Express Entry is the fastest way to immigrate to Canada, but it’s not right for everyone. This guide will help you understand the Express Entry program, its eligibility requirements, and how to decide if it’s the best way for you and your family to immigrate to Canada.
What is Express Entry?
Express Entry is Canada’s points-based immigration system for skilled workers. It is a fast and efficient way to immigrate to Canada, with most applications processed within six months.
To be eligible for Express Entry, you must meet the minimum requirements for one of the following immigration programs:
- Canadian Experience Class
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
You can also apply through Express Entry for the Provincial Nominee Program if you are nominated by a Canadian province or territory.
5 Steps to immigrate to Canada through Express Entry
- Assess your eligibility. Check the Canadian government website to see if you meet the minimum requirements for one of the Express Entry programs.
- Get your documents ready. Gather the documents you will need to support your application, such as language test results, educational credentials, and work experience documentation.
- Create a strong Express Entry profile. Make sure your profile is accurate and complete, and that it highlights your skills and experience.
- Improve your CRS score. You can do this by improving your language skills, education, or work experience.
- Get invited to apply. Once you have submitted your profile, you will be ranked in the Express Entry pool. Canada invites the highest-scoring candidates in the pool to apply for permanent residence.
Express Entry documents
The Express Entry process requires you to submit different documents at different stages. This includes documents for your profile, your application for permanent residence, and possibly other documents depending on your individual circumstances.
Documents for your profile:
You don’t need to upload any documents to create an Express Entry profile, but you may need information from the following:
- Passport or travel document
- Language test results
- Proof of Canadian education or an educational credential assessment report (if applicable)
- Provincial nomination (if applicable)
- Written job offer from an employer in Canada (if applicable)
- Proof of work experience
- Certificate of qualification in a trade occupation (if applicable)
- Proof of funds
Documents for your application for permanent residence:
If you are invited to apply for permanent residence, you will need to upload copies of the documents you used for your profile, as well as:
- Police certificates
- Proof of funds
- Birth certificate, if you have dependent children
- Use of a Representative form (if applicable)
- Common-law union form (if applicable)
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Divorce certificate and legal separation agreement (if applicable)
- Death certificate (if applicable)
- Adoption certificate (if applicable)
Other documents
You may also need to submit other documents, depending on your individual circumstances. For example, you may need to submit proof of relationship to a relative in Canada, digital photos to confirm your identity, or another name to confirm aliases.
Tips for preparing your Express Entry documents
- Start gathering your documents early. The Express Entry process can be competitive, so it’s important to be prepared to submit your application as soon as you are invited to do so.
- Make sure your documents are complete and accurate. Any errors or omissions could delay the processing of your application.
- Have your documents translated into English or French if they are not already in one of these languages.
- Keep copies of all your documents for your records.
Read more: Work Permit Application
Cost of Express Entry immigration to Canada
Here is a breakdown of the costs associated with Express Entry immigration to Canada:
Before entering the pool:
- Educational Credential Assessment (ECA): $200+ (required for Federal Skilled Worker candidates, and recommended for Federal Skilled Trades person and Canadian Experience Class candidates who studied outside Canada)
- Language test(s): $200+ (required)
- Other items and costs (these items or services may also be obtained before entering the pool, but are not required for that stage):
- Police clearance certificate(s): depends on the country, may range from free service to up to $100 or more (required)
- Medical report: $200+ (required)
- Representation by a lawyer or regulated consultant: ranges, but fees typically range from $2,000 to $5,000 (optional)
Government fees:
- Processing fee: $850 (required)
- Right of permanent residence fee: $515 (required)
- Addition of accompanying spouse/partner: $850 for processing fee, $515 for right of permanent residence (required, if applicable)
- Addition of dependent child(ren): $230 per child (required, if applicable)
Please note that this table may not include all costs, and incremental costs for shipping, etc. are also not included.
The total cost of immigrating to Canada through Express Entry will vary depending on your individual circumstances, such as the number of family members you are immigrating with and whether you choose to retain professional representation.
It is important to budget carefully for all of the costs associated with Express Entry immigration, as there are no refunds available if your application is unsuccessful.
How to apply to Canada as a skilled immigrant?
To apply to Canada as a skilled immigrant, you must first create an Express Entry profile. This profile will be used to assess your eligibility and rank you against other candidates. If you are eligible and score high enough, you will be invited to apply for permanent residency.
To create an Express Entry profile, you must first check your eligibility. If you are eligible, you will be given a personal reference code. Use this code to create your Express Entry profile.
When creating your profile, be sure to enter all of your personal information accurately. You will also need to provide information about your work experience, education, and language skills.
Once you have completed your profile, it will be reviewed by the Canadian government. If you are eligible, you will be placed in the Express Entry pool. You will then be ranked against other candidates based on your score in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The CRS considers a number of factors, including your age, education, work experience, and language skills.
If you are one of the top-ranked candidates in the Express Entry pool, you will be invited to apply for permanent residency. You will need to complete an application form and submit supporting documentation. If your application is approved, you will be granted permanent residency status and will be able to live and work in Canada.
To complete your Express Entry profile, you will need:
- Information from certain documents, such as language test results.
- Your NOC job title and code.
