CANADA EXPRESS ENTRY PROGRAM
Express Entry is a streamlined and efficient online system managed by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Express Entry has revolutionized the Canadian immigration system, making it quicker, more responsive, and better aligned with the country’s economic needs. It allows the Canadian government to select highly-skilled individuals who can make meaningful contributions to the nation’s economy and society. It’s designed to facilitate and manage the applications for permanent residency in Canada through three major federal economic immigration programs:
1) Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP): This program is for skilled workers with foreign work experience who want to immigrate to Canada permanently. Aimed at skilled workers with overseas work experience, the FSWP assesses candidates based on factors such as education, work experience, language proficiency, and age. To qualify, candidates need to meet certain eligibility criteria such as language proficiency, work experience, education, and other factors. Candidates are assessed based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), and those with the highest CRS scores are invited to apply for permanent residency through regular Express Entry draws.
2) Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP): Geared towards skilled tradespeople with experience in certain designated skilled trades, this program evaluates candidates based on trade qualifications, work experience, and language skills. This program is for skilled tradespeople who have at least two years of work experience in a skilled trade and meet other criteria. Similar to the FSWP, candidates are assessed using the CRS system.
3) Canadian Experience Class (CEC): This program is for individuals who have gained skilled work experience in Canada on a temporary work permit through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or as an international student. This category is for individuals who have already gained Canadian work experience through temporary status and wish to transition to permanent residency. The CEC allows these individuals to transition to permanent residency.
Applicants interested in any of these programs first create an online profile and submit their Express Entry profile. The system then ranks candidates using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which assigns points for factors such as age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and adaptability. Periodically, candidates with the highest CRS scores are invited to apply for permanent residency through regular draws from the Express Entry pool.
Express Entry is a competitive immigration system introduced by the Canadian government to manage and streamline the application process for skilled foreign workers who want to obtain permanent residency in Canada. It’s the primary pathway for economic immigrants to Canada and includes several federal economic immigration programs:
The Express Entry process involves several steps:
- Creating an Express Entry Profile: Candidates interested in immigrating through Express Entry need to create an online profile, providing information about their skills, work experience, education, language proficiency, and other relevant details. Based on this information, candidates are assigned a CRS score.
- Entering the Express Entry Pool: Once the profile is complete, candidates are placed in the Express Entry pool, where they are ranked based on their CRS score. Regular draws are conducted, and candidates with the highest scores are issued Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residency.
- Receiving an Invitation to Apply: Candidates who receive an ITA have a specific period to submit a complete application for permanent residency. They need to provide supporting documents, undergo medical and security checks, and pay the required fees.
- Application Review and Processing: Immigration authorities review the application and supporting documents. If everything is in order and the candidate meets the requirements, they are granted permanent residency.
Express Entry has several advantages
Express Entry has several advantages, including its speed and efficiency in processing applications. It allows Canadian employers to find skilled workers more easily and ensures that immigrants entering Canada have the skills and qualifications that align with the country’s economic needs. The system is adaptive, with CRS scores changing based on the number of candidates in the pool and the scores of those who receive ITAs in each draw.
Every individual who has entered their profile into the Express Entry System is grouped into a pool of potential candidates.
Within the Express Entry pool, the IRCC employs a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to assess, assign scores, and choose candidates. This CRS evaluates candidates on various factors such as:
- Proficiency in English and/or French (Canada’s official languages)
- Educational background
- Professional work experience
- Age
- Presence of a valid job offer
- Adaptability (likelihood of successful integration in Canada)
Moreover, individuals within the Express Entry Pool can receive nomination from a Canadian province, which can lead to an invitation to apply for permanent residency. All applicants who have submitted a profile in the Express Entry System are placed in a pool of candidates. Candidates in the Express Entry Pool can also be nominated by one of the Canadian provinces and be invited to apply for permanent residency.
Express Entry draw process:
The “draw” process within the context of Express Entry refers to the periodic invitation rounds where the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) selects candidates from the Express Entry pool to apply for permanent residency. Here’s how the draw process works:
- Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) Score Cutoff: Before each draw, IRCC establishes a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score cutoff. This score acts as a threshold, and only candidates in the Express Entry pool with CRS scores equal to or above this cutoff are eligible to receive an invitation.
- Draw Frequency: IRCC typically conducts Express Entry draws at regular intervals, often every two to three weeks. However, the frequency can vary based on immigration needs and policy changes.
- Invitations to Apply (ITA): During each draw, candidates with CRS scores that meet or exceed the cutoff score are issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency. An ITA is a formal invitation from IRCC to apply for Canadian permanent residency through one of the federal economic immigration programs.
- Application Submission: Upon receiving an ITA, candidates have a limited timeframe (usually 60 days) to submit their complete application for permanent residency. This includes providing all required documents, forms, and fees.
- Points and CRS Scores: The CRS score assigned to each candidate is based on various factors, such as age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and adaptability. Points are assigned for each factor, and the total points determine a candidate’s CRS score. Higher CRS scores increase the chances of receiving an ITA during a draw.
- Tie-Breaker Rule: In situations where multiple candidates have the same CRS score, a tie-breaker rule is used. The tie-breaker is the date and time when a candidate’s Express Entry profile was first submitted. Candidates who submitted their profiles earlier will receive priority for the ITA.
- Invitation Numbers: The number of candidates invited in each draw varies and is influenced by factors such as the immigration targets, the labor market needs, and the capacity to process applications.
The Express Entry draw process is designed to be transparent, objective, and responsive to Canada’s economic and immigration goals. It allows the government to select candidates with the highest potential to contribute to the Canadian economy and society, while also managing the overall application volume effectively.
How can I improve my CRS score?
Federal Skilled Worker Program – FSWP
Federal Skilled Trades Program – FSTP
Canadian Experience Class – CEC