Express Entry: basic requirements and CRS scores

To receive an invitation to apply, Express Entry candidates must meet the basic eligibility criteria of one of the three federal immigration programmes and hold a CRS score equal to or above the cut-off score published in each Express Entry draw.

Basic eligibility criteria

To be eligible forExpress Entry, a candidate must meet the criteria of at least one of the following federal economic immigration programmes:

• The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP): This is Canada’s principal economic immigration pathway. Minimum requirements include at least 1 year of continuous full-time work, or the equivalent, within the past 10 years in a skilled occupation atNational Occupational Classification (NOC)TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3; intermediate or higher English- or French-language ability; and, for candidates educated outside Canada, an educational credential (certificate, degree or diploma) together with a reportEducational Credential Assessment (ECA). In addition to meeting the minimum requirements for work experience, language ability and education, a candidate must score at least 67 points on the FSWP grid.
• The Canadian Experience Class (CEC): The CEC is for international graduates and foreign workers with Canadian work experience who wish to apply for permanent residence. Candidates must have at least 1 year of skilled, professional or technical work experience in Canada within the 3 (three) years preceding the date of application and meet the language proficiency criteria.
• The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP): The FSTP is for candidates seeking permanent residence on the basis of qualifying in a skilled trade. Eligibility criteria include a minimum of 2 (two) years of full-time work experience in the skilled trade within the 5 (five) years preceding the application; meeting the job requirements of the trade; holding a full-time job offer in Canada for at least 1 year or a certificate of qualification issued by a competent Canadian authority; and meeting the language proficiency criteria.

What must a candidate do?

There are several ways to become an eligible Express Entry candidate.

First, a candidate needs to identify why they are not currently eligible. For example, a candidate may not meet one or more of the minimum Federal Skilled Worker Programme (FSWP) requirements for work experience, language ability or education. Addressing these gaps is the first step towards being able to submit an Express Entry profile.

The next important step is to pursue an education pathway that can lead to Canadian permanent residence. To qualify for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), a candidate needs at least 1 year of eligible Canadian work experience within the past 3 (three) years and must meet the minimum language requirements.

One way to become an eligible candidate for the CEC and Express Entry is to study in Canada and then work in Canada after completing the programme. This pathway carries the added benefit of helping a candidate earn a higher score in theComprehensive Ranking System (CRS)thanks to a Canadian credential and Canadian work experience.

In addition, a candidate who is not eligible for Express Entry still has many other options, as Canada offers more than 100 immigration pathways for skilled workers.

Other Canadian immigration options

Canada has more than 100 different immigration pathways for skilled workers seeking a permanent resident visa. Candidates may pursue one or more of the following options at the same time:

• Express Entry: This is the principal immigration pathway for skilled workers.
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): This is the second major route through which Canada admits skilled workers, by way of provincial nomination.
• the Quebec Skilled Worker Programme (SWSP): The province of Quebec operates its own immigration system to attract skilled workers.
• Other federal immigration programmes: Beyond Express Entry, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) also offers further immigration pathways for skilled workers, including:
  • The Atlantic Immigration Programme (AIP)
  • The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP)
  • The Caregiver programmes
  • Agri-Food Immigration Pilot (AFIP)
  • The Self-Employed Persons Programme
• Study in Canada: This is an important step that helps candidates apply for permanent residence through the immigration programmes above.
• Work in Canada: With a job offer in hand, a candidate can begin the immigration journey by coming to Canada on awork permit, then transitioning to permanent residence through a suitable pathway.

Is a candidate’s CRS score high enough to enter Express Entry?

Reviewing theExpress Entry draw resultsmost recent draws is the best way to gauge which CRS scores are currently competitive for candidates hoping to receive an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

Candidates should not be discouraged if their current CRS score falls below the cut-off in recent Express Entry draws. CRS cut-off requirements change from draw to draw and can fluctuate considerably.

If a candidate’s CRS score is only slightly below the recent cut-off, they may choose to wait in the hope that the cut-off falls to a workable level. At the same time, they can look for ways to improve their CRS score.

If the CRS score is considerably below the recent cut-off, candidates should still not lose hope. Being in the Express Entry pool creates the opportunity to receive a provincial nomination, which makes selection under the Express Entry system all but certain. Candidates can also seek a Canadian job offer, improve their CRS score, consider other immigration programmes, or pursue a study pathway to permanent residence.

Improving your CRS score in Express Entry?

Ways to improve your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score in Express Entry include:

• Making sure the candidate has claimed every CRS point they are eligible for.
• Improving language test results.
• Considering whether a spouse or common-law partner should be the principal applicant.
• Raising your level of education.
• Gaining further work experience.
• Studying and working in Canada.

Learn more about how to improve your CRS score athere.

Do Express Entry CRS scores fall?

No one, not evenImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), can predict whether Express Entry CRS cut-offs will rise or fall, because the system is constantly in flux. No one knows precisely how CRS scores will be distributed across the candidates in the Express Entry pool.

When many candidates hold high CRS scores, the CRS cut-off tends to rise. Conversely, when the number of high-scoring candidates falls, the cut-off may fall with it. Express Entry results can therefore change markedly within a matter of weeks, with CRS cut-offs rising or dropping sharply.

