Express Entry

Express Entry is the fastest and most popular pathway for newcomers seeking a new life in Canada. Express Entry organizes and processes applications for people who wish to immigrate to Canada and acquire Canadian permanent residence.

How can I apply for Express Entry?

Applying to Express Entry is a two-step process. The first step is to submit your profile which requires the following documents:

• Language test results
• Documentation of education, training and work experience
• Educational credential assessment report
• A passport or travel document

After you submit your profile and you receive an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence, you will need to provide a more substantial application that includes reference letters, additional identity documents, police clearance certificates, and results of a medical examination.

Who is eligible for Express Entry?

Candidates with university or college degrees with skilled work experience and moderate proficiency in English and/or French are ideal candidates. Candidates who qualify for the following programs are also eligible to submit an application under the Express Entry program:

• Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
• Federal Skilled Trades (FST)
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

In general, to be eligible to apply to Express Entry as a skilled worker, you must:

• Have at least one year, in the last 10 years, of continuous full-time (or equivalent part-time) work experience in a skilled occupation
• Be able to demonstrate on an approved language test a minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) seven in either English or French
• Completed post-secondary education that is assessed against Canadian standards with an Educational Credential Assessment

These are the minimum requirements to apply to Express Entry as a skilled worker. Meeting these requirements doesn’t mean you will receive an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence. Candidates with stronger profiles will always be selected over candidates that simply meet the minimum requirement.

Ideal Express Entry candidates would meet the following requirements:

• Be under 30 years old
• Hold at least two Bachelor’s degrees or a Master’s degree
• Be able to demonstrate moderate to high English and/or French language proficiency (Canadian Language Benchmark [CLB] level nine or higher)
• Have at least three years of skilled work experience

Other factors that can really boost your CRS score can include:

• Higher language proficiency in English and/or French
• Bilingualism in French and English
• A Master’s degree or Ph.D. education
• Canadian work or educational experience
• A Canadian brother or sister currently residing in Canada
• An arranged employment offer from a Canadian company
• A nomination from a provincial nominee program

How long does Express Entry take?

Express Entry can take as little as six months to process, from submission of the Express Entry profile to the issuance of a permanent resident visa. However, not all cases will proceed this quickly. Your Express Entry profile will remain active in the pool of candidates for 12 months if you are not invited to apply. If after 12 months you have not been selected, you are welcome to resubmit your profile and remain in the pool. To break it down further:

• Your profile will remain valid for 12 months in the Express Entry pool
• Upon issuance of the ITA, you will have 60 days to provide the requested full application of documents
• Once the immigration authorities have received your complete application, your permanent resident visa should be processed in six months or less

What’s better: PNP or Express Entry?

There is no simple answer to this question but there are some things to consider. Most PNPs require an applicant to have an Express Entry profile. Since an Express Entry profile is free to submit, you don’t stand to lose anything by creating one.

The other thing to consider is that the majority of PNP programs require an applicant to have a specific connection to the region. If you are working or studying in a Canadian province, considering a PNP program is advisable. If you do not have any specific connections to a place in Canada, the more general Express Entry pathway to Canadian permanent residence is probably your best option.

How much does Express Entry cost?

• Language tests: Average cost – CDN $300
• Educational Credential Assessment (ECA): Average cost –CDN $200
• Biometrics: CDN $85/person
• Government fees: CDN $1,325/adult & CDN $225/child
• Medical examination fees: average cost – CDN $450/adult & CDN $250/child
• Police clearance certificates: average cost –$100/country

The fees are only requested when you are invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence. In addition to the government processing fees, provincial immigration fees may be required if you are nominated for a PNP program.

You should also be aware that unless you are applying under the Canadian Experience Class program or have a valid arranged employment offer, you will need to demonstrate you have sufficient funds to support your resettlement in Canada. These settlement funds are not fees paid to the government but you must have access to them in order to be approved for a permanent residence visa. The amounts per family size are mentioned in the table below: