Express Entry is an electronic system used to manage the applications of skilled workers who wish to become permanent residents of Canada.
Once an interested candidate submits an online profile, the federal government determines if the candidate is eligible for a program managed by Express Entry. Eligible candidates are accepted into the Express Entry pool and are ranked according to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The CRS is a points-based system used by the government to assess and rank candidates in the Express Entry pool. The CRS score is calculated based on a candidate’s age, education, work experience, language skills, as well as other factors.
Approximately every two weeks, the Canadian government selects the highest-scoring candidates from the Express Entry pool and provides them with an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.
Express Entry is very simple and contains two major stages. In the first major stage, candidates who are eligible for Express Entry indicate to the Canadian government their expression of interest in obtaining Canadian permanent resident status. In the second major stage, the Canadian government invites the highest-scoring candidates to immigrate to Canada.
Criteria for either the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class, or Federal Skilled Trades Program must be met.
Canada aims to welcome an average of 110,000 new immigrants per year under Express Entry. A major benefit of Express Entry is successful candidates can gain permanent resident status within six months.
To benefit from Express Entry, you must meet the criteria of at least one of the following three programs:
