Express Entry is the system used by the Canadian government to manage applications for three distinct skilled worker immigration programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Which program will be best for you will depend on how much work experience you have, whether it is in Canada or abroad, and what qualifications, certifications or education you have.
Individuals who are eligible for one of these three programs will also be able to apply to the Provincial Nominee Program using Express Entry, if they wish.
Express Entry Programs Compared
| Eligibility Criteria | Federal Skilled Worker Program | Federal Skilled Trades Program | Canadian Experience Class |
| Language Skills | English or French skills of at least CLB/NCLC Level 7 in:
|
English or French skills of at least:
|
English or French skills of at least:
|
| Type/Level of Work Experience | Work experience, in Canada or overseas, in one of the following NOC categories:
|
Work experience, in Canada or overseas, in a skilled trade from one of these specific NOC groups:
|
Work experience gained in Canada while holding temporary resident status, and in one of the following NOC categories:
Self-employment and work experience while studying do not count, except for certain foreign national physicians. |
| Amount of Work Experience | At least one year’s paid, continuous work (minimum 30 hours per week or 1560 hours in a year) in the same type of role as your primary occupation. | At least two years’ paid, full-time work experience in the last five years. This work must have been in a skilled trade, and you should be prepared to demonstrate that your experience aligns with the occupational description in the NOC. | At least one year’s paid work experience in the last three years. You should be prepared to demonstrate that your work experience aligns with the occupational description in the NOC. |
| Job Offer | Not required, but will earn you additional ‘selection factor points’ if you do already have an offer of employment in Canada. | Full-time job offer for at least one year is required UNLESS you have a certificate of qualification in your trade which has been issued by a Canadian federal, provincial or territorial authority | Not required. |
| Education | Minimum secondary education required. Higher levels of education can earn you additional selection factor points. | No minimum level of education is required for this program, though secondary and higher levels of education may earn you additional selection factor points. | No minimum level of education required, though secondary and higher levels of education may earn you additional selection factor points. |
*Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) / Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC): A 12-level Canadian standard used to describe and measure an individual’s ability in English as a Second Language (ESL).
*National Occupational Classification (NOC): A system used by the Canadian government to classify different jobs and occupations from the Canadian labour market into distinct categories and sub-categories, each with their own code.
*TEER categories: Groupings used in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) list to categorize jobs on the basis of the ‘TEER’ (training, education, experience and responsibilities) they require. The main TEER categories are:
- TEER 0 (zero): Management jobs
- e.g. financial managers, marketing or public relations managers
- TEER 1: Jobs usually requiring a university degree
- e.g. software engineers, financial advisors
- TEER 2: Jobs that usually require a college diploma, at least a two year apprenticeship, or which are supervisory in nature
- e.g. IT technicians, web developers, medical technologists
- TEER 3: Jobs that usually require a college diploma, an apprenticeship of less than two years, or at least six months’ on-the-job training
- e.g. dental assistants, bakers
- TEER 4: Jobs that usually require a high school diploma, or several weeks of on-the-job training
- e.g. home childcare providers, retail assistants, visual merchandisers
- TEER 5: Jobs that do not usually require formal education or qualifications, and where training typically consists of short-term demonstration
- e.g. delivery drivers, door-to-door distributors, landscaping and grounds labourers
How does Express Entry work?
Step 1: Create an Express Entry Profile
In order to put together and eventually submit an application for a program using the Express Entry system, you will first need to create an online profile.
Once you begin filling out your profile, you will have a maximum of 60 days to complete and submit it. If you do not submit your profile within 60 days, it will be deleted and you will have to start again.
You can do this without needing to upload copies of any documentation or proof of identity, but you may need to refer to the following documents in order to complete your Express Entry profile:
- A passport or travel document
- English or French language test results
- Either an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report or proof of Canadian education (if applying for the Federal Skilled Workers Program, or want to gain selection factor points for your application)
- Proof of relevant work experience
- Your occupation’s NOC job title and code
- Any provincial nomination you might have
- Any relevant job offer you might have
- Any Canada-issued certificate of qualification in a relevant trade, if you have one
The more relevant information you can provide, the better your chances of eventually being invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence.
Step 2: Submit your Profile
Once you have filled out your profile to your satisfaction, you can submit it for consideration by the Canadian authorities.
Once your profile has been submitted, it will be assessed, scored and added to the pool of potential Express Entry applicants. The Express Entry scoring system is known as the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
Your profile will also be matched with the Express Entry program must suitable for your skills and experience. You can not indicate a preference for a particular Express Entry program – the system will determine which program, if any, you will be invited to apply for.
Step 3: Wait for an invitation and/or improve your Express Entry CRS score
The ability to make additions and updates to your Express Entry profile means that you can improve your CRS score even after your profile has been submitted, for example by providing details of a job offer or gaining a new qualification or professional certification.
Your CRS score is calculated by awarding up to 600 ‘core’ points (age, education, language skill, work experience in Canada) plus a maximum of 600 points for other criteria (e.g. a job offer, Provincial Nominee Program nomination, sibling living in Canada). The maximum CRS score available is 1200.
You can get an estimate of your Express Entry CRS score by using our CRS Calculator, or by speaking with a member of our team.
Step 4: Apply for Permanent Residence after receiving an invitation
If your CRS score is determined to be high enough, you will receive an invitation to apply (ITA) from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Once you receive an ITS, you will have 60 calendar days to submit your application for permanent residence. This application period can not be extended.
If your personal situation has changed in a way that will affect your CRS points total (e.g. an expired nomination or job offer), you should amend your Express Entry profile and recalculate your score before you submit your application. If you do not do so, your application may be refused if your score would be lower than IRCC believed it to be when they issued your application.
How long will my profile remain in the Express Entry pool?
Once submitted, your profile will remain in the Express Entry pool for a maximum of 12 months. You can make as many amendments or additions to your profile during this time.
After 12 months, if you have not received an invitation to apply, your profile will automatically expire and will be removed from the system. If you still wish to be considered for Express Entry, you will have to create and submit a new profile.
What happens if I decline my invitation to apply?
Declining an ITA will not affect your chances of getting another ITA in the future. Your profile will simply be moved back to the pool until you receive another ITA or your profile expires.
However, if you do not want to take up an ITA you should ensure that you actively decline it within the Express Entry system within 60 days. If you simply ignore the invitation and allow it to expire, your profile will be deemed to be inactive and will be removed from the pool.
Kunal Thakur
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant R#519955
Kunal Thakur is a passionate Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) with close to two decades of immigration experience, during which he has successfully guided thousands of people on their immigration journey. He is quick in responding to client queries and constantly strives to give his clients the best possible advice. Kunal brings immense value to our team with his talks and discourses on immigration. When not in front of his laptop reading and analysing client cases, he enjoys spending his spare time exploring new places and trying new things. Kunal is currently based in Adelaide, Australia. You can book a time with him here.