Express Entry
The Express Entry system is a two steps process to manage permanent residence applications of candidates who qualify under these federal economic immigration programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
- Canadian Experience Class
- Provincial Nominee Program in some cases
Please note that the province of Quebec is not part of the Express Entry.
Provinces and territories can also recruit candidates from the Express Entry system through their Provincial Nominee Programs to meet local labour market needs. The applicant can enter the pool first, and then be nominated by a province/territory, or be nominated by a province/territory, and then complete an online Express Entry profile.
How Express Entry Works:
Step 1)
Once it is determined that a candidate qualifies under one of the above mentioned economic programs they must complete an online Express Entry profile and provide information based on their- age
- skills
- work experience
- language proficiency
- education, and
- other details that will be beneficial for the assessment
Foreign nationals who meet the criteria of one of the federal immigration programs will be accepted into a pool of candidates. While in the pool the applicant may create a job match that will provide an opportunity to connect with eligible employers in Canada looking for their skills.
Step 2)
Based on the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), the highest-ranking (highest score) candidates in the pool will be invited to apply for permanent residence. CRS is a point system used to assess a candidate’s profile.
Candidates will be awarded points for a job offer, and/or a nomination from a province or territory, and/or skills and experience factors. These additional points will make a candidate rank high enough to be invited to apply at the next eligible round of invitations. Only the highest scores in the pool will be issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
If a candidate is invited to apply, they will have 60 days to submit an online application for permanent residence. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will process their application with all the necessary supporting documents in six months or less.
If a candidate doesn’t receive an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence within 12 months of submitting an Express Entry profile, they are taken out of the pool and may resubmit a new profile if they still meet the criteria.
Federal Skilled Worker (Express Entry)
Skilled workers are people who are chosen as permanent residents based on their ability to prosper in Canada. A Federal skilled worker (FSW) application is based on the factors set out below:
A) Basic FSW Eligibility
B) Minimum Requirements
C) Six Selection Factors
D) Proof of Funds
E) Inadmissibility
A) Basic FSW Eligibility
The Federal Skilled Worker applicant must meet these requirements:
At least one year of continuous and paid (full-time or an equal amount in part-time) work experience
- in a single occupation
- within the last 10 years
- at skill type 0, or skill levels A or B of the current edition of the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC)
B) Minimum Requirements
Work Experience
The work experience must be:
- at least one year of 1560 hours (30hrs/week), full-time or an equal amount in part-time,
- paid work (volunteer work, unpaid internships, etc. do not count)
- in the same occupation, and
- within the last 10 years,
- at skill type 0, or skill levels A or B of the current edition of the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC)
Language Ability
The applicant must meet minimum language levels and include the results of a language test from an agency approved by IRCC when they apply. This should demonstrate that they meet the minimum language requirement of the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7.
Language tests accepted include IELTS, CELPIP, TEF, TCF.
Education
The applicant must have:
- a Canadian diploma, certificate, or credential AND/OR
- a foreign educational credential, and an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) by an agency approved by IRCC to show it is equal to a completed Canadian secondary or post-secondary educational credential.
C) Six Selection Factors
There are six selection factors in the Federal Skill Worker stream and a candidate should score a minimum of 67 or higher to be selected.
| Factor | Max Points |
|---|---|
| English and/or French skills | 28 |
| Education | 25 |
| Experience | 15 |
| Age | 12 |
| Arranged employment in Canada | 10 |
| Adaptability | 10 |
| TOTAL (Pass mark 67 out of 100 points) | 100 |
D) Proof of Funds
The applicant will need to show proof to the Canadian visa office that they have enough money to support themselves. The amount of money needed to support a family is set by the size of the family.
Note: the required funds are updated each year on the IRCC website.
Proof of Funds is not required if:
- the applicant has a valid offer of arranged employment in Canada AND
- the applicant is currently working or authorized to work in Canada.
E) Inadmissibility
Some people are inadmissible—they are not allowed to come to Canada. Several things can make the applicant inadmissible, such as being involved in criminal activity, human rights violations or in organized crime. The applicant can also be inadmissible for security, health or financial reasons. An assessment is required before inadmissible persons can apply under an immigration program.
Provincial Nominees (Express Entry)
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is designed for provinces to invite candidates who are believed to contribute to the economic development of the province. The province/territory will consider their application based on its immigration needs and the applicant’s genuine intention to settle there.
Provinces and territories will be able to nominate a certain number of foreign nationals through the Express Entry system to meet their local immigration and labour market needs. If an applicant gets a nomination from a province or territory, they will be given enough additional points to be invited to apply for permanent residence at the next eligible round of invitations. As a result Express Entry candidates may either:
- Enter the pool first, and then be nominated by a province or territory; or
- Be nominated by a province or territory, and then complete an online Express Entry profile.
Canadian Experience Class (Express Entry)
This program was created for individuals who have been working in Canada.
To be eligible, the candidate must:
- plan to live outside the province of Quebec
- have at least 12 months of full-time (or an equal amount in part-time) skilled work experience in Canada in the past three years (NOC 0, A, B)
- have gained experience in Canada with the proper authorization
- Have met the required language levels needed for each language ability (speaking, reading, writing, and listening)
- CLB 7 for NOC O or A job
- CLB 5 for NOC B job
Federal Skilled Trades Class (Express Entry)
The Federal Skilled Trades Program is for people who want to become permanent residents based on being qualified in a skilled trade. Skilled Trades currently eligible for the Federal Skilled Trades Program are under these major and minor groups of the NOC:
- Major Group 72, industrial, electrical and construction trades
- Major Group 73, maintenance and equipment operation trades
- Major Group 82, supervisors and technical jobs in natural resources, agriculture and related production
- Major Group 92, processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors and central control operators
- Minor Group 632, chefs and cooks, and
- Minor Group 633, butchers and bakers
The applicant must meet these requirements
- Plan to live outside the province of Quebec
- Meet the required levels in English or French for each language ability (CLB 5 for speaking and listening, CLB 4 for reading and writing)
- Have at least two years of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time work experience)in a skilled trade within the five years before the applicant apply
- Meet all job requirements for that skilled trade as set out in the National Occupational Classification (NOC), and
- Have an offer of full-time employment for a total period of at least one year** or a certificate of qualification in that skilled trade issued by a provincial/ territorial body.
How Can We Help
Canadian immigration laws can be complex and challenging. At Moshiri Immigration, our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCIC) specialize in Canadian immigration law. We have successfully handled many Express Entry applications, and we can help you too!
Our years of experience allow us to provide practical and straightforward advice, ensuring you get the results you want. From the moment you become a client at Moshiri Immigration, we guarantee that your case will be handled with the utmost professionalism and personal attention.
