Your Fastest Path to Canadian Permanent Residence Through Express Entry
IRCC, formerly known as Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), introduced Express Entry as an online immigration management system to make the Canadian immigration process faster and more efficient. Express Entry was designed to meet Canada’s growing demand for skilled professionals.
With a strong economy, abundant natural resources, and a shrinking workforce, Canada actively seeks qualified foreign workers who can contribute to its labour market and long-term growth.
This program is intended for professionals with skilled work experience obtained outside Canada. Applicants are assessed based on factors such as education, work experience, language ability, and adaptability, making it one of the most popular pathways for skilled workers seeking permanent residence in Canada.
If you qualify for any of the programs above, you may also apply through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). A provincial nomination gives you additional CRS points, increasing your chances of receiving an invitation to apply faster.
Eligibility is assessed using the following criteria:
If you qualify for one or more Express Entry programs and submit your profile, you will be placed in the Express Entry pool. Candidates are ranked using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), a points-based system designed to fairly evaluate applicants.
Applicants with higher CRS scores have a greater chance of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residence.
You can create and submit your Express Entry profile without uploading documents. However, you may need information from certain documents during profile creation. Preparing these documents in advance is strongly recommended, as some documents may take time to obtain.
If you receive an invitation to apply, the documents used to create your Express Entry profile must be uploaded. Most applicants will also be required to submit the following:
These documents are required only if they appear in your personalized document checklist:
Failure to submit optional documents will not automatically result in refusal, as they are used solely to assess eligibility.
Candidates with the highest CRS scores receive invitations to apply for permanent residence. Once invited, you have 60 days to submit a complete application along with all required supporting documents. Most complete applications are processed within six months or less.
| Eligibility | Canadian Experience Class | Federal Skilled Worker Program | Federal Skilled Trades Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language Skills | CLB 7 (NOC 0/A), CLB 5 (NOC B) | CLB 7 | CLB 5 (Speaking & Listening), CLB 4 (Reading & Writing) |
| Type of Work Experience | Canadian experience in NOC 0, A, B | Canadian or foreign experience in NOC 0, A, B | Canadian or foreign experience in skilled trades (NOC B) |
| Work Experience Required | 1 year in Canada within last 3 years | 1 year continuous within last 10 years | 2 years within last 5 years |
| Job Offer | Not required | Not required (adds points if available) | Required or trade certification |
| Education | Not required | Secondary education required | Not required |
