Exprss Entry
Exprss Entry
Express Entry is the quickest way to immigrate to Canada. But, that doesn’t necessarily mean everybody can immigrate to Canada through Express Entry. This guide will help you understand if Express Entry is the best way for you and your family, if applicable, to settle in Canada.
Individuals and families around the world can immigrate to Canada within just a few months through the Express Entry immigration selection system. First introduced in 2015, Express Entry has become the main driver of skilled worker immigration to Canada and one of the most popular immigration systems globally.
1. Canadian Experience Class
The Canadian Experience Class is for skilled workers who have Canadian work experience and want to become permanent residents.
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is a permanent resident category for individuals who had already established themselves as skilled workers in Canada. CEC program opens the door to Canada for foreign students and foreign workers. For many international graduates, Canadian Experience Class may be fastest option for achieving Canadian permanent residence. One of the objectives of the CEC is to increase the supply of skilled workers in Canada.
As of January 2015, foreign nationals will be selected through Express Entry System and must receive invitation before they may apply. Applicants can remain in Canada throughout the application process. However, the Canadian Experience Class is also open to individuals who are no longer in Canada, if they submit their application within three years of leaving their job in Canada.
To qualify for the CEC through Express Entry, you must meet the following requirement:
Have obtained at least one year of skilled, professional or technical work experience in Canada within 36 months of the application date; gained your work experience in Canada with the proper authorization; According to the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC), skilled work experience means:
- Managerial jobs (NOC skill level 0)
- Professional jobs (NOC skill type A)
- Technical jobs and skilled trades (NOC skill type B)
Hours Calculations is as followed:
12 months of full-time work: 30 hours/week for 12 months = 1 year full time (1,560 hours), OR Equal amount in part-time hours, such as:
15 hours/week for 24 months = 1 year full time (1,560 hours)
30 hours/week for 12 months at more than one job = 1 year full time (1,560 hours)
If your experience doesn’t meet the duty and job description requirements set in the NOC, IRCC may not accept your application.
- Meet or surpass a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 5 (“initial intermediate”) for NOC B jobs or CLB 7 (“adequate intermediate proficiency”), for NOC skill level 0 or A jobs
- Plan to live and work outside of the province of Quebec (individuals with work experience in Quebec and who plan to reside in Quebec may apply to the Quebec Experience Class).
The first step is to ensure you meet the eligibility criteria of the CEC or one of the other Express Entry programs. If you are eligible, you submit an Express Entry profile on IRCC’s website. Approximately every two weeks, IRCC holds Express Entry draws awarding permanent residence invitations to candidates with the highest CRS scores. CRS scores are determined base on each candidate’s human capital characteristics including their age, education, language skills, work experience, Canadian experience, among other criteria. If you receive an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence, you need to submit a completed application to IRCC within the specified deadline. IRCC aims to process applications in six months or less.
2. Federal Skilled Worker
The Federal Skilled Worker Program (also known as the Federal Skilled Worker Class) is Canada’s flagship immigration program for workers, allowing the country to welcome tens of thousands of newcomers every year based on their ability to become established in Canada’s workforce.
Professionals and skilled workers around the world who want to immigrate to Canada permanently can do so through the Federal Skilled Worker Program. Candidates can apply with their spouse/partner and dependent children.
Eligibility Requirements – Federal Skilled Worker
In order to be eligible to submit an Express Entry profile under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, you must meet several minimum eligibility criteria:
i. Work Experience: You must have a minimum of 12-months of full-time, skilled work experience, or an equivalent amount in part-time experience. This experience must be continuous and in a single occupation. To be considered “skilled” experience, you must have been working in an occupation at National Occupation Classification (NOC) Skill Level 0, A, or B.
ii. Language Proficiency: You must take an approved language test showing you are proficient in either English or French. The minimum score for FSWC is equal to the Canadian Language Benchmark of Level 7 (CLB 7), although the higher you score, the better your chances of success.
iii. Education: You must have completed a minimum education equal to the completion of a Canadian high school diploma. If your education was completed outside of Canada, you will need an Educational Credentials Assessment (ECA) attesting to the value of your education by Canadian standards.
iv. Federal Skilled Worker Points Grid: All FSW candidates must score a minimum of 67 out of 100 points on the FSW points grid. Details are below.
v. Settlement Funds: You must have enough funds to support your settlement in Canada. Details are below.
