In order to become a candidate in the Express Entry pool, you must create and submit an eligible Express Entry profile. First, make sure that you are eligible for one of the three Express Entry-aligned immigration programs: Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Federal Skilled Trades (FST), and Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Second, prepare and submit your Express Entry profile.

In order to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence you must have a CRS score equal to or above the CRS score cut-off for an Express Entry draw. The lowest CRS score cut-off for an all-program draw was 413 points in May 2017. However, for most of 2019 and early 2020, the CRS score cut-off was in the 460s and 470s, so if your score is below this level you may want to consider ways to improve your CRS score, or alternative immigration options to Express Entry.

There are several different ways to improve your Express Entry CRS score. You can find all of your options in our guide to improving your CRS score.

If you have not achieved language test scores consistent with or better than the Canadian Language Benchmark of Level 9 (CLB 9), then this may be the fastest way of getting more points, though it depends on your language skills. Achieving CLB 9 or better on your language tests will qualify you for additional points through the Skill Transferability Factors of the CRS score.

Express Entry allows you to include your spouse (or common-law partner, or conjugal partner) and your dependent children on your application. If you are successful with your application, you and all of your accompanying family members will receive permanent resident status.

For Canadian immigration, a dependent child is defined as the following:

• Under 22 years of age and not a spouse or common-law partner, or
• 22 years of age or older and unable to support themselves financially due to a physical or mental condition.

Yes, You may choose to immigrate without your spouse and/or children and then sponsor them through a family sponsorship immigration program later on.

Canada has 13 provinces and territories, each with its own immigration needs. Provincial Nominee Programs, or PNPs, are mini-immigration programs that allow these provinces and territories to nominate candidates for immigration who fit their specific needs.

There are around 80 different PNP streams.

Some PNP streams require an active Express Entry profile, some require work experience in a specific occupation, some require previous experience in Canada, and some require French-language abilities.

Yes. You 100% require a language test for Express Entry. Even if you area native English or French speaker or studied in either of those languages. There are no exceptions.

In order to be eligible for Express Entry you must have results from an approved language test in either English or French. The results must be less than two years old at the time you submit your final application.

Under Express Entry, there are two approved language tests for English and two approved language tests for French.

Approved language tests for English:

• IELTS General Training (the Academic version is not accepted for Express Entry), and
• CELPIP General

Approved language tests for French:

• Test d’évaluation du français (TEF)
• Test de connaissance du français (TCF)

Canada has broken down all possible occupations into a large database of codes, called National Occupational Classification codes, or NOC codes. These four-digit codes are used to organize and understand occupations in Canada.

Find your NOC code by searching for your position in the Government of Canada’s NOC database. Try to find your job title listed and ensure that the duties listed under the NOC code correspond to the duties you perform in your work. Be aware that if you receive an ITA, you will be asked to provide work reference letters attesting to your duties at work.

Many candidates, though not all, will require an ECA.

If you are only claiming points for Canadian education then you do not need an ECA report. Though, you will require proof of your Canadian credentials.

If you are a candidate in the Canadian Experience Class then you do not need to claim any education to meet the program requirements. However, you will probably want to claim points for education, as education makes up a significant portion of the CRS score. To claim points you will need an ECA report for any education completed outside of Canada.

If you do not meet either of the two situations listed above, then you need to get an Educational Credentials Assessment (ECA).

Yes. There are many different immigration pathways for Canada. If you are not eligible for Express Entry, please consult our guide to alternative immigration options for Canada.

The length of the process varies from person to person, but it can be broken down into the following stages:

Prepare and submit Express Entry profile –Takes several weeks to several months

Before you can create your Express Entry profile, you need the right documents. This includes language tests and will likely include education documents. This process can take anywhere from several weeks to several months.

Receive Invitation to Apply (ITA) – This could take days, weeks, months, or it could never happen

Once you create and submit your profile to the Express Entry pool, it will be considered in all Express Entry draws for the next 12 months (or until you receive an ITA). If you’re CRS score is high, you could receive an ITA within a few days in the next draw. However, if you’re CRS score is low; you may not receive an ITA.

ITA Received – Up to 60 days

If you receive an Invitation to Apply then you have 60 days to complete and submit your final application for permanent resident status.

Application Processing – Most applications processed in less than six months

Once your application is submitted, it needs to be processed. IRCC states that 80% of applications submitted through Express Entry are processed in less than six months. If your application is approved, you are issued documents allowing you to activate your permanent resident status in Canada.

No. You do not need a job offer for Express Entry.

If you do have a job offer from a Canadian employer that is considered a valid job offer under Express Entry then you can claim points for it. Senior management job offers are worth 200 points and all other job offers in skilled occupations are worth 50 points. However, a job offer is not necessary to be successful in Express Entry.

Canada sets a target for new admissions through Express Entry each year. Recent targets are available in the 2019-2021 Immigration Levels Plan.

In the year 2021, Canada aims to admit 84,000 to 91,000 new permanent residents through Express Entry with another 67,000 to 74,000 new permanent residents admitted through PNPs.

No. As many candidates as are eligible are allowed to enter the pool.

Your Express Entry profile is valid for 12 months from the date you submit it or until it becomes ineligible (for example, if your language tests expire).

If your Express Entry profile expires, you can submit a new one. You can do this as many times as you’d like as long as you remain eligible.

If you have a specific query, then we recommend a consultation with a regulated expert. We have a number of consultants whom we are happy to recommend.