What is Express Entry?
Express Entry is an online system that we use to manage applications for permanent residence from skilled workers.
Once an interested candidate submits an online profile, the federal government determines if the candidate is eligible for a program managed by Express Entry. Eligible candidates are accepted into the Express Entry pool and are ranked according to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The CRS points based on the candidate’s age, education, work experience, language skills, as well as other factors.
Skilled workers based on their skills and ability to contribute to Canada’s economy.
Express Entry manages applications for three economic immigration programs:
Federal Skilled Worker Program
Federal Skilled Trades Program
Canadian Experience Class
How does Express Entry work?
Express Entry is very simple and contains two major stages. In the first major stage, candidates who are eligible for Express Entry indicate to the Canadian government their expression of interest in obtaining Canadian permanent resident status. In the second major stage, the Canadian government invites the highest-scoring candidates to immigrate to Canada.
Here is a step-by-step breakdown of how to submit your Express Entry profile and obtain a permanent residence visa to immigrate to Canada:
Step 2: Complete your language testing and obtain an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).
Step 3: Submit your profile on the website of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Step 4: Wait to see if you receive an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence from IRCC.
Step 5: Submit your completed Application for Permanent Residence (APR) to IRCC and pay your fees within the specified deadline. You need to include your medical exam and police certificates as part of this step. IRCC will then provide you with an Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR).
Step 6: Submit your biometrics once IRCC asks you to do so.
Step 7: Wait for IRCC to make a final decision on your APR. IRCC aims to finalize applications in 6 months or less. Once your application is approved you will receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and a permanent resident visa (if you are from a country that requires a visa) so you can travel to Canada and complete your landing.
How long does the Express Entry process take?
An Express Entry profile can be valid for up to one year. Candidates who receive an ITA can expect the Canadian government to process their permanent residence applications within six months. The government begins to measure the processing time when a complete permanent residence application is received. The processing time ends when a final decision is made on the application. If a candidate does not receive an ITA within one year of creating their Express Entry profile, they can simply re-submit their profile if they are still eligible.
How much does Express Entry cost?
Possible costs before submitting an Express Entry profile may include:
English or French language exam by a language-testing organization that has been approved by the Canadian government
Educational Credential Assessment
Fees if you need to translate any documents into English or French language
Hiring an immigration professional (e.g., a law firm)
Government fees and other costs after you receive an ITA include:
Canadian government fees to process permanent residence applications
Medical exam(s)
Police background check(s)
Biometrics fee(s)
Canadian government permanent residence fees for Express EntryYour application
Processing fee ($825) and right of permanent residence fee ($500)$1,325Spouse or partner processing fee ($825) and right of permanent residence fee ($500)$1,325Include a dependent child$225 (per child)
Do I need a Canada job offer under Express Entry?
No, you do not need a job offer to be successful under Express Entry. Obtaining a job offer does not guarantee you will succeed, however it will help to increase your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.
What makes a job offer valid under Express Entry?
RCC states that a valid job offer under Express Entry generally meets the following criteria:
is full-time and not a seasonal job
is at least one year
is a skilled job that falls under skill type 0, A, or B in the National Occupational Classification (NOC)
be recent (e.g., within the last 1 year)
not be from an embassy, consulate, or high commission
Job offers must be written and outline the likes of your duties, pay, and conditions of employment (e.g., which hours you will work.
Job offers often need to be supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) but there are jobs that are exempt from the LMIA requirement. If an LMIA is required, your employer must apply for one by submitting an application to Employment and Social Development Canada/Service Canada.
Valid job offers under Express Entry are worth either 50 or 200 additional CRS points. Valid job offers under NOC skill type 0, A, or B are awarded 50 additional CRS points. Job offers under NOC skill type 00 are eligible for 200 additional CRS points.
I am already working in Canada. Does this count as a job offer?
No. A work permit is not a job offer. A job offer is valid under Express Entry if, among other eligibility criteria, your employer has provided you with a written full-time job offer for one year or more if you receive permanent residence approval and your employer obtains an LMIA if one is required or the job offer falls under an LMIA-exemption.
What Canadian immigration options do I have?
Canada offers over 100 different immigration streams for skilled workers who want to obtain a Canadian permanent resident visa. You can pursue one or more of these options at the same time:
Express Entry: Canada welcomes most of its skilled worker immigrants through Express Entry.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): It is the second major way that Canada welcomes skilled workers.
Quebec: The province of Quebec operates its own immigration system to recruit skilled workers.
Other Federal Immigration Programs: In addition to its Express Entry programs, IRCC offers other skilled worker immigration pathways. Options include moving to move to Canada's Atlantic provinces, rural and northern communities, working as a caregiver, working in the agri-food sector, starting a business or being a self-employed person.
Pursue a Study Pathway: Studying in Canada is a major stepping stone towards obtaining a permanent resident visa through the above immigration options.
Work in Canada: If you already have a job offer in Canada, you can begin your immigration journey by moving to Canada on a work permit and then pursuing the above options to transition to immigration status.