What is Express Entry?
Express Entry is the Canadian government’s online immigration application system. It allows you to submit information about yourself (a profile) in order to be considered as a skilled immigrant. If you are among the candidates with the highest rankings, you get invited to apply for Canadian permanent residency.
How does Express Entry work?
You must first create an Express Entry profile by uploading all the required information about yourself to the online website. Once you do this, your application will be ranked according to a points system.
If your earned points enough to rank you highly, you will receive an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence as a skilled worker.
Once you apply for your permanent residency within 60 days of being invited to apply, your application will be processed and you should become a Canadian permanent resident as early as 6 months later.
When will you need Express Entry?
If you are planning to apply for Canadian permanent residency using one of the following streams, you must first go through the Express entry program:
- The Skilled Worker Program
- The Skilled Trades Program
- The Canadian Experience Class
You may also be selected from the Express Entry pool for certain provincial nominee programs being operated by provinces or territories.
Do you Qualify for Express entry?
Once you meet the eligibility requirements for the for the Skilled Worker program, Skilled Trades program, or Canadian Experience Class, you automatically qualify for Express Entry.
Learn what you need to do to qualify under the Skilled Worker program, Skilled Trades program, or Canadian Experience Class program.
How do you earn Express Entry profile points?
Your Express Entry profile points will be assigned based on:
- Your education level;
- Your abilities in English and/or French;
- Your work experience and skills;
- Your age;
- If you have a job offer in Canada; and
- Your spouse’s education, language abilities and work experience.
You may earn additional points if you have completed a college or university program in Canada or if you have a provincial nomination.
Learn more about how points are assigned using the government’s Comprehensive Ranking System.
You will see the points you can get for each category. You should bear in mind that the Express Entry points system is different from the Federal Skilled Worker point system.
How Do you get from Express Entry to PR?
Once you create a profile which meets the Express entry requirements, it will be entered into a pool along with all the other eligible applications from people around the world. The pool is simply the term used to describe the group of applicants who have currently applied for Express Entry.
The immigration authorities will then rank you against other people in the pool. The number of points you have will determine where you will be ranked. Your ranking will be based on the number of points you have.
Every few weeks the immigration authorities publish number of invitations to apply (ITA) for permanent residence that will be sent to candidates in the Express Entry pool on a specific date.
If you are ranked among the persons in the pool with the highest number of points, your profile will be drawn (selected) from the list of applications. You will then get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence as a skilled immigrant.
For More Information
Comprehensive Ranking System Chart – This chart outlines how many points are awarded for each category in the Express Entry system.
Skilled Immigrants (Express Entry) – Information on selection criteria and how to apply. From Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
- Federal Skilled trades
- Federal Skilled worker
- Canadian experience class
Let us Help You Get Into Express Entry
Your goal when applying for Express Entry is to get an invitation to apply. Your application will be among thousands of other applications in the pool. We can help you prepare the strongest possible application and rank as highly as possible.
We will:
- Assess your case to determine the best approach for you;
- Provide you with honest feedback on your likelihood of success;
- Ensure your application conforms with all the complex regulations and timelines;
- Tell you in advance about the needed documents, tests and assessments;
- Conduct our own points calculation on your behalf;
- Submit your complicated application on your behalf;
Let us help you prepare the strongest Express Entry application.