Express Entry is an electronic system for managing applications for skilled workers who wish to become permanent residents of Canada.

Once an interested candidate submits an online profile, the federal government determines the candidate’s eligibility for a program administered by Express Entry. Eligible candidates are included in the Express Entry pool and ranked under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The CRS is a points-based system that the government uses to assess and rank candidates in the Express Entry Pool. CRS scores are calculated based on factors such as a candidate’s age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and more.

Approximately every two weeks, the Government of Canada selects the highest-scoring candidates from the Express Entry pool and issues them an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.

Express Entry is very simple and consists of two main stages. During the first major stage, candidates eligible for Express Entry express their interest in obtaining Canadian permanent resident status to the Canadian government. In the second phase, the Canadian government invites the highest-scoring candidates to immigrate to Canada.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to submit your Express Entry profile and obtain a permanent resident visa to immigrate to Canada:

Step 1: Find out if you qualify for Express Entry.

Step 2: Take a language test and get an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).

Step 3: Submit your profile on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website.

Step 4: Wait to see if you have received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence from IRCC.

Step 5: Submit your completed Application for Permanent Residence (APR) to IRCC and pay the fee by the specified deadline. During this step, you must attach your medical examination results and police clearance. IRCC will then send you an return receipt (AOR).

Step 6: Once IRCC asks you to submit your biometrics.

Step 7: Wait for IRCC to make a final decision on your APR. IRCC’s goal is to complete applications in 6 months or less. Once your application is approved, you will be issued a Certificate of Permanent Residence (COPR) and a permanent resident visa (if you are from a visa-requiring country) to travel to Canada and complete your landing.

Express Entry profiles are valid for up to one year. Candidates who receive an ITA can expect the Government of Canada to process their application for permanent residence within six months. The government begins counting processing times after it receives a completed permanent residence application. Processing time ends with a final decision on the application. If candidates do not receive an ITA within one year of creating their Express Entry profile, they can simply resubmit their profile if they are still eligible.

Express entry fee.

Submitting your Express Entry profile to the government’s pool of qualified candidates is free.

But If invited to apply, there are the following costs. They do not include:

Canadian government fees to process permanent residence applications

Medical exam(s)
Police background check(s)
Biometrics fee(s)

Canadian government permanent residence fees for Express Entry (Effective April 30, 2022)
Your application Processing fee ($850) and right of permanent residence fee ($515)	$1,365
Spouse or partner processing fee ($850) and right of permanent residence fee ($515)	$1,365
Include a dependent child	$230 (per child)

Job offer under Express Entry.

You do not need a job offer to be successful on the Express Track. Seeking job opportunities doesn’t guarantee your success, but it does help improve your score on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). You can earn either 50 or 200 additional CRS points when you receive an Express Entry-eligible job offer.

Under the Expres Entry, the family will come with you.

Under Express Entry, you can include your wife, husband or partner. Also, you can include your dependent children, your spouse’s or domestic partner’s dependent children, and your dependent children’s dependent children. If Express Entry is successful, family members traveling with you will also be granted permanent residency.

Dependent children are defined as:
– under the age of 22 and not a spouse or common-law partner, or
– Be at least 22 years of age, were dependent on parental financial support before age 22, and are unable to support themselves financially due to physical or mental illness

To be eligible for Express Entry, candidates must meet the criteria of at least one of the following federal economic immigration programs:

1. Federal Skilled Worker Program: The FSWP is Canada’s primary economic immigration pathway. The minimum requirements include at least one year of continuous full-time or equivalent paid work experience in the past 10 years in a skilled occupation under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3; validated intermediate or better language ability in English or French; for candidates educated outside of Canada, an educational credential (certificate, diploma, or degree) and an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report. In addition to meeting the FSWP’s minimum work, language ability, and education requirements, candidates must also obtain at least 67 points under its points grid.

2. Canadian Experience Class: The CEC provides international students and foreign workers who have Canadian experience with the opportunity to obtain permanent residence. Candidates must have obtained at least one year of skilled, professional, or technical work experience in Canada within 3 years of the application date and also meet language proficiency criteria.

3. Federal Skilled Trades Program: The FSTP is available to candidates who want to become permanent residents on the basis of qualifying for a skilled trade. Eligibility criteria include having a minimum of 2 years of full-time work experience in a skilled trade within the 5-year period of submitting an application; meet the job requirements of the skilled trade; have a full-time job offer in Canada for a period of at least 1 year or possess a certificate of qualification in the skilled trade that has been provided by an official Canadian authority; and meet language proficiency criteria.

Express Entry is a system that manages applications for permanent residency for skilled workers who want to immigrate to Canada. The program is designed to select immigrants based on their ability to contribute to the Canadian economy. It works by assigning points to candidates based on factors such as their age, education, language proficiency, work experience, and whether they have a job offer from a Canadian employer. The candidates with the highest scores are then invited to apply for permanent residency.

Step 1: Determine Your Eligibility

The first step to becoming eligible for Express Entry is to determine whether you meet the basic requirements. To be eligible, you must:

Have at least one year of skilled work experience in a National Occupational Classification (NOC) level 0, A, or B occupation

Meet the minimum language requirements for one of Canada’s official languages (English or French)

Have your foreign education credentials assessed by a designated organization and obtain an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report

Be admissible to Canada

Step 2: Improve Your Language Skills

Language proficiency is an important factor in the Express Entry system, and candidates are required to take a language test to demonstrate their proficiency in English or French. To improve your language skills, you can take classes or practice on your own using language learning resources such as language apps or online courses. It’s important to aim for a high score on the language test to increase your chances of being selected for Express Entry.

Step 3: Obtain an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) Report

If you obtained your education outside of Canada, you will need to have your foreign education credentials assessed by a designated organization and obtain an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report. This report will help to determine the Canadian equivalency of your foreign education credentials.

Step 4: Build Your Work Experience

To be eligible for Express Entry, you must have at least one year of skilled work experience in a National Occupational Classification (NOC) level 0, A, or B occupation. It’s important to note that not all work experience is considered skilled under the Express Entry system. To increase your chances of being selected, try to gain experience in a high-demand occupation.

Step 5: Create Your Express Entry Profile

Once you’ve determined that you meet the basic requirements and have improved your language skills and obtained an ECA report, you can create your Express Entry profile. This involves providing information about your education, language proficiency, work experience, and other details. Based on this information, you will be assigned a score, known as a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.

Step 6: Wait for an Invitation to Apply (ITA)

Candidates with the highest CRS scores are invited to apply for permanent residency in Canada through regular draws from the Express Entry pool. If you are selected, you will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency. You will then have 60 days to submit your application for permanent residency.

What makes a job offer valid under Express Entry?

IRCC states that a valid job offer under Express Entry generally meets the following criteria:

-is full-time and not a seasonal job

-is at least one year

-is a skilled job that falls under TEER category 0, 1, 2, or 3 in the National Occupational Classification (NOC)

-be recent (e.g., within the last 1 year)

-not be from an embassy, consulate, or high commission

Job offers must be written and outline the likes of your duties, pay, and conditions of employment (e.g., which hours you will work.

Job offers often need to be supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) but there are jobs that are exempt from the LMIA requirement. If an LMIA is required, your employer must apply for one by submitting an application to Employment and Social Development Canada/Service Canada.

Valid job offers under Express Entry are worth either 50 or 200 additional CRS points. Valid job offers under NOC TEER category 1, 2, and 3 are awarded 50 additional CRS points. Job offers under NOC TEER category 0 are eligible for 200 additional CRS points.