Get Permanent Residence through Express Entry
Express Entry provides an avenue towards permanent residency in Canada for skilled candidates that strives to be simpler and faster. The goal of the federal government is to process 80 percent of applications within 6 months from the submission of the permanent residence application. This process is highly competitive compared to non-Express Entry provincial programs where the entire process may exceed 2 years.
What is Express Entry
Express Entry alone is not an immigration program. It is rather an online management system used by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to prioritize candidates for immigration to Canada. Candidates interested in Express Entry must first qualify for at least one of its three programs.
Qualifying for Express Entry Programs
The first step is determining whether you qualify for one of the three federal immigration programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW), Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
Language Ability
English or French ability
CLB 7 if your NOC is 0 or A
CLB 5 if your NOC is B
English or French ability
CLB 7
English or French ability
CLB 5 for speaking and listening
CLB 4 for reading and writing
Skilled Work Experience
Experience obtained in Canada in 1 of these NOCs: 0, A or B
Experience obtained in Canada or in a foreign country in 1 of these NOCs: 0, A or B
Canadian or foreign experience in a skilled trade under key groups of NOC B
Length of Work Experience
At least one year in Canada in the past 3 years (Full-Time or Part-Time)
At least one full year of continuous work experience within the past 10 years (Full-Time or Part-Time or more than 1 employer)
Two years within the past 5 years (Full-Time or Part-Time)
Job Offer
Not required
Not required
But candidates are awarded additional points for a job offer in FSW Selection Criteria.
Required:
A valid job offer of full-time employment for a total period of at least 1 year or
a certificate of qualification in that skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority
Education
Not required
Not required
But candidates are awarded additional points for a post-secondary education in FSW Selection Criteria.
Not required
NOTE!
It is essential to become familiarize with all the program requirements as, for example, candidates under Federal Skilled Worker Program must accumulate at least 67 points in the FSW selection criteria. Alternatively, candidates without a job offer and authorization to work in Canada (FSW and FSTP) must show minimum funds to support themselves and their family upon arrival to Canada.
Click here to read in detail about the relevant Express Entry immigration programs:
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW)
Submit Your Resume (CV)
Determining Your Express Entry Score
Candidates who meet requirements of at least one of the programs may proceed to calculating their Express Entry score in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). This score determines the probability that a candidate will be selected from a pool of all qualified candidates. IRCC selects the highest-ranking candidates from the pool to apply for permanent residence. Candidates are selected in Rounds of Invitations, which occur periodically, generally twice a month.
Submitting Your Online Express Entry Profile
Candidates who qualify for one of the three federal immigration programs may complete and submit their online Express Entry profile. This profile is, in fact, an expression of interest in applying for permanent residence under Express Entry. The profile is not an application in itself. Only candidates selected in one of the Rounds of Invitations may submit the actual permanent residence application. In order to complete an Express Entry profile, you will need to provide information about your skills, work experience, language ability, education and other personal details. Your complete profile is then parked in so called “pool’ of all qualified applicants where it waits to be invited to apply.
Receive an Invitation and Submit Your Permanent Residence Application
The highest-ranking candidates receive an Invitation to Apply and have 60 days to submit the entire application and supporting documents online. It is essential that candidates prepare their documents in advance as the timeframe of 60 days may not be sufficient to obtain them all in time. Only fully completed applications are accepted into processing.
How to Prepare in Advance for Express Entry
It is important that you prepare, at minimum, the below documents prior to submitting your Express Entry profile.
Take your language exam in English and/or French
Approved English Language Tests
Test Name
Required Test Category
IELTS-General Training
Approved French Language Tests
Test Name
Test Must Include
compréhension de l’écrit
compréhension de l’oral
expression écrite
expression orale
compréhension de l’écrit
compréhension de l’oral
expression écrite
expression orale
Obtain Education Assessment Report for your foreign Degrees, Diplomas or Certificates if:
- you’re applying through the Federal Skilled Workers program,
- or you want to get points for the education you got outside Canada
In order to obtain an assessment report, you must use one of these designated organizations:
Designated Organizations
Apply for Police Certificates
It can take long to get police certificates so start early. You will need police certificates for:
- you and your family members (spouse or common-law partner, dependent children, and their dependent children) who are 18 years or older.
- every country you (or a family member) stayed 6 months or more in a row during past 10 years.