Express Entry is the primary pathway for skilled workers to immigrate to Canada. Each year, Canada welcomes approximately 110,000 immigrants through Express Entry.
Candidates who meet the eligibility requirements submit their profile on Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada website. They are assigned a score under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Approximately every two weeks, IRCC invites the highest-scoring immigration candidates to apply for permanent residence. 

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry is a computer-based system used to manage the applications of skilled workers seeking permanent residence in Canada.

After an applicant presents an online profile, the federal government analyses if the applicant is eligible for an Express Entry programme. Candidates who meet the Express Entry eligibility requirements can enter into the Express Entry pool. They are ranked using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The CRS is a point-based system that the government uses to evaluate and rank Express Entry candidates. The CRS score is determined using a variety of characteristics, including a candidate’s age, education, work experience, and language skills.

The Canadian government picks the highest-scoring individuals from the Express Entry pool approximately every two weeks and sends them an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.

Who is Eligible for Express Entry?

The criteria for Express Entry eligibility vary according to the programme for which a candidate desire to apply. However, an applicant must be lawfully admissible to Canada and intend to reside in a province other than Quebec to qualify for any programme.

Candidates must meet the criteria for at least one of the following federal economic immigration programmes to be eligible for Express Entry:

• Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
• Federal Skilled Trade (FST)
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

 

 

How does Express Entry works?

Express Entry is a straightforward process that consists of two major stages. The first significant stage involves candidates eligible for Express Entry expressing their interest in obtaining Canadian permanent resident status to the Canadian government. The second major stage is when the Canadian government invites the candidates with the highest scores to immigrate to Canada.

This section will explain the process of submitting an Express Entry profile and obtaining a permanent residence visa to immigrate to Canada:

Step 1: Determine the Express Entry eligibility.

Step 2: An applicant must complete language testing and obtain an Evaluation of Educational Credentials (ECA).

Step 3: Create an account on the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada website (IRCC).

Step 4: Candidate must Check with IRCC to see if they receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.

Step 5: An applicant must submit a completed Application for Permanent Residence (APR) to IRCC along with the required fees by the deadline. This step must include a medical examination and police clearance. IRCC will then issue an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) to the candidate.

Step 6: Applicants then have to submit their biometrics when IRCC requests them.

Step 7: Candidate must Await IRCC’s final determination on their APR. IRCC’s goal is to complete applications within six months or less. Once the application is approved, an applicant will receive a Certificate of Permanent Residence (COPR) and a permanent resident visa (if you are from a visa-required country) that will allow you to travel to Canada and complete your landing.

How long does the Express Entry Process Take?

Express Entry can take as little as six months to complete, from the time an Express Entry profile’s submission to the time a permanent resident visa is issued. However, not every case will proceed in this manner. If an applicant does not get an invitation to apply, the Express Entry profile will remain active in the pool of candidates for 12 months. After 12 months, an applicant may resubmit the profile and remain in the pool if not selected. To simplify further:

• The profile will remain valid in the Express Entry pool for 12 months.
• The candidate will have 60 days from the date of issuance of the ITA to provide the requested complete application of documents.
• After receiving the complete application, the immigration authorities should process a permanent resident visa within six months or less.

What are the requirements for Express Entry?

To be eligible to apply to Express Entry as a skilled worker, A Candidate must meet the following criteria:

• Have at least one year of continuous full-time (or equivalent part-time) work experience in a skilled occupation within the last ten years.
• Possess a minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) seven in either English or French, as determined by an approved language test.
• Completed post-secondary education that Educational Credential Assessment evaluates following Canadian standards.

These are the minimum requirements for skilled worker applicants to Express Entry. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee that an applicant will receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence in Canada. Candidates with stronger profiles get chosen over those who meet the bare minimum requirements.