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Canada Express Entry Guide
Express Entry Overview
Canada Express Entry is the fastest and most popular pathway to permanent residence for immigrants seeking a new life in Canada. Canada welcomes around 110,000 skilled workers through the Express Entry system each year.
What is Express Entry?
Express Entry is an online system used by the Canadian government to organize and process applications for skilled workers who wish to immigrate to Canada and acquire Canadian permanent residence status. The system manages three main federal economic programs:
How can I apply for Express Entry?
Applying to Express Entry is a two-step process. The first step is to submit your profile which requires the following documents:
After you submit your profile and you receive an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence, you will need to provide a more substantial application that includes reference letters, additional identity documents, police clearance certificates, and results of a medical examination.
Who is eligible for Express Entry?
Individuals with university or college degrees, skilled work experience, and moderate proficiency in English and/or French are ideal Express Entry candidates.
In order to submit a profile through the Express Entry system, candidates must also meet the eligibility requirements for one of the three federal programs:
What are the requirements for Express Entry?
In general, to be eligible to apply to Express Entry as a skilled worker, you must:
These are the minimum requirements to apply to Canada’s Express Entry system as a skilled worker. Meeting these requirements doesn’t mean you will receive an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence. Candidates with stronger profiles will always be selected over candidates that simply meet the minimum requirement.
How much does Express Entry cost?
The cost of immigrating to Canada through Express Entry is about $2,300 CAD for a single applicant, or about $4,500 CAD for a couple.
The breakdown of costs includes:
No government fees are required to submit your initial Express Entry profile. The fees are only requested when you are invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence. In addition to the government processing fees, you may also need to pay provincial immigration fees if you apply through a PNP.
You should also be aware that unless you are applying under the Canadian Experience Class program or have a valid arranged employment offer, you will need to demonstrate you have sufficient funds to support your resettlement in Canada. These settlement funds are not fees paid to the government but you must have access to them to be approved for a permanent residence visa. The amounts per family size are mentioned in the table below:
Do I need a job offer for Express Entry?
You do not require a job offer for Express Entry. The vast majority of candidates selected for Express Entry do not have a formal Canadian job offer.
If you do have a valid Canadian job offer, this can add up to 200 points to your CRS score.
How long does Express Entry take?
Express Entry can take as little as six months to process, from submission of the Express Entry profile to the issuance of a permanent resident visa. However, not all cases will proceed this quickly. Your Express Entry profile will remain active in the pool of candidates for 12 months if you do not receive an invitation to apply. If after 12 months you have not received an invitation, you are welcome to resubmit your profile and remain in the pool. To break it down further:
How are Express Entry points calculated?
When people refer to Canada’s “Express Entry points”, they are usually referring to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. Canada uses the CRS score to rank candidates in the Express Entry pool using a series of factors, including:
Will the CRS score go down?
It is impossible to predict how the CRS score will fluctuate in the future. No lawyer or consultant can predict this, nor can they guarantee that a person will successfully receive permanent residence through the Express Entry system.
Further, with more and more provinces selecting profiles from the Express Entry pool, a candidate’s CRS score is losing its importance. Instead, Provincial Nominee Programs look for candidates that can fill the local labour market or demographic gaps. This means that candidates with in-demand skills or work experience can still succeed in the Express Entry pool, even with a low CRS score.
The Canadian government has also hinted at moving to occupation-based Express Entry draws, which could make the CRS score obsolete.
There are several options for increasing a person’s chances in Canada’s Express Entry pool.
How can I increase my CRS score?
1. RETAKE THE IELTS
Improving your IELTS score is the number one way to increase your points. On their own, good IELTS results can get you up to 160 points.
But if you have good IELTS and post-secondary education can get you an additional 50 points. Good IELTS and at least three years of work experience can get you another 50 points.
You need to score at least Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 to be eligible for Express Entry under the Federal Skilled Worker program, which is at least 6.0 on each language ability on the IELTS. But if you can score CLB 9 in all language abilities, you could be looking at up to 260 Express Entry points for just your language ability.
You can also take the IELTS as many times as you want to. You can even update your Express Entry profile with new IELTS test results after you submit your profile to the pool.
Immigration Tip: Register to take your IELTS early. That way, if you don’t do as well as you hoped, you have time to retake them before you submit your profile. You can always update your profile, but if you wait until after you’re in the pool to improve your score, you could be missing out on draws.
2. WORK EXPERIENCE
Since Express Entry manages applications to economic immigration streams, your work experience is a big part of calculating your Express Entry points.
That said, it’s not very easy to accumulate more years of work experience just to improve your Express Entry points.
Immigration Tip: If you’re not eligible for Express Entry, or if you are eligible but don’t have a competitive score, consider coming to Canada first as a student or temporary worker. Canadian experience can open up a lot more Canadian immigration options.
A lot of candidates don’t leverage the work experience that they do have as much as possible, though. Express Entry uses the National Occupational Classification (NOC) matrix to assign points to all occupations. Choosing the right NOC code is one of the simplest ways to increase your score.
You’ll need to prove that whatever NOC codes you claim in your work experience are accurate if you receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence, so you should not misrepresent your experience.
That said, it’s worth it to spend some time finding exactly which NOC codes accurately reflect your career history while getting you as many Express Entry points as possible.
The NOC matrix can be confusing to sort through, so consulting an expert to figure out which NOC codes you can claim can be very helpful.
3. SPOUSAL POINTS
It may not apply to some candidates, but if you have a spouse or common-law partner, you may be missing out on some points you can claim.
There are three possibilities here, and it’s worth looking into them all.
First, your spouse or partner may get you more points. By retaking a language test, or getting an educational credential assessment (ECA) for any post-secondary education they have, your spouse or partner could increase your Express Entry points.
Second, you may actually have a higher score as a single applicant. Since your score changes depending on whether you have an accompanying spouse or partner, you could increase your score by listing them as non-accompanying. If you receive permanent residence, you can still sponsor them to join you in Canada, but it does mean a period of separation.
Third, your spouse may actually be a stronger applicant. You should definitely run through the exercise of trying to calculate how many points your spouse would get if they were the principal applicant, with or without you accompanying them.
Immigration Tip: If you and your spouse or partner are both strong candidates, you can each submit a profile to the Express Entry pool and list each other as accompanying. That way you double your chances of success!
If you’ve done as well as possible on language tests, claimed as many points as possible for your work experience, maximized your spousal points, and still don’t have a competitive score, there are some more challenging ways you can improve it.
4. JOB OFFER
An eligible job offer from a Canadian employer can get you between 50 to 200 additional points. Spend time on the Canada Job Bank, as well as private job boards and social networking sites to try to connect with Canadian employers in your field.
5. PROVINCIAL NOMINATION
If you receive a nomination from a province, you get 600 additional points. Many provinces operate a nomination program aligned with Express Entry, but it’s usually up to the candidate to figure out which programs they might be eligible for and how to apply. Keep in mind that applying for a provincial nomination is usually a completely separate application process.
6. STUDY
Going back to school is a pretty big investment to increase your score, but it can also have a big impact. A short program like a one-year post-secondary certificate could get you a lot of points. If you already have one post-secondary degree of three years or more, worth 120 points, and take a second one-year program, you can claim an additional 8 points for just education. If you already had CLB 9, and two years of Canadian work experience, you can claim an additional 50 points for skills transferability. That’s 58 total additional Express Entry points.
Canadian educational credentials are highly valued in Express Entry, and being an international student can open a lot of other doors to staying in Canada permanently that you might not otherwise be eligible for.
What is the ideal Express Entry candidate?
There is no one-size-fits-all type of profile that is eligible for Express Entry. Candidates who enter the pool receive a comprehensive ranking system (CRS) score. Those who rank higher, are more likely to receive an invitation to apply. Selection factors that can influence your CRS score are language proficiency, age, level of work experience, education, and Canadian connections.
Ideal Express Entry candidates would meet the following requirements:
Other factors that can really boost your CRS score can include:
What is the difference between Express Entry eligibility points and CRS scores?
To apply under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), candidates must first score at least 67 on the FSW eligibility points grid. Once an FSW candidate, or any other Express Entry candidate, enters the Express Entry pool, they will receive a CRS score. Canada uses the CRS score to rank all candidates against each other in the Express Entry pool. Approximately every two weeks, the Government of Canada holds an Express Entry draw, setting a minimum CRS score cut-off. Those in the pool with a CRS score above the cut-off will receive an Invitation to Apply for Canadian permanent residence.
Is there a minimum score for Express Entry?
The minimum CRS score required to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence changes from draw to draw. For this reason, it is important to take steps to improve your ranking in the pool of candidates to increase your chances of receiving an invitation.
How are my language points calculated?
Express Entry language points are based on what a candidate scores on one of Canada’s official English or French exams. If a candidate has strong proficiency in both French and English, they can maximize the number of points received under the language factor of their CRS score.
How does my IELTS score affect my CRS score?
Your IELTS or CELPIP score can have a significant impact on your CRS score. Scoring at least a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 9 in each area of the exam can double your skill transferability factor points, which can considerably increase your CRS score.
Express Entry candidates may demonstrate their proficiency in one of Canada’s official languages – French or English. If you have a stronger proficiency in French, you may choose to take the French exam instead. In this case, you do not need to take the IELTS or CELPIP exam. Instead, you should aim to score a minimum of CLB 9 on each area of the French exam to maximize your language points.
Why is my Express Entry score zero?
If your Express Entry score is zero, it means your profile does not meet the eligibility requirements. This can occur right away after submitting your Express Entry profile, or after your profile has been in the pool for months. Some common reasons a profile becomes no longer eligible include:
What CRS score is required for Canadian PR?
There is no specific CRS score that will guarantee an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence. The CRS cut-off is always fluctuating Government of Canada does not release the CRS cut-off targeted ahead of each Express Entry draw.
Why is the CRS cut-off so high?
The CRS cut-off for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) specific Express Entry draws due to the additional points given to candidates with a nomination on their profile. Express Entry candidates may receive 600 points toward their CRS score upon receiving a provincial nomination.
CRS score trend
In 2021, Canada alternated between holding Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws. In 2021, the CRS cut-off in CEC draws reached record lows. In February 2021, the Canadian government invited over 27,000 CEC candidates with CRS scores as low as 75. The CRS cut-off for PNP draws ranged between the 600-800s. The high CRS cut-off in PNP draws is due to the additional 600 points given to PNP candidates. That means that, prior to receiving a nomination, the lowest ranking PNP candidate had a CRS score of less than 100.
Is 438/459/467/462 a good CRS score?
The lowest CRS score selected in 2019 was 438 – however, there is no guarantee that having this score will result in an invitation. Whether you receive an invitation from the federal or provincial government will depend on various external factors, in addition to your own individual profile.
A CRS score in the mid to high 400s is typically considered a good score, which may help your chances of being selected by a province.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, provinces have continued to invite candidates directly from the Express Entry pool, sometimes targeting a minimum CRS cut-off, sometimes only targeting other factors such as work experience, or the candidate’s score on their own points grid.
Since the CRS cut-off cannot be predicted ahead of each draw score, it is important to take measures to maximize your CRS score wherever possible.
How to calculate your CRS score
To calculate your CRS score, you first need to understand how Canada awards points to Express Entry candidates through the Comprehensive Ranking System. You can then calculate your points against each factor to determine how you rank in the Express Entry pool.
What is an Express Entry profile?
An Express Entry profile is an electronic form submitted by eligible candidates that includes personal details such as age, work experience, education, ability in French and English, family details, and ties to Canada.
Using these details, Canada ranks profiles in the Express Entry pool against one another and determines who receives an invitation.
How to create an Express Entry profile
To create an Express Entry profile, you must first create an IRCC secure account. If a representative is submitting a profile on your behalf, they will submit the profile through their Authorized Paid Representatives Portal.
After creating an account, you or your representative will need to fill out an eligibility questionnaire to determine if you qualify for an Express Entry program. If you are eligible, the next step is to fill out an online form with your information, including details on your age, work experience, education, and language test results. Once the form is submitted, the Express Entry system will automatically determine your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and which program you are eligible under.
What language results are required for Express Entry?
Most Express Entry programs require a minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark 7 in each area of the French or English language exam (band 6 in each area of the IELTS exam).
There are some exceptions to this minimum requirement for candidates applying under the Federal Skilled Trades (FST) program or CEC applicants with a primary occupation in NOC skill type B.
Which ECA report do I need for Express Entry?
The ECA report required for Express Entry must be issued for immigration purposes. To read more about Education Credential Assessment reports, visit our dedicated page.
How will a job offer affect my Express Entry profile?
Adding a valid Canadian job offer may increase your Express Entry CRS score by 50-200 points. In most cases, a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is required for these points to be awarded.
An informal job offer will not award any additional points to your Express Entry profile and should not be mentioned in the application.
How do I find my NOC code?
You can find your NOC code by searching the NOC matrix for your job title or industry. It is important to make sure the majority of the main duties listed on the NOC you choose match your job description.
Why am I ineligible to submit an Express Entry profile?
To submit a profile, you must meet the minimum requirements for one of the Federal Express Entry programs. If you are ineligible to submit a profile, it may be because you do not meet the minimum program requirements, or have less than the required minimum proof of funds.
How can I check the status of my Express Entry profile?
To check the status of your Express Entry profile, you must log in to your IRCC account and click “View the applications you submitted”, then “Express Entry profile status”, and “View your profile”.
How long is an Express Entry profile valid?
An Express Entry profile is valid for 12 months. However, if become ineligible for Express Entry while you are in the pool, your profile may be removed before 12 months have passed.
What is an Invitation to Apply?
An Invitation to Apply (ITA) is an invitation to submit an application for permanent residence to certain people who have submitted an Express Entry profile. To accept an Invitation to Apply (ITA), you must submit a full application for permanent residence within 60 days of receiving the invitation.
What happens if I receive an Invitation to Apply?
If you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA), you must submit an application for permanent residence within 60 days. If you miss the deadline or decline, your ITA will disappear, and you may not receive another invitation.
How to obtain an Express Entry police certificate
Each country has different instructions on how to obtain a police clearance certificate (PCC) for Express Entry. To receive country-specific instructions on how to obtain a PCC, visit IRCC’s webpage.
What work experience proof is required for Express Entry?
To provide proof for each period of work experience on your Express Entry profile, you must secure a reference letter from each of your employers for the past 10 years.
How to obtain a medical certificate for Express Entry
To obtain a medical report for Express Entry, you must see an IRCC panel physician. For more information on this requirement, visit our Canada Immigration Medical Exam Report page.
How to demonstrate proof of settlement funds for Express Entry
To demonstrate proof of funds for Express Entry, applicants must submit letters from financial institutes where they keep their money. The letter must include the following:
What’s better: PNP or Express Entry?
If you do not have enough CRS points to be invited to a federal draw, a PNP may be an option to increase your chances.
Most PNPs require an applicant to have an Express Entry profile. Since an Express Entry profile is free to submit, you don’t stand to lose anything by creating one.
If you are selected in a federal Express Entry draw without a PNP, this is a better option as it will bypass the need for additional provincial processing time.
Can I apply for Express Entry and PNP at the same time?
If you are applying through a PNP, you will eventually need to apply to the federal government for permanent residence status. How you submit your permanent residence application will depend on whether your PNP is aligned with the Express Entry system (‘Enhanced’).
If your PNP is Enhanced, you can submit your permanent residence application through the Express Entry system for expedited processing. Candidates who receive a nomination under an Express Entry-aligned, or Enhanced, PNP will receive an additional 600 points toward their CRS score. These additional points essentially guarantee an Invitation to Apply (ITA) through the subsequent draw in the Express Entry pool. The processing time for an Express Entry application is approximately 6-months.
