The Express Entry is a management system for some of Canada’s most popular immigration programs. Through Express Entry, eligible candidates are ranked according to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). After being ranked, the can be invited to apply for Permanent Residency. From time to time, normally every month, Canada immigration authorities launch an invitation round.
For Express Entry management system, all applicants must qualify for at least one of these three programs: Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) or Federal Skilled Trade Program (FSTP). Also, some streams of certain Provincial Nominee Programs go under the Express Entry management system.
Moreover, it is important to know that just getting into the Express Entry pool doesn’t mean that you will be automatically invited to apply. But the higher the score, the better are the chances to receive an invitation. For scoring in the CRS, various factors are taken into consideration. The factors are related to education, age, professional experience, language certificates, valid job offer, spouse or common-law partner skills (if applicable), etc.
In addition, extra points can be given to provincial nomination, arranged employment, post-secondary education in Canada, good level of French as a second language and having siblings in living Canada as permanent residents or Canadian citizens.
Before you Apply
Have in mind that taking a language test exam before applying is a must. As a bilingual country, Canada accepts both English or French language tests for the Express Entry. However, it only accepts specific language tests and requires a minimum score in each one of them.
For English, the tests are CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program – General or IELTS: International English Language Testing System – General Training. For the French language, candidates must take TEF: Test d’évaluation de Français.
And if the candidate was educated outside Canada, he or she should get an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) before applying. This document is not obligatory if he or she has at least one year of recent work experience in Canada or a work experience in a skilled trade (skilled manual work). But even if it is not obligatory, it can give some extra points and increase the chances of being invited to apply.
Also, if the candidate has a spouse or common-law partner, he or she can apply as a couple. In this case, the spouse or common-law partner educational and professional skills will also count points on the application. The decision to apply single or as a couple must be taken before applying.
How it Works
- Determine your Eligibility
As mentioned above, all applicants interested in federal immigration must qualify for at least one of the three following programs:
Canadian Experience Class| Federal Skilled Worker | Federal Skilled Trade Program Provinces and territories can also recruit candidates from the Express Entry pool through the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) to meet local labour market needs. A nomination from a province or territory will give extra points on the CRS.
- Placement
Eligible candidates are added to a pool of candidates and ranked according to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
- Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)
Candidates who qualify will be ranked on several factors including:
Skills and Experience Factors: age, education, work experience in Canada, and language proficiency.
If applicable, Spouse or Common-law: education, work experience in Canada, and language proficiency.
Skill Transferability Factors: combinations of high language proficiency, post-graduate degree, and work experience inside and outside Canada.
Additional points: sibling living in Canada as citizens or permanent residents; French language skills; post-secondary education in Canada; and/or a job offer or a nomination letter under a Provincial Nominee Program.
Each factor grants a maximum of points, according to the distribution below.
In order to be Invited to Apply (ITA) for Permanent Residency, the CRS ranks eligible candidates under the criteria above. Also, each applicant either single or with accompanying spouse/common-law partner is ranked out of a total of 1,200 points.
