Since January 2015, skilled foreign workers seeking to immigrate to Canada have been able to use the Express Entry system — Government of Canada’s electronic system for managing “permanent resident” applications filed under various economic immigration programs of the country. These programs include:
This article provides a comprehensive introduction to Canada’s
Express Entry system:
Overview
Who can apply?
Programs under Express Entry
How do you apply for Express Entry?
How long does Express Entry take?
How much does Express Entry cost?
Next steps if you want to apply
OVERVIEW
The etymology of the term “Express Entry” is very simple; under this system, processing time for applications has been significantly reduced compared to those for previous similar economic immigration programs. Currently, the processing time averages only 6 months; previously, applications could take several years to process.
The Express Entry system is used by the Government of Canada to centralize the intake of permanent residence applications under its various economic immigration programs. It is used to implement a single, coherent national immigration strategy by creating a common pool of approved candidates who are most likely to succeed in Canada. Without Express Entry, each immigration program could adopt differing qualification criteria and procedures, leading to inefficiency and confusion. Thus, Express Entry system was developed to:
Modernize the selection process by launching a fully online application system;
Accelerate the assessment and selection process for the benefit of foreign applicants as well as the stakeholders of various Canadian immigration programs;
Enable the private sector to influence the immigrant selection by directly matching applicants with Canadian employers;
Rebalance employment and “human capital” factors in assessing candidates to ensure holistic assess ment of candidates best suited for success in Canada;
Make immigrating to Canada attractive and easier for qualified foreigners by securing them a job before they arrive in Canada.
The Express Entry system is managed by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), a branch of the Canadian government. You may find the “CIC” used on some Canadian government pages; it stands for “Citizenship and Immigration Canada” (its acronym is CIC).
Express Entry is a management system, not an immigration program
Express Entry is not an immigration program in itself, but rather a way for IRCC to manage applications online. The term “Express Entry programs” refers to the various programs that use this system such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, the Canadian Experience Class, and part of the Provincial Nominee Program. To avoid confusion, this article will use the term Express Entry system when referring to Express Entry.
This is an old name for IRCC. There is no difference between these two terms; some government websites still use the old CIC terminology.
In 2019, 90,242 applicants obtained permanent resident status in Canada, under three federal skilled immigration programs — nearly 4,000 more than was planned. This was made possible by the Express Entry system, which processed more than 80% of applications in less than 12 months.
WHO CAN APPLY?
To apply as a skilled worker under the Express Entry (EE) system, an applicant must meet the following basic requirements:
1. The person must demonstrate good language skills in either English or French. 2. An applicant must have at least 1 year of experience as a skilled worker. 3. An individual applying under EE must plan to live outside the province of Quebec, which does not use EE and instead manages its immigration programs differently.
According to Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC), skilled work experience means prior work in one of the following types of jobs:
Managerial jobs (skill level 0);
Professional jobs (skill type A); and
Technical jobs and skilled trades (skill type B).
The Express Entry system manages applications for three economic immigration programs, each with its own eligibility criteria:
The Federal Skilled Worker Program is for skilled employees with foreign work experience in professional, managerial, or technical fields, who want to immigrate to Canada permanently.
The Federal Skilled Trades Program is for skilled tradespersons who wish to become permanent residents and are qualified in a skilled trade.
The Canadian Experience Class is designed for skilled employees who have previously worked in Canada and now wish to become permanent residents. This program is often used to transition from temporary resident status to permanent status.
In addition, the EE system is used by some Canadian provinces and territories to find candidates who meet their regional labour market needs under the Provincial Nominee Program.
PROGRAMS UNDER EE
Federal Skilled Worker Program
This immigration program is suitable, if you are specialist in
A management job (such as restaurant managers, mine managers, or shore captains etc.);
A management job (such as restaurant managers, mine managers, or shore captains etc.);
A science job (such as biologists or chemists, etc.).
Rebalance employment and “human capital” factors in assessing candidates to ensure holistic assess ment of candidates best suited for success in Canada;
Make immigrating to Canada attractive and easier for qualified foreigners by securing them a job before they arrive in Canada.