If your PNP is ‘Base’, you will need to submit it through the non-Express Entry permanent residence portal. Base PNPs operate outside of the Express Entry system and are subject to the standard PNP processing time, typically much slower than Enhanced PNP applications.
How does a Provincial Nominee Program affect my Express Entry profile?
Receiving a nomination from a Provincial Nominee Program could increase your Express Entry CRS score by 600 points. These additional points essentially guarantee an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence.
Provincial Nominee Programs that use the Express Entry system
Many Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), known as ‘Enhanced’ PNPs, operate using the Express Entry system. This means that, if you are nominated for permanent residence through an Enhanced PNP, you can submit your application through the Express Entry system. Examples of Provincial Nominee Programs that use the Express Entry system include:
Will Express Entry close?
Unlike some programs, which open and close application intake throughout the year, Express Entry remains open for candidates to submit an Express Entry profile year-round.
Is Express Entry the same as a permanent residency?
Express Entry is a system that manages applications for permanent residency through three main immigration programs.
What is an Express Entry draw?
Approximately every two weeks, Canada issues a round of invitations to candidates with a profile in the Express Entry pool that meets a specified CRS cut-off. Candidates that receive an invitation in an Express Entry draw may apply for Canadian permanent residence status.
When is Express Entry draws?
While there is no set schedule for Express Entry draws, they are typically held every two weeks, usually on a Wednesday.
What is the Express Entry tie-breaking rule?
The tie-breaking rule is a date used by IRCC to determine which candidates with the same CRS score receive an ITA. IRCC uses the tie-breaking rule if there are multiple profiles with the same score as the CRS cut-off. This helps to control the number of ITAs issued in each draw. If a candidate’s score is the same as the CRS cut-off, they will only receive an ITA if they submitted a profile before the tie-breaking rule.
What is an Express Entry profile number?
Once you have submitted an Express Entry profile, you will receive a confirmation letter that contains your Express Entry profile number. The number will be indicated in the top left-hand corner and should start with “E”.
Why is the Express Entry login not working?
The IRCC online portal often experiences technical issues which can prevent someone from accessing their Express Entry profile. These issues can often be solved by clearing your browser cache, or by using a different web browser.
Can I apply for Express Entry without work experience?
All economic programs managed by the Express Entry system require at least one year of skilled work experience to apply.
Why is my Express Entry application taking so long?
The service-standard processing time for Express Entry applications is 6 months. However, there are many factors that may delay an applicant’s processing time, including:
What is the maximum age for Express Entry?
There is no maximum age for Express Entry applicants. Applicants 20-29 receive the highest points for age. If you are significantly older than 35, but you have a high level of education or connections in Canada, these can easily overcome points lost for age.
Can I apply to Express Entry twice?
No, you cannot have two Express Entry applications for the same applicant at the same time. However, if you are married, you can submit an application to your spouse if they are eligible. Therefore one applicant cannot have multiple Express Entry profiles but you can have two profiles for the same family, in some circumstances.
If after 12 months you are not invited to apply, you can resubmit your profile and stay in the Express Entry pool for an additional 12 months. This can be repeated as many times as necessary.
How to fix mistakes in your Express Entry Profile
Express Entry uses a two-step system to manage the intake of immigrants:
When Can I Make Changes?
Good news, if you’ve submitted your Express Entry profile and you have not yet received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence, then you’re in the clear to make changes! You can fix mistakes or even add new documents (for example, if you retake your IELTS exam and get a better score). But there are specific steps to follow. Here they are:
Quick reminder: Every time you enter a form and click on “Save and exit,” you’ll also notice a “Revert changes” button. It will be there even if no changes were made. Don’t panic. If you haven’t made any changes, hit the “Revert changes” button to make sure that the electronic system knows no changes were made.
Please note that if you make changes that affect your eligibility or your CRS score, the Express Entry system will update your profile to reflect these changes within 24 hours.
