Express Entry
Express Entry is an electronic application management system that manages applications for highly skilled workers who want to move to Canada. It offers a number of benefits for applicants:
• Fast processing time – the majority of applications are processed within 6 months;
• Application is electronic – instant acknowledgements, easy to manage and efficient and effective processing;
• Live, work and study in any Province or Territory in Canada, outside of Quebec;
• Applicants are scored and processed based on their ability to succeed economically in Canada rather than first in line;
Provides more opportunities for prospective skilled immigrants to secure employment by linking them to employers and potential jobs and opportunities in Canada before arrival.
How Express Entry Works
• You must sit an approved language test in English and/or French before you create an Express Entry Profile;
• Candidates create an Express Entry profile. This assesses skills and experience factors for eligibility within the following classes:
• Federal Skilled Worker Class,
• Federal Skilled Trade Class,
• Canadian Experience Class, or
• Provincial Nominee (if Express Entry stream);
• Your education credentials may need to be assessed if you were educated outside Canada;
• Points are awarded for age, language ability, education, work experience, arranged employment and other factors;
• If you are eligible within one of the above programs, you will be placed in the Express Entry pool and assigned a score. The score will be based on your skills, education and experience and this will determine your place in the pool;
• Every 2-3 weeks, the Government of Canada will make a draw. The highest scoring candidates receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence;
• You will have 90 days to complete your application and upload all the required supporting documents.
Federal Skilled Workers Program selects highly skilled immigrants whose high human capital enables them to contribute to Canada’s long-term national and structural labour market needs, in support of a strong and prosperous Canadian economy. If you have skilled work experience and want to live in Canada permanently, you may be eligible to apply.
The Federal Skilled Trades Program is intended to attract skilled tradespersons who can meet labour demands in specific trades across the country and who are granted permanent residence based on being qualified in a skilled trade.
The Canadian Experience Class is intended to increase Canada’s labour market responsiveness and global competitiveness in attracting and retaining highly skilled workers and international graduates who have already established themselves as skilled workers in Canada, thereby demonstrating that they have a capacity to integrate successfully and contribute to the Canadian economy.
Most provinces and territories in Canada can nominate immigrants through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). These immigrants must have the skills, education and work experience to contribute to the economy of that province or territory, and who wish to settle in that specific province or territory.