The FSWP’s selection factors are listed below. Click on each factor to learn more:
| Factors | Points |
|---|---|
| Education | Education Up to 25 Points |
| Language Skills | Up to 28 Points |
| Work Experience | Up to 15 Points |
| Age | Age Up to 12 Points |
| Age Up to 12 Points | Up to 10 Points |
| Adaptability | Adaptability Up to 10 Points |
To learn more About FSW points click on the link:
If you meet these minimum requirements, you may be eligible to submit an Express Entry profile. However, please note that being eligible does not guarantee that you will be invited to submit an official application for Canadian permanent residence. Express Entry is a competitive immigration selection system, so only the highest ranking FSWC candidates will be invited to apply.
3. Federal Skilled Trade:
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) launched the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) in 2013 to offer a dedicated immigration pathway to skilled trades’ workers.
The FSTP is one of three federal economic programs managed by the Government of Canada’s Express Entry system. Express Entry is the main way Canada welcomes economic class skilled workers to immigrate to the country. Under its Immigration Levels Plan, Canada aims to welcome over 400,000 new immigrants per year with an average of 110,000 annual immigration spots allocated to Express Entry.
In order to be eligible for the FSTP, you must:
- Have valid job offers of continuous, paid, full-time employment (at least 30 hours a week) from up to two employers in Canada for at least one year OR a certificate of qualification* from a provincial or territorial body;
- Provide proof of basic language proficiency from a designated language testing organization, demonstrating that the applicant meets the minimum threshold set by IRCC — Canadian Level Benchmark (CLB) 5 for speaking and listening, CLB 4 for reading and writing;
- Have obtained 2 years of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time work) in the skilled trade in the five years before applying; and
- Be able to demonstrate the skills and experience and that they have performed the essential duties of the occupation.
*A certificate of qualification proves that a foreign national is qualified to work in a skilled trade occupation in Canada. With a certificate of qualification, applicants prove they have passed a certification exam or met all the requirements to practice their trade in a specific province or territory.
Skilled work experience eligible for the FSTP falls under the following categories of the National Occupational Classification (NOC):
- Major Group 72: industrial, electrical and construction trades,
- Major Group 73: maintenance and equipment operation trades,
- Major Group 82: supervisors and technical jobs in natural resources, agriculture and related production,
- Major Group 92: processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors and central control operators,
- Minor Group 632: chefs and cooks, and
- Minor Group 633: butchers and bakers.
FSTP candidates must plan to reside outside the province of Quebec. The province of Quebec selects its own skilled workers through a unique immigration system. If you plan to immigrate to Quebec, please visit the Quebec Skilled Worker Program page for more information.
4. Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)
Most of Canada’s new immigrants are economic class skilled workers. Since 2015, Canada has used Express Entry as the main way to manage skilled worker applications.
Express Entry is a dynamic system. Only the highest-scoring skilled worker candidates are invited by the Canadian government to immigrate to Canada.
In order to score Express Entry candidates and rank them, the Canadian government uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
The CRS evaluates each candidate (and their spouse or partner, if they have one) based on their human capital. Canada looks at a candidate’s age, education, English and/or French skills, work experience, among other criteria. The Canadian government then provides candidates with a CRS score based on their human capital characteristics.
Usually every two weeks, the Canadian government holds Express Entry draws providing permanent residence invitations to those with the highest CRS scores.
Before being assigned a Comprehensive Ranking System score, individuals must first be eligible under one of the following programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
- Canadian Experience Class
Comprehensive Ranking System Points Breakdown
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) contains three factors:
- Core Human Capital Factors
- Skill Transferability Factors
- Additional Factors relating to a provincial nomination, a qualifying offer of arranged employment,
Canadian study experience, a sibling in Canada, and/or French language ability.
There is a total of 1,200 points available under the Comprehensive Ranking System.
For single applicants without a spouse or common-law partner, there are:
- Up to 500 points available for core human capital factors, including age, level of education, language ability, and Canadian work experience;
- Up to 100 points available for skill transferability factors; and
- Up to 600 points available for additional factors (including a provincial nomination, a valid job offer, Canadian study experience, a sibling in Canada, and/or French language ability).
For candidates with an accompanying spouse or common-law partner, there are:
- Up to 460 points available for core human capital factors of the principal applicant;
- Up to 40 points for the core human capital factors of the spouse or common-law partner;
- Up to 100 points available for skill transferability factors; and
- Up to 600 points available for additional factors.
Calculate your CRS points
Improve your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score
The highest-ranked candidates in the Express Entry pool are often guaranteed an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence. Therefore, individuals interested in immigration to Canada are encouraged to take every opportunity to increase their chances of receiving an invitation to apply. For more information, visit our dedicated page to learn how to improve your CRS score.