When Can’t I Make Changes?
Now for the bad news—there are a few situations in which you cannot make changes to your profile.
1. Your profile is ineligible
If your profile doesn’t meet the criteria for one of Canada’s Express Entry programs, it will be refused and you cannot update it. How do you know if you’ve been found ineligible? That’s easy. If you log onto your Express Entry profile and you only have the option to “View profile,” it means your profile has been reviewed and refused. The system will state that your profile was ineligible.
But don’t give up yet. You still have one option. You won’t be able to update your profile, but you can still submit a new profile. However, if you were considered not eligible based on your qualifications, you should probably wait until you’ve increased your eligibility before submitting another application. On your second application, be certain to enter and review all of the necessary information carefully to avoid any mistakes.
2. Your profile has received an Invitation to Apply (ITA)
If your Express Entry profile receives an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence then all the information entered into the profile becomes locked in place. While you can technically amend the information when preparing your final application, you should try to avoid this. If you make any changes to your application that make you ineligible, your application will be refused. As well, the immigration officer handling your file reserves the right to request more information about any discrepancies between the original profile and the final application.
A note on misrepresentation: Lying or providing false information on an immigration application is a serious offense. If a person is caught doing this they may be charged with misrepresentation, resulting in a 5-year ban from submitting any applications for Canadian immigration.
The Government of Canada established and presented the Express Entry Program on January 1, 2015. This program recognizes the wealth of skills possessed by foreign workers who will contribute such skills to Canadian society. It also provides a way to fill jobs where no Canadian workers are available and recognizes foreign workers who would want to migrate to Canada as permanent residents.
While this program continues as an ongoing practice and method to obtain permanent residency status, we can advise of the following:
Express Entry amends and affects the way candidates apply to the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and a portion of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
It does not affect family class sponsorships or applications for the visitor, work or study visas, or any other immigration program other than those listed above.
The eligibility criteria for the FSWP, FSTP, and CEC have not been affected.
However, the list of eligible occupations or a list of occupations that are ineligible (as is currently the case with the CEC program) will no longer be available as an aspect of this program. You can apply in this category as long as you can show experience in any of the National Occupation Code O, A, or B level positions.
Earlier, under this category, entry to Canada through the FSWP, FSTP, and the CEC was on a first-come, first-served basis. The government now chooses from an electronic pool of appropriate applicant immigrants. There is no deadline to complete a profile and there will no longer be caps on the number of candidates to be accepted to the pool.
Language and Education Requirements
Language testing will be required before going into the Express Entry pool.
Candidates will have to demonstrate proficiency in an official language of Canada, either English or French.
Candidates eligible to enter the Express Entry pool under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) must get an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) of their completed foreign educational credential.
Selection of Applicants
The government will have the ability to draw the highest scoring applicants from the pool. These applicants will be given an “Invitation to Apply” for permanent residency and they will have 60 days to do so.
The government will use a “Comprehensive Ranking System” to allocate scores based on candidates’ human capital, determined by factors such as age, level of education, language ability, work experience, and whether the candidate has received a job offer from a Canadian employer or a provincial nomination. This will help the government to decide which candidates may be issued invitations to apply for permanent residence. A total of 1200 points can be earned by each candidate.
Optimize your chances of success immigrating to Canada with Chugo Immigration Services!
What are your options for Canadian Immigration?
We will help you to navigate any of the following pathways to Canadian Immigration:
Chugo Immigration Service is authorized to offer Canadian Immigration and Citizenship services under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The Principal Consultant, Pius Chukwuma Ekwulugo RCIC, is a member in good standing of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) and has helped many foreigners to start a new life in Canada. We will help you too!
For effective and diligent legal help regarding Canadian Immigration matters, we partner with Weekes Law Office. For international recruitment of foreign workers to Canada, we partner with Godzone International Recruiting.
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Are you looking for an immigration pathway to Canada? If you do not know where to look and how to start, we invite you to book an eligibility consultation with us. We will prepare an individualized assessment report for you and guide you on your immigration journey to Canada.
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