Express Entry

Express Entry – immigrate to Canada as a skilled worker

If you have foreign or Canadian skilled work experience and want to settle in Canada permanently, Express Entry may be one of the main pathways available to you.

Express Entry is an online system created by the Government of Canada to manage applications for permanent residence under several federal economic immigration programs. Through this system, you submit an online profile to express your interest in immigrating to Canada as a skilled worker.

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry is not a program on its own, but a points-based system that manages three federal immigration programs:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW)
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

In addition, several Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams are aligned with Express Entry. For those streams, you must:

• Meet the minimum eligibility requirements for at least one of the three Express Entry programs above, and
• Have a valid Express Entry profile in the pool.

Being eligible for an Express Entry program does not guarantee that you will receive permanent residence. Eligibility allows you to enter the pool of candidates and be assigned a score.

How Express Entry points work

Express Entry uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to rank candidates in the pool. Your score is based on factors such as:

• Language skills (English and/or French)
• Education (including Canadian and foreign credentials)
• Skilled work experience (inside and outside Canada)
• Age
• Spouse/partner factors (if applicable)
• Additional points (e.g., provincial nomination, Canadian study, French ability, arranged employment)

The higher your CRS score, the more competitive your profile is in comparison to other candidates in the pool.

You can use the Express Entry calculator (on the IRCC website) to get a rough idea of how many points you might receive if you applied today.

Express Entry draws

Canada conducts regular Express Entry draws, selecting candidates from the pool based on different criteria. For example:

• General draws, where candidates with the highest scores are invited to apply
• Targeted or category-based draws, focusing on specific occupations, language skills, or other priorities

Provincial governments also have access to the Express Entry pool and may invite candidates who match their provincial priorities (for example, specific work experience, language skills, or ties to the province) through Express Entry-aligned PNP streams.

If you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA), you can then submit a complete application for permanent residence.

How to estimate your chances for immigration via Express Entry

There are several steps you can take to estimate your eligibility and competitiveness under Express Entry:

1. Review program-specific requirements

Read the eligibility criteria for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class, and Federal Skilled Trades Program to determine which program (or programs) may be right for you.

2. Use the CRS calculator on the IRCC website

Enter your information into the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) calculator to estimate how many points you might receive.

3. Compare your score to recent Express Entry draws

Look at the cut-off scores from recent Express Entry draws and the number of candidates currently in the pool to see how your estimated CRS score compares. Compare with the number of candidates who Canada plans to invite during this calendar year (announced as part of the Canadian immigration strategy) and the number of candidates who have already been invited under Express Entry to date.

4. Explore ways to improve your score

Review the CRS criteria and use the calculator to see how changes such as higher language scores, additional work experience, more education, or a provincial nomination could increase your points.

5. Book a consultation for a personalized assessment

You are welcome to contact us for help navigating the Express Entry system and federal immigration programs. We can explain the key differences between the programs, provide a realistic assessment of your chances, suggest strategies to increase your CRS score, and discuss alternative pathways to permanent residency if needed.

Express Entry process at a glance

Wondering if you can create an Express Entry profile today? Here is the process in simple steps:

1. Gather Key Documents

We generally recommend obtaining two key documents before creating your profile:

• Language test results (IELTS, CELPIP, TEF, TCF, etc.)
• Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for your foreign college/university degrees

These are mandatory for most applicants to create an Express Entry profile.

2. Create and submit your Express Entry profile

Once you have your documents:

• You create an Express Entry profile online and enter your personal, educational, work, and language details.
• If you are eligible, you will be entered into the pool of candidates and your profile will remain active for 12 months.
• You can update your profile if your situation changes (for example, improved language scores, additional work experience, or a new degree).

3. Receive an invitation to apply (if selected)

If your profile is selected in a draw you will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from IRCC. You then submit a complete online application for permanent residence, including all required documents, within the deadline provided.