Express Entry
Express Entry is Canada’s biggest economic program and one of the fastest ways to obtain permanent residence in Canada. This program is designed to select candidates that meet Canada’s future labour market needs.
JUMP TO SECTION: Federal Skilled Worker Class | Canadian Experience Class | Federal Skilled Trades Program
What is Express Entry?
Canada’s Federal skilled worker programs are completed through an online points-based system called Express Entry. This is a two-step process. The initial stage is to submit your profile into the pool of candidates where you have assumed a set of points, called the Comprehensive Ranking System (“CRS”) score. You will receive points for your age, level of education, official language proficiency (in English and French) and work experience.
Your express entry profile is valid for one year from the date of submission. If you do not receive an Invitation to Apply (“ITA”) within your year period, your profile will expire. You can renter the pool if you are still interested in applying for permanent residence in Canada. Remember, submitting an express entry profile does not mean you have applied for permanent residence. There is no processing time.
To be eligible to enter the pool, you must be eligible for one of Canada’s economic programs: Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC).
Compare Express Entry Programs
| Eligibility | CEC | FSW | FST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work Experience |
One year of skilled work experience in Canada in the last three years NOC 0, A, B |
One year of continuous skilled work experience outside of Canada in the last ten years NOC 0, A, B |
Two years of work experience in Canada or outside of Canada within the last five years |
| Job Offer | No Requirement | No Requirement |
Two years of work experience in Canada or outside of Canada within the last five years NOC B - skilled trade under key groups |
| Language | English or French CLB 7 for NOC 0 or A CLB 5 for NOC B |
English or French CLB 7 |
English or French CLB 5 in speaking and listening CLB 4 in reading and writing |
| Education | No Requirement | At least secondary education | No Requirement |
What Happens After I Receive An ITA?
Step two requires that you receive an ITA from the Canadian government. This is your formal application for permanent residence in Canada, and you will have 60 days to provide all supporting documentation and information to apply.
In order to receive an ITA, your CRS score must be higher than the government selected cut-off. Invitations are issued frequently under the FSWC and CEC programs, usually every two weeks.
Your ITA will indicate one of four classes of economic programs you are eligible to apply for: Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC) or the Provincial Nominee Class (PNC). It’s important to note; some provinces have express entry linked provincial nominee programs. If you have received a provincial nomination from one of the participating provinces, you will receive your ITA through the PNC category.
Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada aims to process 80 percent of applications in these programs in six months (from the submission of the ITA).
Do I Need A Job offer/Arranged Employment?
This question comes up frequently when discussing express entry. Arranged employment in the context of express entry means that you have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer. This should not be confused with a “regular” offer of employment. While arranged employment is not mandatory to be eligible for express entry, it will give applicants an additional 50-200 CRS points in the express entry system.
To be eligible to obtain points for arranged employment, you must:
Have a new Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) OR
Be currently working in Canada in a skilled position on an LMIA based work permit OR
Be on an LMIA exempt work permit and have worked for one full year for your Canadian employer
And:
Have a valid offer of employment for a full-time permanent skilled position for at least one year after your permanent resident visa is issued.
Open work permits are not eligible work permits for job offer/arranged employment points.
Begin your Express Entry application today.
Our licensed professionals have helped thousands of applicants immigrate to Canada through the express entry system. Begin with our quick and easy online immigration assessment form, or call us at 647-797-3351 to book your personal consultation.
Consultations are an easy way to get informed so you can be prepared for your immigration journey. Immigration is a complex process that requires precise information and documentation. Attention to detail is paramount to avoid wasting time, money, and refusals.
Federal Skilled Worker Class
The FSW program is available to applicants who have obtained work experience from outside of Canada. Under the Federal Skilled Worker class, you will receive points under the CRS criteria, as well as under the six Selection Factors.
To be eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker Class:
Have 67 points under the six Selection Factors
Have at least one year of continuous, full-time or equal amount part-time and paid, skilled work experience within the last ten years.
The one year of work experience must be in the same NOC code, either 0, A or B.
Full-time is considered 30 hours per week. Any hours worked over 30 in one week are not counted towards meeting your 1,560 hours.
