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Express Entry

Updated August 16, 2023

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:

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Applying to Express Entry is a two-step process:

 

The first step is to submit your profile, which may need information from some or all of these documents:

  • A passport or travel document

  • Language test results

  • Educational credential assessment report

  • Provincial nomination (if you have one)

  • Written job offer from your employer (if you have one)

  • Proof of funds

 

The people who participate in the Express Entry program can be living in Canada or abroad. Candidates who have one year of work experience in Canada or who have a valid job offer have higher points, and are usually selected first. Nonetheless, there are some candidates who do not have job offers in Canada and who have never worked in Canada who can still score high points and could compete in this system. 

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After submitting your profile, the second step is to receive an invitation to apply for Canadian PR application, which requires the additional substantial information and documents such as identity documents, reference letters, police clearance certificates, and medical exams. 

 

All eligible received applications in respective  applicant pool are ranked based on Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, which is based upon various factors like age, level of education, proficiency in English or French, Foreign and Canadian work experience, spouse factor, and connections to Canada. 

Anchor 1

Federal Skilled Worker

Updated May 09, 2023

The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program is managed under the Express Entry system and uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to rank candidates who wish to settle permanently in Canada. The FSW program allows candidates with foreign work experience and no connections to Canada to apply for permanent residency.

 

Unlike the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates, Federal Skilled Workers are not required to have Canadian work experience to enter the Express Entry pool. Instead, candidates must meet a minimum points requirement based on factors such as work experience, language ability, and education. Once in the pool, applicants with the most competitive CRS scores will receive invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

In order to qualify for the FSWP, a candidate must meet certain minimum requirements regarding years of experience, level of education, age, and English or French language proficiency:

  • Work Experience

    • At least 12-months of continuous, full-time, skilled work experience completed within the previous 10 years (or an equal amount in part-time experience).

      • Skilled work experience refers to experience classified under NOC Skill Level 0, A, or B.

  • Language Proficiency

    • Reach a minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 on an approved English or French language test.

  • Education

    • A minimum of a Canadian high school diploma or the equivalent in foreign education.

  • Financial Support

    • Enough funds to support themselves and any spouse and/or children in their settlement in Canada.

  • Residence in Canada

    • Must intend to live outside of the province of Quebec.

 

If a candidate meets the requirements listed above, they must also demonstrate that they score a minimum of 67 out of 100 points on the FSW eligibility points grid.

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Important:  Candidates should note that they must meet Canada’s basic admissibility requirements. Certain criminal offences and medical conditions may make a person inadmissible to Canada.

Canadian Experience Class

Anchor 2

The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program is ideal for candidates who have recent Canadian work experience and are seeking permanent immigration to Canada. CEC is managed under the Express Entry system and uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to rank interested candidates. Applicants who have competitive CRS scores will receive invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residence. CEC is also one of the fastest routes to Canadian permanent residence, taking as little as three to four months to process! 

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In order to be eligible for CEC, a candidate must have at least 12-months of full-time (or an equivalent amount of part-time), skilled work experience in Canada. The Canadian work experience must have been acquired within the previous three years from the date of the application. CEC is not an option for foreign nationals who do not have recent Canadian work experience.

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In order to count your 12-months of Canadian work experience towards your CEC application, it must meet the following conditions:

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  1. Be obtained in Canada within the 36 months prior to the date of submission of the electronic Application for Permanent Residence (eAPR).

  2. Your employment duties in Canada fall under the NOC Code Skill Level 0, A, or B.

  3. Be lawfully obtained, paid work experience in Canada.

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Important:    An applicant cannot count work experience obtained while engaged in full-time studies in Canada.

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