Express Entry is Canada’s application management system for 3 programmes: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
Eligible candidates are awarded a score based on criteria such as age, education, work experience and language skills. The Government of Canada holds Express Entry draws on a regular basis, inviting the highest-scoring candidates to apply for permanent residence.
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What is Express Entry?
Express Entry is the electronic system used to manage the applications of skilled workers who wish to become Canadian permanent residents. Express Entry manages 3 programmes:
- The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP).
- The Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
- The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
Once an interested candidate submits a profile online, the federal government determines whether the candidate is eligible for one of the programmes managed by Express Entry. Eligible candidates are accepted into the Express Entry pool and are scored and ranked under theComprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The CRS is the points system the government uses to assess and rank candidates in the Express Entry pool. The CRS score is based on age, education, work experience, language skills and other factors.
Find out more aboutBasic Express Entry requirements and the CRS score.
Then,Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)selects the highest-scoring candidates from the Express Entry pool and issues anInvitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. Express Entry also has priority categories, under which certain candidates may qualify for an ITA through occupation-based Express Entry draws.
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How it works
Express Entry works very simply and involves 2 main stages:
- Stage 1:Candidates eligible for Express Entry express their interest in becoming Canadian permanent residents.
- Stage 2:The Government of Canada holds Express Entry draws in which the highest-scoring candidates are invited to immigrate to Canada.
Express Entry holds 3 main types of draw:
- General draws: IRCC invites the candidates with the highest CRS scores to apply for permanent residence.
- Programme-specific draws: IRCC invites the highest-scoring candidates who are eligible under a particular Express Entry programme.
- Category-based draws: IRCC invites the highest-scoring candidates who fall within categories designated by IRCC to support specific economic objectives.
Below is the step-by-step process for submitting an Express Entry profile and applying for a permanent resident visa to immigrate to Canada:
- Step 1: Determine eligibility for Express Entry. The candidate must meet the requirements of at least one of the 3 Express Entry programmes: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
- Step 2: Complete a language test and obtain anEducational Credential Assessment (ECA)if required.
- Step 3: Submit an Express Entry profile on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website.
- Step 4: Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from IRCC.
- Step 5: Submit a complete Application for Permanent Residence (APR) to IRCC and pay the fees within the prescribed deadline. At this stage the candidate must provide medical examination results and police clearance certificates. IRCC will then send an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR).
- Step 6: Providebiometricswhen requested by IRCC.
- Step 7: IRCC makes the final decision on the APR. IRCC aims to process applications within 6 months. Once the application is approved, the candidate receives a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and a permanent resident visa (if the candidate is outside Canada) so that they may enter Canada and complete the immigration process.
The purpose of Express Entry draws
The main purpose of Express Entry draws is to publish the cut-off score and issue Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to the highest-scoring candidates. In effect, these are the candidates who rank highest against the assessment factors at the time of the draw, thereby providing Canadian society and the economy with the most productive workforce.
Inoccupation-based Express Entry draws, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invites candidates who are eligible under a particular category established by theMinister of Immigration of Canadato meet a specific economic objective. Priority draws complement the other forms of Express Entry draw.
IRCC still takes each candidate’s CRS score into account when holding category-based draws. This means that even where a candidate falls within a priority category, they must still meet the minimum CRS score set by IRCC to have a chance of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in that particular draw.
Processing times
An Express Entry profile is valid for a maximum of 1 (one) year. Candidates who receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) can expect the Government of Canada to process their permanent residence application within 6 months.
Processing time runs from the point the government receives the complete permanent residence application until the final decision on that application. If a candidate does not receive an ITA within 1 year of creating an Express Entry profile, they may submit a new profile provided they remain eligible.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Express Entry system has both advantages and limitations, but its benefits far outweigh its drawbacks.
Canada drew on New Zealand and Australia in developing Express Entry. New Zealand was the first country to introduce an “Expression of Interest” system, in 2004, followed by Australia in 2012.
Canada launched Express Entry in 2015 to improve the processing of skilled worker applications and to deliver a better experience for immigration candidates.