You must have a language ability of CLB 7, as evidenced by an approved language test (IELTS, CELPIP, TEF, TCF)
You must have completed education that is equal to Canadian secondary (high school) or post-secondary school as evidenced by an approved Education Credential Assessment (“ECA”) Report from an approved agency
You must show you have enough money for you (and your family) to settle in Canada unless you have a valid job offer and are legally able to work in Canada.
You must be admissible to Canada.
You must plan to live outside of the province of Quebec. Applicants who are in Quebec or work in Quebec can still apply through express entry but must prove their intention to reside outside of the province once approved
Six Selection Factors
The Selection Factors are part of a 100-point grid used to assess your eligibility. They do not have any impact on your CRS score and is strictly an eligibility criterion. You must score 67 points under the selection factors to pass. If you do not score 67 points at a minimum, you will not be eligible to submit your profile to the pool of candidates.
Proof of Funds
One of the main differences between Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Worker or Federal Skilled Trades programs is the requirement to show funds. In most cases, you will need to show that you have enough money to support your family. The amount you will need to show will depend on the size of your household.
To determine your household size, you must include the following:
Yourself
Your spouse or common-law partner
Your dependent children
Your spouse or partner’s dependent children
Even if your spouse, partner, or dependent children are non-accompanying or are Canadian citizens or permanent residents, you must still include them in your calculation.
If you have been invited to apply under Canadian Experience Class or have arranged employment and are authorized to work in Canada, you are exempt from the fund’s requirement.
In Canada and need to extend your status too?
If you are already in Canada and your work permit is expiring, you can apply to extend your worker status through the Bridging Open Work Permit category for economic class applicants. In order to be eligible, you must have an application for permanent residence in place through the federal skilled worker program, Canadian experience class, federal skilled trades program or the Provincial Nominee Class (for applicants with no employer restrictions).
Common Grounds for Refusals
1. Misrepresentation
In some cases, misrepresentation occurs from an applicant misreading or misunderstanding a question on the form. In other cases, applicants purposely omit information. The consequences of misrepresentation are severe and not only lead to a refused application, but an applicant may be banned from reapplying for five years. Have you received a procedural fairness letter for misrepresentation? We can help contact us.
2. Missing Documents
There are many documents you need to upload in order to submit a complete permanent residence application. Often times applicant’s miss mandatory documents such as police clearances, translations with a foreign-language document, ECA report or a bank letter proving funds. While missing documents won’t lead to a refusal, it can lead to an incomplete application, loss of an ITA and express entry profile.
3. Police Clearance
While missing a police clearance for a country can happen all together, other police clearance errors include not uploading a colour scan of the document, expired clearances or the wrong type of clearance. For example, if you lived in Australia, you are required to upload the Traffic History if you were a resident of Queensland or the Full Licenses History Search if you were a resident of Victoria.
4. Wrong NOC Code
Your work experience, whether Canadian or foreign, is one of the fundamental eligibility criteria of the economic classes. Selecting the right NOC code can be the difference between receiving your permanent residence or receiving a refusal. While the title can be different, your Employment Reference Letter must be similar to the lead statement and duties listed in the NOC
Received an ITA under the Federal Skilled Worker Program?
NextGen’s licensed immigration professionals can make all the difference to your immigration application. Our representatives are recognized by the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council. We govern ourselves according to our three principles: commitment, communication, and confidence.
We understand that adding value is central to the overall client experience, so we save you time, energy and money while still achieving your immigration goals.
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Step 1
Contact our office by phone, email or social. We will ask you some preliminary questions to better understand what type of help you need.
Step 2
Book a consultation to discuss your case and options available to you. Our consultation fee is $125 CAD for a 30 minute appointment.
Step 3
Like what you hear? Your consultation fee will be deducted from your first application with NextGen if you choose to proceed with our services.
Canadian Experience Class
Canada’s CEC program is for applicants who have at least one year of Canadian work experience—developed for the purpose of supporting temporary foreign workers and foreign graduates in their pursuit of permanent residence in Canada.
