Express Entry

  • Express Entry is Canada’s immigration application management system for economic immigration.

    Candidates for Express Entry are awarded up to 1200 points under a ranking system meant to identify those candidates most likely to succeed in Canada. The highest-ranked candidates in the Express Entry pool will receive an “Invitation to Apply” after which they will have 60 days to complete an application for Permanent Residence in Canada.

  • Qualifying for Express Entry

    In order to apply through Express Entry, you must be:

    Eligible for one of Canada’s three economic immigration streams:

    • Canadian Experience Class

    • Federal Skilled Trades Program

    • Federal Skilled Worker Program

  • The Comprehensive Ranking System

    • 500 Points: Core Human Capital Factors which include age, education, language and Canadian work experience.

    • 100 Points: Skill Transferability which is a combination of foreign qualifications, work experience, education and language ability.

    • 600 Points: A Provincial Nomination certificate

    • 50-200 Points: For arranged Employment

  • Steps In Applying Through Express Entry

    • The first step is to create a candidate profile online. Profiles may remain in the candidate pool for up to one year. If during this time, any of your ranking factors change, you must ensure you update your profile in the candidate pool.

    • If you do not currently hold a qualifying job offer you must register with the Canada Job Bank. Candidates are encouraged to promote themselves to prospective employers in order to increase their chances of being invited to apply.

    • Express Entry Draws from the candidate pool occur every few weeks. If selected, you will receive an “Invitation to Apply” for Permanent Residence. You will have 60 days in order to provide Immigration with all the necessary information and documentation so that the final stage of the Permanent Residence process can take place.

  • Federal Skilled Worker Express Entry

    The Federal Skilled Worker Program is for applicants who possess a high level of education and/or significant work experience that can be easily transferred to the Canadian labour market.

    The applicants must meet certain criteria in order to qualify for this category. The program uses a point system to assess candidates. This point system is not the same as the Comprehensive Ranking System used to rank candidates in Express Entry. In order to create a candidate profile and be assigned a score using the Comprehensive Ranking System, candidates must first qualify for either the Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades or Canadian Experience Class. The points for the Federal Skilled Worker Program are a minimum requirement in order to be eligible to participate in Express Entry.

    Prospective Applicants must obtain 67 points in order to qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker Program. Points are assigned in accordance with six factors, per below:

    • Education (maximum 25 points)– the highest level of education attained and the total number of years of education

    • Language Ability (maximum 24+4 points) – the applicant’s ability to speak, listen, write and read in either one or both of Canada’s official languages – French or English. Please note that if the applicant claims points under the language factor, proof of language proficiency must be provided. Proficiency in a second official language is worth an additional 4 points.

    • Work Experience (maximum 15 points) – number of years of full-time or equivalent paid work experience in a high skilled position.

    • Age (maximum 12 points) – the current age of the applicant, with the most points being awarded to applicants between 21 and 49 years of age.

    • Arranged Employment in Canada (maximum 10 points) – Either a permanent job offer in Canada for which the applicant is qualified or the applicant is currently employed in Canada and holds a work permit that is valid for at least 12 months.

    • Adaptability (maximum 10 points) – the applicant may be awarded points for this factor if they can show that they, their spouse or common-law partner, or their dependents will adapt easily to life in Canada. Examples include education in Canada, arranged employment in Canada and family members who are Canadian Permanent Residents or Citizens.

  • Federal Skilled Trade Express Entry

    The Federal Skilled Trade is for skilled tradespeople who want to immigrate to Canada.

    In order to qualify, applicants must have at least 2 years work experience in a skilled trade in the last five years and meet certain minimum language requirements. The program uses a point system to assess candidates. This point system is not the same as the Comprehensive Ranking System used to rank candidates in Express Entry. In order to create a candidate profile and be assigned a score using the Comprehensive Ranking System, candidates must first qualify for either the Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades or Canadian Experience Class. The points for the Federal Skilled Worker Program are a minimum requirement in order to be eligible to participate in Express Entry.

    Applicants to the Federal Skilled Trade Program must make their application using the Express Entry immigration application system.

  • Canadian Experience Class Express Entry

    The Canadian Experience Class permits foreign nationals who have been working in Canada for a period of at least one year to apply for Permanent Residence on the basis of their Canadian work experience.

    In order to qualify, applicants must have a minimum of one year of full-time skilled work experience in Canada in the three years preceding the application, meet certain language requirements, and intend to settle outside Quebec. The program is managed through the Express Entry system, which uses a point system to rank assess candidates. Top ranking candidates who meet the program criteria are invited to apply for permanent residence through the Express Entry system

    Please be advised that qualifying for the Canadian Experience Class is only the first step in immigrating to Canada. Applicants who qualify for the Canadian Experience Class must create a candidate profile in Express Entry and receive an Invitation to apply for permanent residence before submitting their application.

  • Provincial Nominee Program

    The Government of Canada has partnered with provinces and territories across the country to operate immigration programs with their own requirements and streams, targeting students, business people, semi-skilled workers and skilled workers.

    The Provincial Nominee Program operates through nominations where the province or territory selects individuals who qualify with the requirements. This program is for workers who have the skills, education and work experience to contribute to the economy of a specific province or territory, want to live in that province and want to become permanent residents of Canada.

    Each province or territory that participates in the Provincial Nominee Program has one stream that aligns with the federal Express Entry program.

    The following provinces and territories currently participate in the Provincial Nominee Program. You must pass a medical exam and provide a police check certificate in order to be eligible for any of the following Provincial Nominee Program. Your intention to live in the selected province or territory is also evaluated.