Express Entry

If you are interested in applying through the Express Entry system, you can create an online express entry profile by entering information related to your age, language ability (French or English), level of education, past work history in a skilled occupation, and some family details. The electronic system then reviews your information to determine if you meet the eligibility criteria for one of Canada’s 3 main federal economic immigration programs, in order to become an express entry candidate. If your express entry profile is accepted into the express entry pool, you are eligible to be invited to apply for permanent residence.

The federal express entry programs are The Federal Skilled Worker program, The Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades Program.

A. The Federal Skilled Worker Program – Express Entry

Qualifying under the Federal Skilled Worker program requires that you demonstrate:

• Minimum 1 year work experience in the same skilled occupation
• Language test results of a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in English or French
• Settlement funds to support your family upon arrival to Canada, unless you are presently working in Canada and received points for a valid job offer
• Minimum 67 points in the selection factors, which consist of:

1. Language ability
2. Education – verified by an Educational Credential Assessment
3. Work experience
4. Age
5. Arranged employment in Canada, and
6. Adaptability points which consider spouse language skills, past work or study in Canada, a job offer in Canada and a close relative living in Canada

B. The Canadian Experience Class – Express Entry

Qualifying under the Canadian Experience Class program requires that you demonstrate:

• Minimum 1 year work experience in a skilled occupation Canada
• Language test result showing a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 or 7 in English or French, depending on your work experience

C. The Federal Skilled Trades Program – Express Entry

Qualifying under the Federal Skilled Trades program requires that you demonstrate:

• Minimum 2 years of work experience in a skilled trade within the past 5 years, including the following occupations:

1. Industrial, electrical and construction trades
2. Maintenance and equipment operation trades
3. Supervisors and technical jobs in natural resources, agriculture and related production
4. Processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors and central control operators
5. Chefs and cooks 
6. Butchers and bakers

• Must meet the National Occupational Classification (NOC) occupation requirements for that trade, except for Provincial trade certification
• Language test results of a minimum CLB 5 for speaking and listening, plus minimum CLB 4 for reading and writing
• A valid job offer in Canada or a Canadian trade certificate
• Settlement funds to support your family upon arrival to Canada, unless you are presently working in Canada and received points for a valid job offer

If you meet the criteria to apply in one of the three programs, you are accepted into the Express Entry Pool and you receive a ranking score on the basis of several factors. This score is referred to as the Express Entry CRS Score – or Comprehensive Ranking Score.

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)

The Comprehensive Ranking system operates to rank express entry candidates, in order to determine who will be invited to apply for Permanent Residence in Canada. Several times each year, the Minister of Immigration issues an invitation to apply for permanent residency to the eligible candidates in the Express Entry pool who have the highest-ranking score.

The CRS score is determined on the basis of age, language ability, work history, education, spouse factors, a Canadian job offer, a provincial nomination, a sibling living in Canada and strong French skills. The highest possible CRS score would be a perfect 1200.  For 2023, most candidates needed an express entry score above 480 to receive an invitation.

Once you have been issued an invitation to apply for Permanent Residence through an Express Entry draw, you have 60 days to submit a perfected application. The application itself is completed entirely online and you are required to upload documents to verify the qualifications you declared when creating your profile. There are two points of focus when preparing your supporting documents – category of application and CRS. You need to provide documents that prove you are eligible under the category of application for which you were invited. You also need to include documents that prove each of the factors that contributed points to your express entry score.

Express Entry Cost

In addition to the costs for assessment of your language ability and education, and your upfront medical exams, there are Canadian immigration government fees payable when you submit your permanent residence application through Express Entry.

To submit the Express Entry permanent residence application, you will need to pay $850 per adult and $230 per accompanying child, plus $170 family biometrics fees. You can also pay $515 per adult Right of Permanent Residence fee (RPRF) at the time of application, or you can wait until these fees are requested by IRCC. The RPRF is not mandatory when you apply but must be paid before you can receive permanent residence. If your application is refused, you will receive a refund of the RPRF, but the application fees and biometrics fees paid to start the application are non-refundable.