Before Express Entry, Canada processed applications on a first-come, first-served basis. However, the number of applications submitted each year consistently exceeded the immigration places available, leaving candidates waiting years for a permanent resident visa.
The introduction of Express Entry has shortened processing times considerably. Candidates can now receive a visa within 6 months instead of waiting up to 6 years as they did previously.
Beyond faster processing, Express Entry also benefits immigration candidates because the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is built on the Government of Canada’s research into the factors that help immigrants succeed in the Canadian labour market.
Research shows that young and middle-aged immigrants with a high level of education, professional work experience and strong English or French language skills tend to achieve considerable success in the Canadian labour market.
Since the system was introduced in 2015, IRCC data has shown that Express Entry immigrants perform very strongly. Candidates can therefore be confident that they have a good chance of finding suitable work in Canada.
The main limitation of Express Entry is that it offers no guarantee that a candidate will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. Previously, a candidate who met the requirements was almost certain to obtain a visa. Under Express Entry, however, only the candidates with the highest CRS scores have a chance of receiving an ITA.
That said, Express Entry has the advantage of frequent draws, creating many opportunities for candidates to be invited to apply. Candidates can alsoimprove their CRS scoreby obtaining a job offer from a Canadian employer, securing a provincial nomination, studying in Canada, gaining further work experience or improving their English and French test scores.
Beyond Express Entry, Canada offers more than 100 immigration pathways for skilled workers, providing many opportunities for candidates who wish to settle in the country.
Costs involved
Creating and submitting an Express Entry profile is free of charge.
Candidates may, however, incur certain costs before submitting an Express Entry profile, including:
- An English or French language proficiency test with a language testing organisation approved by the Government of Canada.
- Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).
- Translation fees where documents need to be translated into English or French.
- Fees for an immigration professional or consultancy.
After receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA), the candidate must pay government fees and other costs, including:
- The Government of Canada’s permanent residence application processing fee.
- Medical examination fees.
- Police clearance certificate fees.
- Biometrics fees.
Government of Canada permanent residence fees under Express Entry (in effect from 30 April 2022):
| Fee type | Cost (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Processing fee and right of permanent residence fee for the principal applicant | $1,525 |
| Processing fee and right of permanent residence fee for the spouse | $1,525 |
| Fee for each accompanying dependent child | $260 |
Do I need to hire a lawyer to enter Express Entry?
Candidates are not required to hire a lawyer to go through the Express Entry process, but doing so can be beneficial.
An experienced, professional Canadian immigration lawyer can help a candidate maximise their chances of success for a reasonable fee.
They can advise the candidate on how to achieve the highest possible score under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) and support them throughout the Express Entry process, from submitting the profile to preparing the permanent residence application after an Invitation to Apply (ITA) is received.
A lawyer will also make sure the candidate makes no errors and provides no misleading information in their Canadian immigration application.
Do candidates need a Canadian job offer for Express Entry?
A candidate does not need a job offer to succeed in the Express Entry system. Holding a job offer does not guarantee selection, but it can increase a candidate’s score under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
A candidate may receive an additional 50 or 200 CRS points for a qualifying job offer under Express Entry.
In an IRCC announcement in December 2024,candidates no longer receive the additional 50 or 200 CRS points for a job offer in certain specific cases, in order to curb immigration fraud.
Do Express Entry immigrants find good jobs in Canada?
A 2020 studycarried out by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) found that Express Entry immigrants are highly successful in the Canadian labour market because they hold the human capital Canadian employers are looking for.
The study found that Express Entry immigrants tend to earn above the average wage of Canadian workers, with high employment rates and low unemployment rates. They are expected to continue to succeed in the Canadian labour market as their skills will remain sought after by Canadian employers, particularly as many workers approach retirement over the coming decade.
Canada relies on immigration to ease the economic and fiscal challenges caused by a rapidly ageing population and a low birth rate.
