EXPRESS ENTRY
Express Entry is the online system Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada uses to manage applications for three federal economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program and Canadian Experience Class. It also manages part of the Provincial Nominee Program.
STEP 1: CHECK PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY
A person must first qualify for at least one Express Entry program. Each program has its own requirements for work experience, language ability, education and other factors. Creating a profile does not itself constitute a permanent residence application and does not guarantee an invitation.
STEP 2: ENTER THE EXPRESS ENTRY POOL
Eligible candidates create an online profile and receive a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. CRS points may be based on factors such as age, education, official-language ability, Canadian and foreign work experience, a spouse or partner’s qualifications, provincial nomination and other additional factors.
Couples should compare their circumstances before deciding who will be the principal applicant. The person with the highest education or language score is not automatically the best choice.
STEP 3: INVITATION ROUNDS
IRCC holds different types of invitation rounds, which may include general, program-specific and category-based rounds. Candidates who meet the conditions of a particular round may receive an invitation based on their CRS score and the instructions for that round. Cut-off scores and categories can change.
STEP 4: APPLY FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE
Only candidates who receive an invitation may submit an Express Entry permanent residence application. The application must be complete, accurate and supported by valid documents, which may include language test results, educational assessments, proof of work experience, police certificates, medical examinations and proof of funds. Processing times vary and approval is never guaranteed.
KEEP YOUR PROFILE CURRENT
Candidates are responsible for keeping their profile information and documents current. Changes to language results, education, work experience, family composition, passport details or settlement funds may affect eligibility or the CRS score.
EXPRESS ENTRY ASSESSMENT
A proper assessment considers both program eligibility and the candidate’s likely competitiveness in the pool. Because invitation patterns and requirements change, we assess each case using current IRCC guidance.