You can save your profile and exit at any time. You have 60 days to complete and submit your profile, or you will have to start over.
Once you submit your profile:
- The Canadian government will determine which Express Entry programs you are eligible for based on the information you provided.
- You may be invited to apply to one or more of these programs.
- You cannot choose which program you prefer when you create your profile.
- If you are eligible for more than one program, you will be able to choose which one you want to apply to when you receive your Invitation to Apply (ITA)
Category-based rounds of invitations:
To support Canada’s economic goals, the government is introducing rounds of invitations for specific categories of Express Entry candidates. These categories will be based on factors such as occupation, education, and work experience.
National Occupational Classification 2021:
On November 16, 2022, Canada switched to the 2021 version of the National Occupational Classification (NOC). If you have already submitted an Express Entry profile but have not been sent an invitation to apply (ITA), you must update your profile with your training, education, experience, and responsibilities (TEER) category and 5-digit occupation code.
Read more: Work in Specific Provinces
What to do while you’re in the Express Entry pool?
Once you have submitted your Express Entry profile, you will be entered into a pool of candidates. While you wait to be invited to apply for permanent residence, you can take the following steps to prepare:
- Gather your documents. This includes having your language test results, police certificates, and any other required documents ready.
- Improve your score. You can improve your score by getting a job offer, improving your language skills, getting more education, or gaining more relevant work experience.
- Keep your profile up-to-date. Make sure that all of the information in your profile is accurate and up-to-date.
- Check your language test results. Your language test results must be valid on the date you apply for permanent residence. If your results expire before then, you will need to take the test again.
- Get your police certificates. Police certificates can take a long time to obtain, so it is best to start the process as soon as you are accepted into the Express Entry pool.
- Create a Job Match account. Job Match is a database that can help you connect with employers who are looking for workers with your skills.
- Consider a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). PNPs are programs that allow provinces and territories to nominate skilled workers for permanent residence. If you have a job offer from a PNP-approved employer, you may be eligible for a faster processing time.
If you are invited to apply for permanent residence, you will have 60 days to submit your complete application. Be sure to carefully review all of the requirements and submit all of the required documentation.
Responding to an invitation to apply
If you are invited to apply for permanent residence, you will have 60 days to submit a complete application. You will need to provide proof of the information you provided in your Express Entry profile, and your application will be assessed to ensure that it is complete and accurate.
If you provide false information or leave out important details, your application may be refused, and you may be found inadmissible to Canada and barred from applying to come to Canada for any reason for a period of 5 years.
Changes to your personal situation
If your personal situation (or that of your spouse or common-law partner) changes after you have been invited to apply, you should recalculate your score before submitting your application. If your recalculated score is lower than the lowest score in your round of invitations, you should decline the invitation. If you submit your application anyway, it may be refused and your application fee may not be refunded.
Declining an invitation to apply
If you decline an invitation to apply, you will be placed back in the Express Entry pool. You will be considered in future rounds of invitations if you are still eligible.
The cut-off score varies from round to round. If your score is not high enough, you may not be invited to apply again. In some cases, you may need to take steps to improve your score, such as updating your Express Entry profile or gaining more relevant work experience.
If your Express Entry profile expires
f you don’t get an invitation to apply for permanent residence within a year of submitting your Express Entry profile, it will expire and be deleted. You can still create a new profile, but you have to withdraw your old one first.
To withdraw your old profile:
- Sign in to your account.
- Go to “View the applications you submitted” on the main page.
- Click “Withdraw profile.”
- Click “Continue” below the “Warning!” text.
If you don’t submit a new profile, you can’t mention Express Entry in your job board profiles. If you do submit a new profile, you’ll get a new Express Entry profile number and Job Seeker validation code for Job Bank.
Becoming a Canadian Permanent Resident: What to Do Next
If your Express Entry application is approved, you will become a permanent resident of Canada.
You will receive a confirmation of permanent residence (COPR) and a permanent resident (PR) visa (if you are from a country that requires a visa). Your COPR will have your information and photograph on it. Make sure to check the information is correct. If there is a mistake, contact Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
If you are already in Canada, you will need to confirm your permanent resident status virtually. IRCC will contact you by email or phone to do this.
If you are outside of Canada, there are some things you can do to prepare for life in Canada before you arrive. You can use free pre-arrival services to learn more about living and working in Canada and to take steps to get recognition for your education, professional licenses, and certificates.
When you arrive in Canada, you must have your valid passport or travel documents, your COPR, and your permanent resident visa (if you have one). You must also have proof that you have the funds to support yourself and your family.
When you arrive in Canada, you will meet with an officer from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). The officer will make sure you are eligible to enter Canada and will ask you a few questions. To help speed up your entry to Canada, keep your passport and other documents with you at all times.
If your Express Entry application is approved, you will become a permanent resident of Canada.
Before you arrive:
- Confirm your permanent resident status virtually if you are already in Canada.
- Use free pre-arrival services to learn about living and working in Canada, and to get recognition for your education, professional licenses, and certificates.
When you arrive:
- Bring your valid passport or travel documents, your COPR, and your permanent resident visa (if you have one).
- Bring proof that you have the funds to support yourself and your family.
- Be prepared to answer questions from a CBSA officer.
- Keep your passport and other documents with you at all times.
