EXPRESS ENTRY OF CANADA
Explore an Express Entry Option to immigrate to Canada with minimum stress
What is an Express Entry
Express Entry is an online system used by the Canadian government to organize and process applications for skilled workers who wish to immigrate to Canada and acquire Canadian permanent residence status. The system manages three main federal economic programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
- Federal Skilled Trades (FST)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
In order to submit a profile through the Express Entry system, candidates must meet the eligibility requirements for one of the three federal programs.
How can I apply for Express Entry?
Applying to 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 report
- A passport or travel document
Secondly, based on your profile, you will receive a score and become part of the pool of candidates who have created their Express Entry profile. After you receive your score and join the candidate pool, it’s essential to regularly update your information and seek opportunities to enhance your score, thus improving your chances of receiving and invitation.
An finally, if you are chosen, you will be issued 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 the results of a medical examination.
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 Express Entry candidates.
The easiest way to find out if you are eligible is to use our free online assessment tool.
What are the requirements for Express Entry?
In general, to be eligible to apply to Express Entry as a skilled worker, you must:
- Have at least one year, in the last 10 years of continuous full-time (or equivalent part-time) work experience in a skilled occupation. If you have work experience in foreign countries or in Canada, read our article titled ‘Proof of Work Experience for Express Entry‘ to find out which documents support your experience and how they are verified by IRCC.
- Be able to demonstrate on an approved language test a minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) seven in either English or French
- Completed post-secondary education that is assessed against Canadian standards with an Education Credential Assessment
These are the minimum requirements to apply to Canada’s Express Entry system as a skilled worker. Meeting these requirements doesn’t mean you will receive an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence. Candidates with stronger profiles will always be selected over candidates that simply meet the minimum requirement.
Do I need a job offer for Express Entry?
You do not require a job offer for Express Entry. The vast majority of candidates selected for Express Entry do not have a formal Canadian job offer.
If you do have a valid Canadian job offer, this can add up to 200 points to your CRS score.
Canada Express Entry Program
FSW
The Federal Skilled Worker Program is one of the three programs under the Express Entry system.
CEC
The Canadian Experience Class Program is for permanent residency for temporary foreign workers and foreign graduates.
FST
The Federal Skilled Trades Program is the only program available under federal economic immigration for tradespersons.
PNP
Provincial Nomination Programs, as the name suggests, are immigration programs by the provinces of Canada.