If a candidate is eligible for Express Entry, entering the Express Entry pool is usually the best course of action regardless of CRS score, as it increases the chances of immigrating to Canada.

Aside from the language test and the Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), entering the Express Entry pool is entirely free, so candidates lose nothing even if they are unsure about their CRS score. Moreover, a language test and an ECA are also required by most skilled-worker immigration programmes, so the cost involved is hardly a barrier to entering the Express Entry pool.

Should you enter Express Entry with a low CRS score?

Entering the Express Entry pool when eligible brings a number of benefits that improve the chances of a successful move to Canada:

• First, as noted, entering the Express Entry pool is free. Candidates need only pay for the language test and the Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) beforehand, and these are costs required by most Canadian immigration programmes in any case.
• Express Entry CRS cut-offs are constantly in flux and cannot be predicted. A CRS score that looks low today may still be enough to secure an invitation to apply for permanent residence in the future.
• Once in the Express Entry pool, a candidate can improve their CRS score by retaking the language test, gaining further relevant work experience, raising their level of education, or studying and working in Canada.
• While waiting, a candidate may receive a provincial nomination, which makes it all but certain that they will receive anInvitation to Apply (ITA)to apply for a Canadian permanent resident visa.
• A candidate may also receive a Canadian job offer, adding enough CRS points to secure an ITA.
• Beyond Express Entry, candidates can still apply directly to other Canadian immigration programmes.

Language proficiency needed to enter Express Entry?

There are two factors to consider in determining whether a candidate’sCanadian Language Benchmark (CLB)is sufficient for Express Entry. Specifically:

Minimum CLB requirements for Express Entry

• Federal Skilled Worker Programme (FSWP): A minimum of CLB 7 is required in all four abilities (reading, writing, speaking, listening) in one of Canada’s two official languages.
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC):
  • If the occupation falls underNational Occupational Classification (NOC)TEER 0 or 1, a minimum of CLB 7 is required in all four abilities.
  • If the occupation falls under TEER 2 or 3, a minimum of CLB 5 is required in all four abilities.
• Federal Skilled Trades Programme (FSTP): A minimum of CLB 5 is required in speaking and listening, and CLB 4 in reading and writing.

Improving your CRS score by raising your CLB level

• IRCC places a high value on language ability within the CRS. A single candidate can earn up to 310 CRS points by holding valid language results in both English and French.
• Even when testing in only one language (English, for example), achieving a higher CLB level can raise a CRS score considerably.
• Candidates should prepare thoroughly before sitting the test, even if already fluent in English or French, to ensure the best possible result.
• If the desired CLB level is not reached, candidates may retake the test as many times as needed until they achieve a suitable score.

The difference between Express Entry and the Provincial Nominee Programme (PNP)

In Canada, both the federal government and the provinces and territories may operate their own immigration programmes. The final decision on whether a candidate may become a permanent resident, however, rests with the federal government.

The Express Entry system manages three federal economic immigration programmes, while theProvincial Nominee Program (PNP)allows provinces and territories to nominate candidates who meet regional economic needs. A candidate who receives a provincial nomination can use it to support a permanent residence application submitted to the federal government.

A provincial nomination is the single most valuable factor in the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), adding 600 CRS points and all but guaranteeing an invitation to apply (ITA).

Even if an Express Entry candidate does not initially hold a CRS score high enough for a federal ITA, they may still receive a provincial nomination, gain 600 CRS points and then receive an ITA in the next Express Entry draw.

What makes a job offer valid under Express Entry?

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) provides that a valid job offer under the Express Entry system must generally meet the following criteria:

• The work is full-time and long-term.
• The employment contract runs for at least 1 year.
• The occupation falls within TEER skill category 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC).
• The job offer must still be valid (generally within the past 1 year).
• It must not be a position with an embassy, consulate or diplomatic mission.

The job offer must be made in writing and set out the job duties, salary and working conditions.

A job offer normally requires anThe Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), although some positions may be exempt from an LMIA. Where an LMIA is required, the employer must apply for one fromEmployment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).

A valid job offer under Express Entry can earn a candidate an additional 50 or 200 CRS points:

• An occupation at TEER 1, 2 or 3 earns 50 CRS points.
• An occupation at TEER 0 earns 200 CRS points.

A current work permit (where the candidate is in Canada and working lawfully for an employer) does not itself constitute a valid job offer for Express Entry or for CRS points.

Which Express Entry job offers are exempt from an LMIA?

A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is not required for a valid job offer under Express Entry where all 3 of the following conditions are met:

• The candidate has worked full-time for the employer on awork permitfor at least 1 year (or part-time for a cumulative equivalent of 1 year).
• The job offer meets the other requirements, namely:
  • The occupation falls within TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC)
  • The job offer is still valid (generally within the past 1 year)
  • It is not a position with a diplomatic mission in Canada
• The candidate holds an LMIA-exempt work permit under:
  • An international agreement(for example CUSMA, formerly NAFTA)
  • A federal-provincial agreement
  • The Canadian interests category

Candidates working in a skilled trade may hold job offers from up to 2 employers and must work for both.

Find out more about Express Entry on the Government of Canada website athere.