Canada Express Entry Guide
The Canada Express Entry is a point-based system used by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to assess the applicants' profiles who want to migrate to Canada to live, work, and study. This route rules three immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trade Program, and the Canadian Experience Class. To apply through one of these programs, you need to meet the eligibility criteria.
Express Entry Programs
Federal Skilled Worker Program
It is one of the three programs that process Canada PR visa applications. This program allows applicants to work in the country and apply for permanent residency with foreign work experience and no connection to Canada. The FSW program uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score to rank applicants in the Express Entry Pool. Once in the pool, candidates with the highest CRS score get the invitations to apply for permanent residency.
Eligibility criteria to apply for FSWP
An individual must meet the eligibility criteria to apply for the FSWP under the Express Entry:
- At least a year of work experience under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 within the last 10 years.
- Demonstrate a good English language proficiency with a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7.
- At least a high school diploma equivalent to a Canadian one.
- Must have sufficient funds to support yourself.
- You must live outside the province of Quebec.
How to apply for the FSW Program?
If you are applying under the FSW program, you need to submit an Express Entry profile. Once you submit the profile, the IRCC will process it, and with the highest CRS score, applicants get the invitations to apply for permanent residency.
However, you need to keep in mind that submitting the Express Entry profile doesn’t guarantee that you will obtain the PR visa, as the ITA only receives applications from the candidates with the highest score. For applying FSW, you need to provide;
- Educational Credential Certificate
- Language proficiency test proof
- Identification documents
If you receive the Invitation to Apply for a Permanent Residency Visa, you will have 60 days to submit your application to the embassy. Your profile will remain valid in the Express Entry pool for 12 months; nevertheless, the processing time for Express Entry is 6 months.
Federal Skilled Trade Program
The FSTP is another program managed by the Express Entry to Canada immigration. This program allows skilled trade workers to live and work in the country. This program also uses the comprehensive ranking system to rank the candidates in the pool and invite the competitive ones to apply for the PR visa.
Eligibility criteria for the FSTP Program
- Meet the eligibility criteria to apply for the FSTP Program.
- You must have 2 years of full-time work experience as a skilled trade worker within the previous 5 years.
- Must have a valid job offer at least lasting for 1 year issued by a Canadian provincial or territorial official.
- Make sure to have good language skills and a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4.
- Intention to live outside the province of Quebec.
Process to apply for the FSTP Program
The steps to apply for the Federal Skilled Trade Program are the same as FSWP. You need to submit the Express Entry profile in the pool, and the highest score achiever gets the invitation to apply for a permanent residency visa. Once you obtain the ITA, you get 60 days to submit your visa application to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). For submitting your profile for FSTP, you need to provide;
- Educational Credential Certificate
- Language proficiency test proof
- Identification documents
Canadian Experience Class
The Canadian Experience Class is another fast way to immigrate to Canada. This program takes 4 months to process the application and allows applicants with recent work experience and foreign students who have already gained work experience in Canada. This program also follows the same pattern to invite the candidates with the highest CRS score.
Eligibility criteria for the CEC Program
- To be entitled for the CEC program, you need to have;
- A year of work experience within the previous 3 years.
- Your work experience should be classified into the NOC categories: TEER 0, TEER 1, TEER 2, or TEER 3.
- You must have a good language proficiency and Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 in English.
- Intention to live outside the province of Quebec.
Requirements for Express Entry
Applicants with a degree, a diploma, work experience, and moderate English proficiency can apply for the Express Entry profile. To be eligible, you must;
Have at least 1 year of full–time work experience within the last 10 years.
Show your language proficiency skills in English with a Canadian Language Benchmark level 7.
Ensure to have an Educational Credential Certificate (ECA).
How to apply for the Express Entry?
- To apply for the Express Entry, you first need to determine your eligibility for one of three programs and gather the essential documents, such as a passport, photographs, an ECA, and language test proof.
- Secondly, you need to create an Express Entry profile and submit it to the pool. Based on your profile, including factors like age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and so on.
- If you get the highest CRS score, you would get an invitation to apply for a permanent residency visa.
- Once you get the ITA, you have 60 days to submit the application, which includes submitting documents, paying the fee, and undergoing the medical checkup.
- Wait for your application to be processed. Once it is processed, you will get the Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR).
Cost to apply for Express Entry
The cost of Canada migration through Express Entry is around CAD 2,300 for a single applicant and CAD 4,5000 for a couple. The cost includes;
- Language tests: Average cost – $300
- Educational Credential Assessment (ECA): Average cost – $200
- Biometrics: $85/person
- Government fees: $1,525/adult & $260/child
- Medical examination fees: $450/adult & $250/child
- Police clearance certificates: Average cost – $100/country
You can create an Express Entry profile for free. You need to pay the amount once you get the invitations to apply. Look at the table mentioned below to know the amount per family size.
