Express Entry

The Canada Express Entry Program is an online immigration system designed to manage applications for permanent residency under three federal economic immigration programs. It is one of the fastest and most popular pathways for skilled workers to immigrate to Canada. The program ranks candidates based on factors like age, education, work experience, and language skills, using a points-based system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The higher your score, the better your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency.

 

Key Components of the Express Entry Program:

 

1. Programs Managed by Express Entry:

– Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW): For skilled workers with foreign work experience.

– Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST): For workers with qualifications in a skilled trade.

– Canadian Experience Class (CEC): For those who have Canadian work experience, typically temporary workers or international graduates.

 

2. Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS):

Candidates are ranked based on:

– Age

– Education

– Skilled work experience (in Canada or abroad)

– English and/or French language proficiency

– Job offers (optional)

– Provincial nomination (adds extra points)

 

3. How It Works:

Step 1: Eligible candidates create an Express Entry profile, where their details are assessed.

Step 2: Based on the CRS score, candidates enter the Express Entry pool.

Step 3: Every few weeks, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) holds a draw and invites the highest-ranking candidates to apply for permanent residency.

Step 4: Once invited, candidates have 60 days to submit their full application for permanent residency.

 

4. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP):

Express Entry also works with provincial and territorial governments. If you receive a nomination through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) linked to Express Entry, you gain an additional 600 CRS points, virtually guaranteeing an invitation to apply for permanent residence.

 

5. Processing Times:

Express Entry is known for its fast-processing times. IRCC aims to process most applications within 6 months after submission.