Profile of Express Entry candidates
Each year, Canada welcomes Express Entry immigrants from more than 100 different countries. Since becoming the first country in the world to introduce a points system for skilled workers in 1967, Canada has not screened skilled worker candidates on the basis of their country of origin. Instead, Canada assesses candidates solely on their ability to integrate into the Canadian labour market.
To do so, the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) assesses skilled workers on factors such as age, education, language skills, work experience and other human capital factors. Given the wealth of talent worldwide and the diversity of the Canadian economy, Canada welcomes people from a wide range of countries, skill sets and occupations every year.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) publishes an annual report on Express Entry immigrants, providing further insight into the backgrounds of those who choose to bring their talents to Canada.
Can family members be included in Express Entry?
A candidate’s Express Entry profile may include their spouse or common-law partner. It may also include dependent children, the dependent children of the spouse or common-law partner, and the dependent children of dependent children. If the candidate is successful in the Express Entry system, their accompanying family members will also be granted permanent residence.
A dependent child is defined as:
- Under 22 and without a spouse or common-law partner.
- Aged 22 or over, who was dependent on their parents’ financial support before the age of 22 and is unable to support themselves financially because of a physical or mental health condition.
Find out more about Express Entry on the Government of Canada website athere.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about Express Entry
When submitting an Express Entry profile, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will ask the candidate for information from the following documents:
- A written job offer from a Canadian employer (if applicable)
- Passport or travel document
- Language test results
- Proof of Canadian education or anEducational Credential Assessment (ECA)
- Proof of funds
- Provincial nomination letter (if applicable)
Look up the National Occupational Classification (NOC) for Express Entry athere.
No. A candidate’s Express Entry profile expires after 1 year. To remain in the Express Entry pool, the candidate must wait for the profile to expire and then submit a new profile on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website. IRCC recommends taking screenshots of the old profile so that the information can easily be re-entered when submitting a new one.
Yes. Provided the profile has been confirmed as eligible, the candidate may update the information after submission.
If the candidate holdsmaintained statusof lawful residence (formerly known as “implied status”). Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) provides detailed guidance athere.
The candidate must complete a language test approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for Express Entry. Language test scores are valid for 2 years. The options are:
English
French
No. The candidate’s language test assesses four skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking. A candidate may score differently on the same skill after taking the test more than once. However, the candidate may only submit the results of a single test. Fortunately, the candidate can submit their best result.
Note that language test scores are valid for 2 years. A sensible approach is to enter the Express Entry pool, keep retaking the test until the desired score is achieved, and then update the Express Entry profile to raise the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.
The candidate must obtain an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from an organisation designated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The options are:
- World Education Services (WES)
- Comparative Education Service – University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies
- International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS)
- International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)
- International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES)
- Medical Council of Canada (for physicians)
- Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (for pharmacists)
Yes. The candidate must declare the funds available to them in their Express Entry profile to demonstrate their financial capacity to settle in Canada. This ensures the candidate is able to support themselves and any accompanying family members.
The candidate only needs to meet theproof of fundsrequirement if invited to apply for permanent residence under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) or the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), unless they are already authorised to work legally in Canada and hold a valid job offer from a Canadian employer.
Those invited to apply under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) do not need to show proof of funds.
Where a candidate is eligible for more than one programme, they cannot choose the programme under which Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will issue the invitation.
Candidates can look for work while in the Express Entry pool using the Government of Canada’sJob Bank. Candidates may also apply directly to Canadian employers, use private job boards and connect with employers through social media.
Note: many fraudsters ask candidates to pay a fee in exchange for a job offer, which is illegal in Canada. Candidates should do their research to avoid job offer scams.
The candidate will need to create a new profile and submit it again on the IRCC website, as ineligible profiles are no longer valid and cannot be edited.
The candidate will need to provide IRCC with the required documents and pay the applicable fees. Examples of documents to be submitted include:
- A valid passport
- Birth certificate
- Language test results
- Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
- Police clearance certificate
- Medical examination report
- And other documents
All the documents to be submitted to IRCC upon receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) can be found on the IRCC website.
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