Express Entry
Express Entry
Express Entry is the system used for handling applications from skilled professionals seeking to immigrate to Canada permanently.
Applicants eligibility for Express Entry fall under:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP),
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC), or
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
The Canadian Express Entry is quite competitive as applicant's are ranked by the human capital factors they possess and documents submitted. The Express Entry is not an application in itself but more like a house that has three other programs in it.
Generally, applicants looking to immigrate through this pathway will need to meet the following requirements:
- Have at least one-year of skilled work experience
- Meet Language skills (English or French)
- Valid passport and/or travel documents
- Education credential assessment report if applying through FSW (or you want to get points for education gotten outside Canada if nominated through PNP)
- Written job offer from an employer in Canada (if applicable)
Candidates with profiles in the pool are ranked against each other according to the Comprehensive Ranking Score and each applicants receive scores based on their profile.
Being a points-based system, the CRS score is calculated based on a candidate's age, education, work experience, language skills, as well as other factors. The total Comprehensive Ranking Score achievable for an applicant is 1,200 points.
Since the resumption of all programs draw on July 6, 2022, the government has continued inviting highest scoring applicants in the pool every two weeks. If invited to apply for permanent residence, applicants have 60 days to submit an application and will need to upload copies of documents used for their Express Entry profile as well as any other documents that are crucial to the success of their application. Some of the documents that will be required by IRCC in assessing the application are police certificates, medical examination, proof of settlement funds (if without a job offer and applying through either FSWP or FSTP).
Once a complete application for permanent residence has been submitted, the next part is to wait for IRCC's final decision on the application. The standard processing time is six months but it may be delayed by factors within and beyond IRCC.
An Express Entry profile may be valid for up to a year and a candidate may choose t re-submit their profile if they are still qualified if they do not receive an ITA within a year of creating their Express Entry profile.
Which Express Entry Program Are You Eligible For?
The Express Entry Program has three immigration pathways with differing requirements for each. The one you may be eligible for will depend on depend on your situations and answers to the questions below:
- Are you a highly skilled foreign national?
- Do you have foreign education and work experience?
- Are you currently outside Canada?
- Do you have 2 years of full-time work experience in a skilled trade?
- Do you have a Canadian tradepersons qualifications?
- Have you being offered at least a one year full-time job in Canada?
- Have you ever studied in Canada or have Canadian work expreience?
If you answered yes to question one to three, you might want to look at the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program.
If you answered yes to question four to six, you probably will meet the requirements of The Federal Skilled Trade (FST) program better than the other two programs.
A yes to question seven might qualify an applicant for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program.
If you were unable to answer yes to any of the above questions, don't fret, Canada has over 80 different immigration pathways for those looking to immigrate to the Great North. The immigration section on this website covers other programs you might find suitable.
You might be conflicted on whether to use the guidance of an immigration consultant or not, however you can rely on the professional know-how of an immigration consultant through every step of your Express Entry application from submitting a profile, tips to getting more points and the actual application for permanent residence. That way, you can avoid misrepresentation or mistakes on your application.
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Wondering which Express Entry program you are qualified for? Book a consultation with us to get ahead in your application process!