full-time or equivalent paid work experience in past times 10 years in a skilled occupation under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level 0, A, or B; validated intermediate or better language ability in English or French; for candidates educated outside of Canada, an educational credential (certificate, diploma, or degree) and an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report. In combination with meeting the FSWP's minimum work, language ability, and education requirements, candidates must also obtain at least 67 points under its points grid.
- Canadian Experience Class: The CEC provides international students and foreign workers who have Canadian experience with the ability to obtain permanent residence. Candidates must have obtained a minimum of one year of skilled, professional, or technical work experience in Canada within 3 years of the application date and also meet language proficiency criteria.
- Federal Skilled Trades Program: The FSTP is available to candidates which become permanent residents on such basis as qualifying for a skilled trade. Eligibility criteria include having at the least 2 years of full-time work experience in a skilled trade within the 5-year period of submitting an application; meeting the job requirements of the skilled trade; having a full-time job offer in Canada for a time of at least 1 year or possess a certificate of qualification in the skilled trade which has been provided by an official Canadian authority, and meet language proficiency criteria.
How does Express Entry work?
Express Entry really is easy and contains two major stages. In the first major stage, candidates who are eligible for Express Entry indicate to the Canadian government their expression of interest in obtaining Canadian permanent resident status. In the second major stage, the Canadian government invites the highest-scoring candidates to immigrate to Canada.
What follows is a step-by-step breakdown of how to submit your Express Entry profile and obtain a permanent residence visa to immigrate to Canada:
Step 1: Determine whether you are qualified for Express Entry.
Step 2: Complete your language testing and obtain an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).
Step 3: Submit your profile over the internet of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Step 4: Wait to find out if you receive an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence from IRCC.
Step 5: Submit your completed Application for Permanent Residence (APR) to IRCC and pay your fees within the specified deadline. You have to include your medical exam and police certificates together with this step. IRCC will then give you an Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR).
Step 6: Submit your biometrics once IRCC asks you to do so.
Step 7: Wait for IRCC to create a final decision on your APR. IRCC aims to finalize applications in 6 months or less. Once your application is approved you will receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and a permanent resident visa (if you are from a nation that requires a visa) so you can go to Canada and complete your landing.
How to Apply for Canada Permanent Residence
Note that you can only apply for permanent residence through Express Entry if you’ve received an invitation to apply. Click here to apply for Express Entry first.
Once you have your invitation to apply
It is important to note that your Express Entry invitation to apply is valid for 60 days only. You should start filling out the online form immediately so that you can get all the information and documents you need before your invitation expires.
Follow these steps to fill out the online form:
- Sign in to your account.
- Click the link to apply for permanent residence under Express Entry.
When filling out the form:
- Make sure you submit all of the required documents.
- All of your answers must be complete and true.
- Make sure all the mandatory fields are completed, or you won’t be able to submit your application.
- You can save your information on the form and go back as often as you need to.