Processing time to apply for Express Entry
The Express Entry takes approximately 6 months to process the application from submission. The processing time can vary depending on the volume of the application, whether all documentation is provided or not, and the period when you are applying.
Express Entry Points and Eligibility
How are Express Entry points calculated?
The Express Entry points are calculated based on the individual's profile, including various factors such as age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and spouse and common-law partner factors.
The CRS score is divided into four main sections, which is also the Canada Express Entry points breakdown:
Core/Human Capital Factors (Maximum 460 points)
- Age: Up to 100 points
- Level of Education: Up to 140 points
- Linguistic competence in English or French: Up to 150 points
- Canadian Work Experience: Up to 70 points
Spouse or Common-Law Partner Factors (Maximum 40 points)
- Level of Education: Up to 10 points
- Linguistic competence in English or French: Up to 20 points
- Canadian Work Experience: Up to 10 points
Skill Transferability Factors (Maximum 100 points)
- Education and Language Proficiency: Up to 50 points
- Foreign Work Experience: Up to 50 points
Additional Points (Maximum 600 points)
- Provincial Nomination: 600 points
- Valid Job Offer: Up to 200 points
- Canadian Education: Up to 30 points
- Sibling with citizenship or PR in Canada: 15 points
- French Language Skills: Up to 50 points
Difference between Express Entry eligibility points and CRS score
The difference between Express Entry eligibility points and CRS score is that the Express Entry eligibility points are 67, which you need to gain before applying your profile to the pool.
IRCC draws Express Entry draws biweekly, and the candidates with the highest score get the chance to apply for a permanent residency visa.
IELTS for Express Entry in Canada
IELTS for Express Entry in Canada is mandatory for Immigration. Your English must be good with a 7+ band score. Ensure to prove your language proficiency in either English or French. The tests measure your abilities in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
How IELTS score affect a CRS score?
An IELTS score can particularly affect the CRS score. If you obtain the Canadian Language Benchmark 9 in each area of the language test, it can improve your CRS score to get the PR visa.
Express Entry applicants need to demonstrate their language proficiency in one of the two languages: English or French. The French language test is another option for migration, which can also help you to increase your CRS score.
Does my spouse need to take the IELTS exam?
Yes, your spouse or common-law partner needs to appear for the IELTS exam. If your partner obtains the CLB level 4 in each area of the language exam, you can get an additional 5 points for your application.
How to find the NOC code?
To find your NOC code, you need to visit the official website of the Canadian government and search for the job in the search section. You can carefully read the job description and confirm your TEER category.
Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
Difference between Express Entry and PNPs
The difference between Express Entry and the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) lies in the requirement for skilled work experience. To be eligible for Express Entry, meet the requirements of one of the three federal programs — the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class, or Federal Skilled Trades Program — all of which mandate skilled work experience.
Conversely, certain PNPs that run independently may not require skilled work experience. This presents another way for individuals who do not meet the skilled worker requirements but still aspire to immigrate to Canada.
Nevertheless, despite these distinctions, securing a PNP nomination remains the most effective method to enhance your likelihood of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) through Express Entry.
A nomination adds up to 600 points to your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, increasing the chance of a successful visa application.
Which Provincial Nominee Programs use the Express Entry system?
Numerous provinces utilize the Canada Express Entry system to choose skilled immigrants. These provinces offer 'enhanced nominations' that enable applicants to benefit from expedited processing in the Express Entry program for permanent residency within six months.
The majority of provinces have a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) aligned with Express Entry. Below are some of the most well-known ones:
- Alberta Express Entry Stream
- British Columbia – Express Entry streams
- Manitoba Express Entry Pathway
- New Brunswick Express Entry Stream
- Newfoundland and Labrador Express Entry Skilled Worker
- Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry
- Ontario Human Capital Stream
- Ontario French Speaking Stream
- Ontario Skilled Trade Stream
- PEI Express Entry
- Saskatchewan Express Entry: International Skilled Worker
Summary
Express Entry Canada serves as the main immigration framework for skilled professionals, providing a swift and effective pathway to permanent residency.
Established to simplify the application procedure, it assesses applicants based on essential criteria such as age, education, work experience, and language skills.
This system allows Canada to draw in premier global talent and address its changing labor market demands.
As outlined in the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, the IRCC aims for 395,000 new permanent residents in 2025, with 289,300 of those falling under the economic category, which includes Express Entry.
