Express Entry
Express Entry is Canada’s main immigration system for managing applications from skilled workers who want to become permanent residents. It is designed to select candidates quickly and efficiently for immigration to Canada based on their skills, work experience, and education.
Express Entry is an online application management system used for three federal economic immigration programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
85-90% of applicants for the International Experience Canada (IEC) programs are approved when all eligibility criteria are met.
How can I apply for Express Entry?
Applying for Express Entry is a three-step process. The first step is to submit your profile, which requires the following documents:
- Language test results
- Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report
- A passport or travel document
Next, based on your profile, you will receive a score and become part of the pool of candidates who have submitted their Express Entry profiles. After receiving your score and joining the candidate pool, it's important to regularly update your information and look for opportunities to improve your score, thus increasing your chances of receiving an invitation to apply.
Finally, if you are selected, you will receive an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence. To complete this application, you’ll need to submit a more comprehensive set of documents that support the information you provided. This includes reference letters, additional identity documents, police clearance certificates, and medical exam results.
Who is eligible for Express Entry?
Individuals with university or college degrees, skilled work experience, and moderate proficiency in English and/or French are ideal candidates for Express Entry.The easiest way to find out if you are eligible is by using our free online assessment tool.
What are the requirements for Express Entry?
In general, to be eligible to apply for Express Entry as a skilled worker, you must:
- Have at least one year of continuous full-time (or equivalent part-time) work experience in a skilled occupation, within the last 10 years. If you have work experience abroad or in Canada, read our article titled ‘Proof of Work Experience for Express Entry’ to learn what documents support your experience and how they are verified by IRCC.
- Be able to demonstrate, through an approved language test, a minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in either English or French.
- Have completed post-secondary education that has been assessed against Canadian standards through an Education Credential Assessment (ECA).
These are the minimum requirements to apply to Canada’s Express Entry system as a skilled worker. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee that you will receive an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence. Candidates with stronger profiles will always be selected over those who only meet the minimum requirements.
How long does Express Entry take?
Express Entry can take as little as six months to process, from the submission of your profile to the issuance of a permanent resident visa. However, not all cases will be processed this quickly.
Here’s the timeline breakdown:
- Your Express Entry profile will remain valid for 12 months in the pool of candidates if you do not receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
- If you don't receive an ITA within 12 months, you can resubmit your profile and remain in the pool.
- Once you receive an ITA, you will have 60 days to submit your complete application with the required documents.
- After IRCC receives your complete application, it may take around six months to process and issue your permanent resident visa.
How are Express Entry points calculated?
When people refer to "Express Entry points," they are generally talking about the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. The CRS score ranks candidates in the Express Entry pool based on several factors, including:
- Age
- Level of education
- Proficiency in English and/or French
- Foreign and Canadian work experience
- Spouse or common-law partner factors
- Connections to Canada
Will the CRS score go down?
It is impossible to predict how the CRS score will fluctuate over time. No immigration lawyer or consultant can guarantee that you will successfully receive permanent residence through Express Entry.
Additionally, with more provinces selecting profiles from the Express Entry pool through Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), a candidate’s CRS score is becoming less critical. PNPs focus on filling local labor market or demographic gaps, so candidates with in-demand skills or experience can still succeed with a lower CRS score.
The Canadian government has also hinted at transitioning to occupation-based Express Entry draws, which could potentially make the CRS score obsolete in the future.There are several ways to improve your CRS score, such as improving your language proficiency or obtaining a job offer.
What is the ideal Express Entry candidate?
There is no one-size-fits-all profile for an ideal Express Entry candidate. However, candidates who score higher on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) are more likely to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).Some factors that can boost your CRS score include:
- Age: Being under 30 years old
- Education: Holding at least two Bachelor's degrees or a Master's degree
- Language proficiency: Demonstrating a high level of English and/or French proficiency (Canadian Language Benchmark [CLB] 9 or higher)
- Work experience: Having at least 3 years of skilled work experience
- Canadian connections: Having a job offer, work experience, or family members in Canada
Other factors that can boost your CRS score include:
- Higher language proficiency in English and/or French
- Bilingualism in French and English
- A Master’s degree or Ph.D.
- Canadian work or educational experience
- A Canadian sibling currently residing in Canada
- A valid job offer from a Canadian employer
- A nomination from a provincial nominee program (PNP)
Is there a minimum score for Express Entry?
The minimum CRS score required to receive an ITA for Canadian permanent residence varies with each draw. For this reason, it’s important to continuously work on improving your CRS score to increase your chances of receiving an invitation.
What is the difference between Express Entry eligibility points and CRS score?
To apply under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), candidates must first score at least 67 points on the FSW eligibility grid. After meeting the FSW eligibility criteria, candidates enter the Express Entry pool and receive a CRS score.
The CRS score ranks all candidates in the pool, and every two weeks, the Government of Canada conducts an Express Entry draw, setting a minimum CRS score cut-off. Candidates with scores above the cut-off will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence.
Is Express Entry the same as permanent residency?
An Express Entry draw is when the Canadian government issues a round of invitations to candidates in the Express Entry pool. These invitations are sent to those who meet a specified Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off score. Candidates who receive an invitation in an Express Entry draw can then apply for Canadian permanent residency.
When are Express Entry draws held?
While there is no fixed schedule for Express Entry draws, they typically occur every two weeks, often on a Wednesday or Tuesday.
What types of Express Entry draws are there?
There are different types of Express Entry draws that take place, and they can vary. The main types include:
- All-Program Draws – These are the most common and include candidates from all three federal programs: FSWP, FSTP, and CEC.
- Program-Specific Draws – These draw candidates from a specific program, such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program or Canadian Experience Class.
- Category-Based Draws – These target candidates with specific skills or experience, like tech-related jobs or healthcare workers.
There is no set number or frequency for each type of draw, and the government can change the focus based on the current needs of the Canadian labor market.
