The Express Entry system stands as the principal route for skilled immigrants seeking to enter Canada, with plans to admit 110,770 individuals this year.

Projected increases indicate that the number of immigrants welcomed will rise to 117,500 annually in both 2025 and 2026. Given these figures, it’s crucial for potential immigrants and recent arrivals to examine the Express Entry system’s eligibility criteria. This is not only to assess their immediate qualifications but also to strategize for enhancing their eligibility in the future.

What is Express Entry for Canada?

Express Entry is a system used by Canada to manage applications for three of its federal economic immigration programs:

The Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skills Trades Program (FSTP), each with its own set of eligibility requirements.

Eligible candidate for these programs are enter into the Express Entry pool, where they are score using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) based on factors like work experience, language proficiency, education, and marital status.

The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducts regular draws from the Express Entry pool, inviting those who meet or exceed a certain CRS score to apply for permanent residency (PR) in Canada.

Additionally, IRCC has introduced category-specific draws targeting individuals with in-demand professional skills or language abilities.

Upon receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and successfully submitting their application, candidates must clear all necessary checks and fulfil the criteria outlined in their application.

Once approval, that will grants to PR status, allowing them to live, work, and study in Canada indefinitely.

What are eligibility requirements for the FSWP Programme?

The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) serves as a key conduit for skilled workers aiming to immigrate to Canada for economic purposes.

Applicants must satisfy the foundational criteria of the FSWP and achieve a minimum of 67 points on a dedicated human capital factors grid, distinct from the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score used for all Express Entry programs.

For a detailed breakdown of the selection factors and the corresponding points, one can refer to the official guidelines.

Beyond the 67-point threshold on the FSWP grid, aspirants are require to:

  Possess a minimum of one year’s full-time or equivalent work experience within the past decade in a skilled role, as per the National Occupation Classification (NOC) TEER levels 0, 1, 2, or 3.

  Demonstrate language proficiency in English or French at a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 or equivalent, achieving this level across all four language skills: writing, reading, listening, and speaking.
  Fulfil financial requirements based on the number of immediate family members, regardless of whether they are Canadian permanent residents or will accompany the applicant to Canada. This criterion may be exempted if the applicant is already authorise to work in Canada and has secured employment.

This criterion is an exempt if the applicant is already authorize to work in Canada and has secured employment.

The NOC system categorizes jobs in Canada, while the TEER system, used in conjunction, grades jobs based on the necessary training, experience, education, and job responsibilities for eligibility.

FAQ’s

Q1 Who is eligible for Canada Express Entry?

Eligibility for Canada’s Express Entry includes skilled workers who can contribute to Canada’s economy and covers three immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class.

Q2 How much money is required for Express Entry Canada?

The funds required for Express Entry depend on family size, starting at $13,757 CAD for a single person as of April 25, 2023 Fees include processing fees, right of permanent residence fee, and biometrics fee, totaling approximately $1,040 CAD per adult.

Q3 How do I get PR Express Entry?

To get PR through Express Entry, you must receive an invitation to apply, fill out the online form, upload necessary documents, pay fees, and submit your application. Most complete applications are processed within six months.

Q4 What is the IELTS score for Express Entry?

The IELTS score for Express Entry varies by program, but a minimum score of 6.0 overall with no band less than 5.5 is typically required for the Federal Skilled Worker Program. Higher scores may yield more points in the Comprehensive Ranking System.