Express Entry to Canada
Express Entry is an online pathway to skilled workers’ settlement in Canada and manages the immigrants’ applications for permanent residence. The Express Entry system lets you apply for any of the four Canadian immigration programs.
Call us at +1 844 290 6312 for any queries or advice about your situation. Our professional lawyers are here to help in your immigration process.
What Is Express Entry to Canada?
Express Entry is an immigration applications manager. It’s an electronic system that controls skilled workers’ applications for permanent residence in Canada. If you’re interested, you can submit your Express Entry profile online.
The Federal government uses this system to determine your eligibility for any of the Express Entry managed programs. It takes 6 months for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to process the results of your skilled worker application.
The suitable programs that the Express Entry system processing include:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
Furthermore, the system accepts candidates into the Express Entry pool and ranks them according to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). It calculates the CRS points based on the applicant’s work experience, education, age, and language proficiency, among other factors.
The Express Entry to Canada lets skilled individuals and their families become permanent residents of Canada within a short time. Although the route is open throughout the year, the number of Invitations to Apply (ITA) sets the Annual Immigration Level.
The first thing you need to do is create an online Express Entry profile. After approximately two weeks, the Canadian government chooses the top-ranking candidates from the Express Entry pool. It then issues ITA for permanent residence to those individuals.
Page Contents
- What Is Express Entry to Canada?
- What Are the Minimum Requirements of Express Entry Eligibility?
- What Are the Requirements for the Express Entry Programs?
- How Do You Create an Online Express Entry Profile?
- How Do You Apply for an Express Entry Program?
- How Much Does the Express Entry Cost?
- How Long Will It Take for Express Entry Canada?
- How to Determine the Express Entry Points
- How Can IAS Help?
- Frequently Asked Questions
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What Are the Minimum Requirements of Express Entry Eligibility?
The minimum requirements of the Express Entry eligibility are as explained below. Your qualification points, as per the Comprehensive Ranking System, vary from one factor to the other.
Adaptability
If you and your spouse or common-law partner can quickly adapt to Canada, you boost your score by up to 10 points.
You’ll earn the adaptability points by:
- Having relatives who reside in Canada
- Being a beneficiary of Canadian arranged employment
- Your previous work experience in Canada
- Your spouse or partner’s Canadian work experience
- Past studies in Canada
- The official language proficiency of your spouse or legal partner
Work Experience
You must have at least 1 year of professional work experience to obtain the minimum points. The more experienced you’re, the higher the points, where this factor can earn you up to 15 points.
Also, the job can be full-time or part-time equivalent, where you:
- Are constantly in one occupation.
- Have a minimum of one year of continuous work
- Are getting paid as wages or commission
Arranged Employment
A valid job offer from a Canadian company enhances your Express Entry eligibility. This consideration adds 10 points to your score.
However, the offer must fulfil specific conditions. It must be:
- Continuous
- Full-time
- Listed in NOC’s Skilled Type A, B, or 0
- Paid in commissions or wages
Moreover, you must prove your fitness for the job and licensing or certification eligibility once you settle in Canada.
Language Ability
Proficiency in speaking, writing, listening, and reading English, French, or both can significantly boost your eligibility score. You must get at least 6 bands (CLB 7) in your IELTS to have the minimum points.
Higher IELTS scores attract more points, with 28 being the cap for this factor. Also, you stand on a higher edge if you have a second language.
Age
The maximum points awarded under the age factor are 12, which you obtain between 18-25 years. Your Express Entry eligibility level decreases retrogressively up to the age of 46, after which you aren’t fit for the program. Also, this route is not acceptable for those below 18 years.
Education
Your minimum educational level should be equivalent to a Canadian secondary or post-secondary degree, diploma, or certificate. The higher the education level, the more Express Entry points you obtain; the maximum level is 25 points.
For any Express Entry eligibility question, you may have, contact us immediately for more than just an answer.
What Are the Requirements for the Express Entry Programs?
Each of the four programs under Express Entry requires you to meet specific conditions to apply. Hence, if you wish to immigrate to Canada, you must select one of them and ensure that you meet all the required conditions. Let’s look at each of them.
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
If you want to immigrate to Canada under the FSWP, there are specific requirements you need to meet to make it through the Express Entry System. They include the following:
- Have at least 1-year of work experience in the last 3 years. The job can be full-time, part-time, or both, but it must be continuous.
- Own a Canadian equivalent educational level; secondary or post-secondary certificate, diploma, or degree.
- Your work must be among the National Occupational Classification (NOC)’s Skilled Type 0, A, or B jobs.
- Financial stability for your family and your support while in Canada.
- The minimum CLB level for your English or French proficiency.
- At least 67 eligibility points.
You don’t need a job offer to qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker program in the Express Entry system.
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
The CEC is the other program you can apply for permanent residence in Canada. However, you must comply with the following terms:
- Have a minimum of one year of work experience in the past 3 years, obtained under a valid work permit. The job can be full-time, part-time, or both.
- CLB 7 English Or French proficiency for NOC 0 or A, and CLB 5 for NOC B.
- The skill type must be 0, A, or B under the NOC.
Job offers and educational levels aren’t a consideration in this program.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Canada has 10 provinces and 3 territories responsible for selecting candidates suitable from the Express Entry pool under this route. After your selection, you get a Notification of Interest on your digital profile.
If you get nominated by the provinces, your online profile receives a boost of 600 points. Consequently, you get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) during the subsequent Express Entry draw. You can submit your Canadian permanent residence application to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada online through IRCC.
If you sail through the Express Entry system, you can immigrate to Canada and work in any part of the country.
The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
The basic Express Entry requirements for the FSTP application include the following:
- At least 2 years of work experience in the previous 5 years. Your primary occupation must constitute a full-time and part-time job combination or at least two jobs.
- Canadian or foreign skilled trade experience skill type (under NOC B main groups)
- English or French proficiency: CLB 5 (listening and speaking) and CLB 4 (writing and reading).
- A valid full-time job offer for a minimum of 1 year. Alternatively, have a certificate of qualification proving your professionalism in the skilled trade. Federal, territorial, and Canadian authorities are responsible for issuing this certificate.
- Sufficient funds to support you and your family while in Canada.
Education requirements aren’t necessary for Express Entry candidates under this program.
How Do You Create an Online Express Entry Profile?
The Express Entry profile enables the Canadian government to assess your eligibility as a skilled worker applicant. You can create your online profile by following the steps below:
- Take a language ability test. Have a government-approved English or French proficiency test and add the results to your profile. All the skilled immigration programs demand that the Express Entry candidate be conversant with at least one of Canada’s official languages.
- Assess your foreign education credentials. If you studied outside Canada, have your certificates, diplomas, or degrees assessed to ensure that your credentials are equivalent to Canadian education. Nonetheless, that’s only applicable to the Federal Skilled Worker Program applicants. Even so, it’s advisable to undergo the assessment while applying for the other program, as it can significantly increase your eligibility points.
- Find out your National Occupation Classification (NOC). You must show that your work experience aligns with the occupations defined under Canada’s NOC database. Therefore, ensure that your job lies in Skilled type 0 (Management), Skilled level A (Professional), or Skilled level B (Skilled trade and Technical jobs).
- Determine your Express Entry eligibility. Check your eligibility for the Express Entry System with an online tool found on Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada’s website.
- Compile your Express Entry profile. Build your profile by providing all the necessary information about your eligibility requirements. The details include contacts, age and identity, educational background, work experience, language ability, adaptability, and family makeup. Additionally, you must include all the relevant supporting documents.
- Submit your complete profile. Confirm that you have all the needed details in place and submit your profile. Consequently, you’ll receive a job-seeker validation code and an Express Entry number.
If you meet the requirements, the Immigration officer places you in the Express Entry pool. The offer will assess you using the Comprehensive Ranking System, and if you pass the minimum score, you receive an ITA as a permanent resident.
How Do You Apply for an Express Entry Program?
After receiving an ITA, it’s time to submit a concrete permanent residence application for your program of choice. You must also upload several documents that support the information you have put in your online account.
Although these documents vary depending on the specific account, here are the common ones you must upload:
- Proof of funds from your money holder such as banks or other financial institutions
- Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) (for non-Canadian education)
- A medical assessment report from a panel physician recognised by IRCC
- Provincial Nominee Certificate (for the PNP application)
- Canadian service International Credential Assessment
- Marriage or Divorce Certificate (where applicable)
- Valid identification documents such as a passport
- Previous employers’ work reference letter
- A valid job offer letter (where necessary)
- Police clearance certificates
- Language test results
The above details cater to all the Express Entry programs except the PNP.
Provincial Nominee Program Application
PNP’s application process differs slightly from the other Federal Express Entry program. Below are the two ways to apply for this program:
- Province/territory option: Contact your province or territory of choice and submit a nomination application. Once accepted, create or update your Express Entry profile by indicating your nomination.
- Express Entry profile route: Create a profile and include the provinces/territories of your interest. You’ll receive a nomination in your Express Entry account once your profile goes through. And you can accept the nomination electronically.
Upon receiving an ITA for the Canadian permanent residence application, you have up to 60 days to submit a PR online application. After the submission, the immigration office ‘locks’ your profile to prevent further updates.
It’s worth noting that you must meet all the admissibility and eligibility requirements according to Canada’s Immigration Law to move to the country.
How Much Does the Express Entry Cost?
After completing your permanent residence application form and uploading the relevant documents, the system provides a list of the applicable fees. The list’s components include:
- Processing fee
- Biometrics fee
- Right of permanent residence fee
Use a debit or credit card to pay fees online. The minimum amount is the processing fee, which comes right after submitting your application.
Also, biometric fee payment comes at this time to prevent delays and includes collecting fingerprints and digital photos charges. You receive a confirmation letter after submitting your application to process your biometrics, which you must present to the presiding officer.
The biometrics presentation must be in person, but you must book an appointment before visiting your nearest collection point.
Nevertheless, paying all your fees at once is advisable to avoid delays. You can do so through the ‘pay all your fees now’ option.
You must pay using other options if you wish to pay for the ‘Right of Permanent residence’ fee or add a dependent child or spouse.
The Express Entry fee also includes extra fees channelling from the following:
- Language tests
- Education credential assessment
- Police clearance certificates
- Medical examinations
- Provincial immigration fees (where applicable)
Check the fees list to know how much the Express Entry cost you should expect. Note that creating a profile is free.
Contact us for advice and guidance if you’re stuck in your Express Entry cost calculations.
How Long Will It Take for Express Entry Canada?
It takes 6 months for Express Entry Canada. This timeframe is a decrease from the 7-27 months post-COVID processing time.
The duration comprises time before receiving an ITA and permanent residency application decision.
Every 2-4 weeks, the IRCC conducts a draw from the Express Entry pool. Consequently, high-ranking applicants receive an ITA after a few weeks. If not chosen, your profile remains active in the pool for 1 year, after which you can resubmit your profile.
Your ranking depends on your Express Entry points.
If you sail through the system and get an ITA, you have 60 days to submit your Permanent residence application. For that reason, you should have all your supporting documents ready before your receive the ITA to meet the short timeframe.
Upon your application approval, you get a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) document. The COPR allows you to apply for a PR card, which you use as your Canadian resident status proof while moving out of Canada.
How to Determine the Express Entry Points
The Express Entry points are your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) Score. The CRS is a points-based system that ranks candidates depending on factors such as:
- English and/or French proficiency
- Spouse/common-law partner factor
- Foreign work experience
- Canadian work experience
- Connections to Canada
- Education level
- Skills
- Age
You can check your CRS score using a tool provided by the Canadian government. Nonetheless, the results you obtain are for general guidance. The score can be different during the actual assessment in the Express Entry system.
While the maximum CRS score is 100, you must obtain a least 67 points to qualify for permanent residence in Canada. The Express Entry System is a transparent immigration route to Canada.
How Can IAS Help?
Although the Express Entry system is a reliable immigration pathway to Canada, you might encounter challenges in your application process. Some of these obstacles include the following:
- Lack of understanding of which of the four programs is ideal for you
- No guarantee of receiving an ITA after attaining the system’s threshold
- Failure to meet the minimum points requirement
- Tight application timeframe after receiving the ITA
- And more.
The above issues and many other necessitates your having an immigration expert by your side throughout your journey of moving to Canada.
Our specialised immigration lawyers are conversant with the Canadian Express Entry System and all its programs. They’ll help you move to the country successfully by ensuring you pick the most suitable program and achieve the highest points possible.
Additionally, they’ll walk with you until you obtain a Permanent Residence visa.
For immediate help in your situation, call us at +1 844 290 6312 or contact us online.
Last modified on August 18th, 2023 at 4:02 pm
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Canada Express Entry is open. Therefore eligible candidates can apply for permanent residence in the country. In fact, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) sent an ITA to 1,500 candidates on July 6, 2022. The group is the pioneer after the resumption of this program.
Yes, Express Entry is open for Canada 2022. Thankfully, the application processing timeframe is also back to 6 months. According to the 2022-2024 Immigration Level Plan, IRCC targets 55,900 candidates without PNPs in 2022. Consequently, the body plans to admit 75,750 of them in 2023.
Yes, the CRS score will come down. The numbers have been high since the program resumed, but the Canadian Government promises the score will gradually decrease. The significant CRS score increase resulted from the Covid-19 impact, where the country could send 3000-5000 ITA from each draw before its occurrence.
Express Entry is the immigration pathway to obtaining PR status. Hence, you’ll create your Express Entry profile for ranking in the CRS. Once approved, you receive an ITA for Canada’s permanent resident visa as a skilled worker. After submitting your PR application, the immigration office processes it within 6 months.
The best province for PR in Canada is Ontario. It’s the most popular among the country’s new skilled immigrants. From the group that settled in Canada as permanent residents in 2021, Ontario received more than half of it. It’s the most famous and largest city in Canada.