What is Express Entry Canada

What is Express Entry Canada?

Express Entry is an application management system used by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to manage and process applications received through three of Canada’s federal economic immigration programs for skilled workers.

Express Entry is a competitive immigration system, ranking all eligible candidates against one another and then inviting the best ranking candidates to apply for Canadian permanent resident status.

Candidates are ranked against one another based on their age, education, language proficiency, work experience, and other factors.

Express Entry is the quickest way to immigrate to Canada. But, that doesn’t necessarily mean everybody can immigrate to Canada through Express Entry. This guide will help you understand if Express Entry is the best way for you and your family, if applicable, to settle in Canada.

Individuals and families around the world can immigrate to Canada within just a few months through the Express Entry immigration selection system.

First introduced in 2015, Express Entry has become the main driver of skilled worker immigration to Canada and one of the most popular immigration systems globally.

How Express Entry Canada works

1. Determine Eligibility: Potential Express Entry applicants will need to be eligible under one of the following federal economic immigration programs.

• Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC)

• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

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A portion of the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are aligned with Express Entry, but candidates still must be eligible under one of the three federal programs in order to enter the Express Entry pool.

Though the eligibility requirements differ for each of the Express Entry-aligned programs, all candidates are required to have at least one year of skilled work experience, as well as a certain level of proficiency on an approved language test in either English or French. Also, Canada screens all Express Entry applicants for criminal history and medical issues that could make a person inadmissible.

2. Create an Express Entry profile: Eligible individuals must submit an Express Entry profile to the pool of candidates. The Express Entry profile acts as an expression of Interest (EOI). Eligible candidates will automatically receive a score based on their profile and will be ranked against the other candidates in the pool.

The ranking score for Express Entry is based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) and is out of 1,200 points. Candidates can improve their rank by taking steps to improve their CRS scores. The higher a candidate’s CRS score, the higher the chance they will receive an Express Entry Invitation to Apply (ITA),

The CRS score is used as a cut-off point in Express Entry draws. It is designed to project a candidate’s of be economically successful in Canada. It ranks different candidates based on their career and educational history, language skills, and whether they have already received a qualifying job offer or provincial nomination in Canada, among other factors.

3. Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA): Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducts Express Entry draws at regular intervals (usually every two weeks). In these Express Entry draws, candidates above a certain rank are invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence. If a candidate is not invited, their profile will expire after 12 months, at which point they may submit a new profile.

5. Improve your CRS score: Candidates in the Express Entry pool who have not yet been selected are able to improve their Express Entry profile and score. They can do this by submitting new and updated information. Examples include increased language scores, educational credentials assessments, adding additional work experience, and/or obtaining a qualifying job offer or a provincial nomination.

6. Submit your application for permanent residence: If you receive an Express Entry Invitation to Apply (ITA), you will be given 60 days to submit a complete application for permanent residence. In this application, you will have to provide extensive personal information along with supporting documentation. The entire application is submitted electronically.

After you’ve submitted your application, you have to wait for a final decision to be issued. 80 percent of Express Entry applications are processed in six months or less. If your application is approved, then you will receive authorization to activate your permanent resident status in Canada.

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