Express Entry
Canada's Express Entry system, introduced in January 2015 by the federal government, has become the most popular immigration pathway for obtaining Canadian permanent residence. It replaced the previous "first come, first served" process with a more streamlined and efficient system.
What is Express Entry and How Does it Work?
Express Entry isn't a standalone immigration program; it's an online system designed to manage the intake of immigration applications in Canada.
Eligible applicants create an online profile called an Expression of Interest (EOI) under one of the three federal Canada immigration programs or a participating provincial immigration program. These federal programs are the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canada Experience Class.
All submitted profiles are entered into the Express Entry Pool, where they are ranked against each other using a points-based system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). This system evaluates factors like age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and other criteria.
The highest-scoring candidates in the pool are invited to apply for permanent residence through an Invitation to Apply (ITA). Those who receive an ITA must submit a complete application and pay the required processing fees within 60 days.
The Canadian government aims to process fully completed permanent residence applications within just 6 months.
Key Features of Express Entry
Express Entry offers a simplified, rapid, and efficient pathway for skilled workers to obtain Canadian permanent residence. It covers the following immigration programs:
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Federal Skilled Worker Program: For skilled workers with foreign work experience who wish to immigrate to Canada permanently.
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Federal Skilled Trades Program: For individuals with qualified trade skills who want to become permanent residents.
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Canada Experience Class: For temporary foreign workers or international graduates with Canadian work experience who want to settle in Canada.
Additionally, some specific streams under Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are also included in the Express Entry system.
Overall, Express Entry is designed to facilitate the immigration process by selecting highly skilled and qualified candidates who can contribute to Canada's economy and society.
Applying for Express Entry involves a two-step process:
Step 1: Create Your Online Profile
Candidates who qualify across 347 occupations (ranging from Management & Financial Services to Engineering, IT & Sciences, Health Occupations, Skilled Trades, etc.) can submit an expression of interest profile to the Express Entry Pool if they meet the minimum entry criteria.
Selection Criteria:
Criteria include age, education, language proficiencies, work experiences, and other factors. These profiles are then ranked in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) based on their human capital contribution to Canada.
Candidates without a job offer or provincial nomination can create an employment profile on the Canada Job Bank to search for a Canadian employer.
Step 2: Receive Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Permanent Residence
Canadian employers unable to find Canadian workers for hire can offer a job to candidates in the Express Entry Pool. Points are assigned based on factors like provincial nominations or job offers (with candidates having a provincial nomination receiving the most points, followed by those with managerial job offers and other job offers).
All profiles are compared, and the highest-ranked candidates are invited to apply for permanent residence during periodic draws throughout the year. Successful candidates and their dependents undergo processing in about six months.