To apply for the Federal Skilled Worker Program an applicant must:
Possess language proficiency in English or French and score at least 7 on the Canadian Language
Benchmark test (CLB) ("Equivalency charts between CLB and IELTS, CELPIP, TEF Canada, and TCF Canada);
Have graduated from a secondary or post-secondary institution in Canada or provide an Education Cre dential Assessment for immigration purposes to prove that his or her education is equivalent to the Canadian one;
Have skilled work experience totalling at least 1 year of continuous employment within the last 10 years (combination of part-time, full-time, or more than 1 job in his or her primary occupation); Provide proof of funds to support him or her and any accompanying family members.
If the individual meets all of the above requirements, his or her application will be assessed based on the following factors and receive a point rating (between 0 to 100). Please note that this system is different from the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) which is used at the later stages.
If an applicant scores 67 points or higher, he or she is qualified for the Federal Skilled Worker Program.
Points are awarded based on 6 factors, including:
Language skills
Education and training;
Work experience;
Age;
Arranged employment in Canada;
Adaptability.
All documents to support information related to the eligibility criteria must be submitted to an Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada office.
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Pre-selection criteria for Federal Skilled
Worker Program
Factor
Max Points
Explanation
1. Language Skills
28
Up to 24 points for skills in the first official language (English or French): maximum 6 points for each area (Speaking, Listening, Writing, and Reading) based on applicant’s CLB results; At most 4 points for skills in a second official language if an applicant has a score of at least CLB 5 in each area of the second language.
2. Education and Training
28
The number of points awarded is determined by the level of education and field of study.
3. Work experience
28
More years of experience as a skilled worker earn more points, up to a maximum of 15.
3. Work experience
28
More years of experience as a skilled worker earn more points, up to a maximum of 15.
3. Work experience
28
More years of experience as a skilled worker earn more points, up to a maximum of 15.
3. Work experience
28
More years of experience as a skilled worker earn more points, up to a maximum of 15.
3. Work experience
28
More years of experience as a skilled worker earn more points, up to a maximum of 15.
Factor
Max Points
Explanation
1. Language Skills
28
Up to 24 points for skills in the first official language (English or French): maximum 6 points for each area (Speaking, Listening, Writing, and Reading) based on applicant’s CLB results; At most 4 points for skills in a second official language if an applicant has a score of at least CLB 5 in each area of the second language.
1. Language Skills
28
Up to 24 points for skills in the first official language (English or French): maximum 6 points for each area (Speaking, Listening, Writing, and Reading) based on applicant’s CLB results; At most 4 points for skills in a second official language if an applicant has a score of at least CLB 5 in each area of the second language.
1. Language Skills
28
Up to 24 points for skills in the first official language (English or French): maximum 6 points for each area (Speaking, Listening, Writing, and Reading) based on applicant’s CLB results; At most 4 points for skills in a second official language if an applicant has a score of at least CLB 5 in each area of the second language.
Federal Skilled Trades Program
A management job (such as restaurant managers, mine managers, or shore captains etc.);
A management job (such as restaurant managers, mine managers, or shore captains etc.);
A science job (such as biologists or chemists, etc.).
Rebalance employment and “human capital” factors in assessing candidates to ensure holistic assess ment of candidates best suited for success in Canada;
Make immigrating to Canada attractive and easier for qualified foreigners by securing them a job before they arrive in Canada.
All documents to support information related to the eligibility criteria must be submitted to an Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada office.
This is a table row with white background. There is another table below with dark background, in case you prefer that design. You can delete this text in the beginning if you like. Also, this row has first-level heading (on the left) so it is in fact a "heading row". Be careful — if you delete the heading on the left then make sure that you hide that column on the smallest two breakpoints; ask ASM if you don't understand what this means.
All documents to support information related to the eligibility criteria must be submitted to an Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada office.
This is a table row with white background. There is another table below with dark background, in case you prefer that design. You can delete this text in the beginning if you like. Also, this row has first-level heading (on the left) so it is in fact a "heading row". Be careful — if you delete the heading on the left then make sure that you hide that column on the smallest two breakpoints; ask ASM if you don't understand what this means.
How much does Express Entry cost?
An applicant must pay the following fees for Express Entry immigration.
FEES
Processing fee
Right of permanent residence fee
Biometric fee
CAN $
825
500
85
If an applicant includes his or her spouse or common-law partner in the application, the applicant must pay double these fees. CAN $225 must be paid for each dependent child included in the application. You will also need to pay the biometric fee for any child included in the application who is aged 14 to 19; however, biometric fees are capped at CAN $170 per family.
