Express Entry

Express Entry (EE) is an online immigration application system and the fastest and most popular pathway for newcomers seeking a new life in Canada. It allows people to submit a profile and be considered as a skilled immigrant. Candidates with the highest rankings are invited to apply for permanent residency.

How does EE work?

· If you fill out a profile for Express Entry, your application will be ranked according to a points system.

· If you are highly ranked, you will be invited to apply for permanent residence as a skilled immigrant.

· Once you have applied, your PR application will then be processed within the next 6 months.

Which Immigration Programs Does EE Cover?

You must use Express Entry to apply for:

· Federal Skilled Worker Program

· Federal Skilled Trades Program

· Canadian Experience Class

Federal Skilled Worker Program

To be eligible to apply, you must:

· Work Experience: You must have a minimum of 12-months of full-time, skilled work experience, or an equivalent amount in part-time experience. This experience must be continuous and in a single occupation. To be considered "skilled" experience, you must have been working in an occupation at National Occupation Classification (NOC) Skill Level 0, A, or B.

· Language Proficiency: You must take an approved language test showing you are proficient in either English or French. The minimum score for FSWC is equal to the Canadian Language Benchmark of Level 7 (CLB 7), although the higher you score, the better your chances of success.

· Education: You must have completed a minimum education equal to the completion of a Canadian high school diploma. If your education was completed outside of Canada, you will need an Educational Credentials Assessment (ECA) attesting to the value of your education by Canadian standards.

· Federal Skilled Worker Points Grid: All FSWC candidates must score a minimum of 67 out of 100 points on the FSWP points grid. Details are below.

· Settlement Funds: You must have enough funds to support your settlement in Canada. Details are below.

Canadian Experience Class

To be eligible to apply, you must:

· Have at least 12 months of full-time (or an equivalent in part-time) skilled work experience in Canada within the last three years. This experience must have been obtained while on a valid work permit and needs to be in one or more occupations classified as skill type 0, A or B under the National Occupational Classification (NOC). The one year of experience can be gained in two different NOC codes, so long as they are skilled positions and the work experience is gained legally;

· Plan on living outside the province of Quebec; and

· Meet the required language levels needed for the job for each language ability (speaking, reading, listening, and writing). These levels are outlined in the table below and must be proven by taking an approved language test.

· Have at least 1 year of full-time (or equivalent) skilled work experience in Canada

· Apply within 3 years of obtaining your skilled work experience

· Have had legal status while working, or studying, in Canada

· Meet minimum language levels in English or French; and

· Plan to live outside the province of Quebec

Canadian Experience Class

Federal Skilled Trades Program

To be eligible to apply, you must:

· Have at least two years of proven full-time work experience (or an equivalent amount of part-time work experience) in a skilled trade occupation, within the five years prior to application.

· Have a full-time job offer for at least one year, OR Have a certificate of qualification of specialization in your occupation, issued by a Canadian provincial or territorial authority.

· You also need to have at least CLB 5 in your language proficiency test and demonstrate to the government of Canada that you have enough funds available to support you and your family members upon approval.