How Does Express Entry Work?

Applicants are required to create an online profile which is used to score the applicant using a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). These points are based on the applicant’s age, education, language test results, and Canadian and foreign work experience. If the applicant has a spouse or a common-law partner, the qualifications of their spouse/common-law partner are also assessed. Applicants are ranked against each other and ultimately the score determines whether or not they will be issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in Canada. Once an applicant has created an online profile, they are placed in the pool with all the other qualified applicants hoping to receive an ITA for one of the processing streams.

Applicants are ranked against one another and those with a higher CRS score will have the strongest chances of receiving an ITA. Draws are usually held on a bi-weekly basis and applicants who have the highest scores receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence. The minimum score changes depending on the value of the applicants in the selection pool and the number of invitations IRCC has planned to issue.

Minimum Requirements

Language Skills

• • • Canadian Experience Class:

      • • English or French skills

        • CLB 7 for TEER 0 or TEER 1 occupations

        • CLB 5 for TEER 2 or TEER 3 occupations

 

• • • Federal Skilled Worker Program:

      • • English or French skills

        • CLB 7

 

• • • Federal Skilled Trades Program:

      • • English or French skills

        • CLB 5 for speaking and listening

        • CLB 4 for reading and writing

Type/Level of Work Experience

• • • Canadian Experience Class:

      • Canadian work experience in NOC TEER Categories: TEER 0, TEER 1, TEER 2, TEER 3

 

• • • Federal Skilled Worker Program:

      • Work experience in NOC TEER Categories: TEER 0, TEER 1, TEER 2, TEER 3

 

• • • Federal Skilled Trades Program:

      • Work experience in skilled trades under key groups of TEER 2 or TEER 3

Amount of Work Experience

• • • Canadian Experience Class:

      • • One year in Canada in the last 3 years (combination of full-time or part-time work)

 

• • • Federal Skilled Worker Program:

      • One year continuous within the last 10 years (combination of part-time, full-time, or more than 1 job in your primary occupation)

 

• • • Federal Skilled Trades Program:

      • Two years within the last 5 years (combination of full-time or part-time work)

Job Offer

• • • Canadian Experience Class:

      • Not required

 

• • • Federal Skilled Worker Program:

      • Not required, but valid job offer grants FSW points

 

• • • Federal Skilled Trades Program:

      • Required: Valid job offer of full-time employment for at least 1 year or a certificate of qualification in that skilled trade

Education

• • Canadian Experience Class:

    • Not required

 

• • Federal Skilled Worker Program:

    • Secondary education required, with more FSW points for post-secondary education

 

• • Federal Skilled Trades Program:

    • Not required