Migrate / Canada / Express Entry System
Express Entry is the quickest path to permanent residency in Canada. However, this does not imply that anyone can immigrate to Canada through Express Entry.
Individuals and families from all over the world can immigrate to Canada in a matter of months thanks to the Express Entry immigration selection system. Express Entry, which was introduced in 2015, has become the primary driver of skilled worker immigration to Canada and one of the most popular immigration systems worldwide.
Express Entry is an application management system used by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to manage and process applications for skilled workers received through three of Canada's federal economic immigration programmes.
Express Entry is a competitive immigration system that ranks all eligible candidates and invites the top ranking candidates to apply for Canadian permanent resident status. Candidates are ranked according to age, education, language proficiency, work experience, and other factors.
Individuals and families who want to settle in Canada can apply for Express Entry and become new permanent residents within a few months.
Potential Express Entry applicants must be eligible for one of the federal economic immigration programmes listed below.
Although some Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are aligned with Express Entry, candidates must still be eligible for one of the three federal programmes in order to be considered for the Express Entry pool.
Though the eligibility requirements for each Express Entry-aligned programme vary, all candidates must have at least one year of skilled work experience and a certain level of proficiency on an approved language test in either English or French. Furthermore, all Express Entry applicants are screened for criminal history and medical issues that could render them inadmissible.
Individuals who are eligible must submit an Express Entry profile to the pool of candidates. Express Entry profiles serve as Expressions of Interest (EOI). Eligible candidates will be assigned a score based on their profile and ranked alongside the other candidates in the pool.
The Express Entry ranking score is based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) and is out of 1,200 points. Candidates can raise their ranking by working to improve their CRS score. The higher a candidate's CRS score, the more likely they will be invited to apply for Express Entry (ITA) Candidates for Express Entry can earn more points if they have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer, a provincial nomination, or a combination of these factors.
Candidates for Express Entry who do not have a job offer or a provincial nomination may then register in the Canada Job Bank, a free public resource used to assist Canadian employers in identifying and selecting workers with the skills they require. This step was previously mandatory but became voluntary in June 2017.
At regular intervals, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) holds Express Entry draws (usually every two weeks). Candidates with a certain rank are invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence through these Express Entry draws. If a candidate is not invited, their profile will expire after 12 months, at which point they may reapply. For information on the most recent Express Entry draw, please see this page.
Candidates who have not yet been selected from the Express Entry pool can improve their Express Entry profile and score. They can accomplish this by submitting new and updated data.
If you receive an Express Entry Invitation to Apply (ITA), you will have 60 days to submit a complete permanent residence application. You will be required to provide extensive personal information as well as supporting documentation in this application. The entire application is submitted online.
In order to submit your Express Entry profile, you will require three main documents.
The ECA assesses non-Canadian education against Canadian standards. Notably, education is only a required requirement for the Federal Skilled Worker Program; however, it is recommended that FST and CEC candidates also complete an ECA report, as education is an important component of the CRS score.
Note : An ECA is not required for educational programs completed in Canada.
All Express Entry candidates must show proficiency in either English or French. You require official test scores from an approved language test in order to submit your profile. The minimum required score varies between the three Express Entry-aligned programs.
If you want to prove your proficiency in English, your options are the IELTS General Training exam or the CELPIP General exam. If you want to prove your proficiency in French, your options are the TEF exam or the TCF exam.
A valid passport is required in order to submit an Express Entry profile. In very rare cases, alternative identification documents may be accepted when it is not possible to get a passport.
If you are applying with your spouse or common-law partner, you may want to compare your credentials ahead of time. One person must be listed as the principal applicant in the Express Entry profile and the vast majority of the CRS score will be based on the principal applicant's credentials.
This question is best answered in two parts: before entering the Express Entry pool, and once in the pool.
Before entering the Express Entry pool
You can apply for Express Entry to Canada through one of three Canadian immigration programmes: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST), or the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
The FST programme is designed for qualified tradespeople with recent experience in a listed occupation, whereas the CEC programme is designed for people with recent skilled Canadian work experience. To be eligible to submit a profile, neither the FST programme nor the CEC require candidates to meet a point requirement.
The FSWP programme, on the other hand, is open to people from all over the world who meet a minimum point requirement. Please keep in mind that this is a completely separate points system from the CRS score. To enter the Express Entry pool, you must receive at least 67 points out of 100 on the FSW points-grid. The FSWC point grid and factors can be found here.
Once in the Express Entry pool
Candidates in the Express Entry pool receive a CRS score regardless of which programme they are eligible for. This score determines a candidate's position in the Express Entry pool. When the IRCC holds an Express Entry draw, this score is used to determine which candidates are invited to apply for permanent residence. CRS cut-off thresholds for FSW and CEC candidates have previously been as low as 413 points, with cut-off thresholds for FST candidates being even lower on occasion.
Please keep in mind that the CRS cut-off thresholds are not predetermined and are subject to change for different Express Entry draws. Finally, there is no set number of points required to immigrate to Canada via Express Entry, but previous draws indicate which candidates have the best chance of being invited to apply based on CRS score.
Express Entry is a programme designed to expedite immigration to Canada. The entire process may take six months or less for eligible candidates who receive an invitation to apply (ITA) soon after entering the pool and then quickly submit a complete application. However, the following variables may cause this timeline to be extended and should be considered :
While some candidates are invited shortly after entering the Express Entry pool, others may not receive an ITA for months or even years, depending on their CRS score and CRS cut-off thresholds in Express Entry draws.
Some invited candidates may be ready to apply for immigration to Canada within 60 days of being invited, while others may require more time. While IRCC strives to process applications in six months, some applications may take longer, and decisions on other applications may take less time.
Fill below form and we will get back!