To be eligible for Canadian Experience Class:
Have at least one year of full-time or equal amount part-time and paid, skilled work experience in Canada in the last three years before you apply.
Skilled work means your experience falls under a National Occupational Classification (“NOC”) 0, A or B job. You must have performed the actions described in the lead statement and a substantial number of the primary duties, including all essential duties listed in the NOC
This work experience does not have to be continuous or in the same NOC
The length of your experience is assessed based on hours. To meet the requirement, you must have worked at least 1,560 hours over a minimum of 12 months. Full-time is considered 30 hours per week. Any hours worked over 30 in one week are not counted towards meeting your 1,560 hours.
Your work experience must have been gained legally with valid work authorization
Work experience while attending full-time studies will not count. This includes co-ops and internship as part of your study program
Your work experience cannot be self-employed work
You must have a language ability of CLB 7 for NOC 0 or A jobs, OR CLB 5 for NOC B jobs, as evidenced by an approved language test
There is no education requirement, but including education will improve your overall CRS score
You must be admissible to Canada; this includes maintaining valid status if you reside in Canada
You must plan to live outside of the province of Quebec. Applicants who are in Quebec or work in Quebec can still apply through express entry but must prove their intention to reside outside of the province once approved.
In Canada and need to extend your status too?
If you are already in Canada and your work permit is expiring, you can apply to extend your worker status through the Bridging Open Work Permit category for economic class applicants. In order to be eligible, you must have an application for permanent residence in place through the federal skilled worker program, Canadian experience class, federal skilled trades program or the Provincial Nominee Class (for applicants with no employer restrictions).
Common Mistakes and Grounds For Refusals
1. Misrepresentation
In some cases, misrepresentation occurs from an applicant misreading or misunderstanding a question on the form. In other cases, applicants purposely omit information. The consequences of misrepresentation are severe and not only lead to a refused application, but an applicant may be banned from reapplying for five years. Have you received a procedural fairness letter for misrepresentation? We can help contact us.
2. Missing Documents
There are many documents you need to upload in order to submit a complete permanent residence application. Often times applicant’s miss mandatory documents such as police clearances, translations with a foreign-language document, ECA report or a bank letter proving funds. While missing documents won’t lead to a refusal, it can lead to an incomplete application, loss of an ITA and express entry profile.
3. Police Clearance
While missing a police clearance for a country can happen all together, other police clearance errors include not uploading a colour scan of the document, expired clearances or the wrong type of clearance. For example, if you lived in Australia, you are required to upload the Traffic History if you were a resident of Queensland or the Full Licenses History Search if you were a resident of Victoria.
4. Wrong NOC Code
Your work experience, whether Canadian or foreign, is one of the fundamental eligibility criteria of the economic classes. Selecting the right NOC code can be the difference between receiving your permanent residence or receiving a refusal. While the title can be different, your Employment Reference Letter must be similar to the lead statement and duties listed in the NOC
Received an ITA under the Canadian Experience Class Program?
NextGen’s licensed immigration professionals can make all the difference to your immigration application. Our representatives are recognized by the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council. We govern ourselves according to our three principles: commitment, communication, and confidence.
We understand that adding value is central to the overall client experience, so we save you time, energy and money while still achieving your immigration goals.
Apply for Express Entry with NextGen.
Our team of licensed professionals is dedicated not just to your application but its outcome. Every case is different and requires its own undivided attention and strategy. That’s why we take the time to develop each of our applications, carefully analyzing every avenue of preparation.
Federal Skilled Trades Program
Applying for permanent residence through the Federal Skilled Trades program means that you have acquired work experience in a skilled trade National Occupational Classification (NOC) in or outside of Canada.
In order to begin the process as a tradesperson, you will need to create an express entry profile and receive a Comprehensive Ranking System score (CRS). The program-specific draws for the Federal Skilled Trades class often have a much lower CRS score, with the lowest recorded at 199.
To be eligible for the Federal Skilled Trades Program, you must:
Have at least two years of full-time or part-time equivalent work experience in a skilled trade within five years
Have a valid job offer (usually supported by a Labor Market Impact Assessment) for at least one year or a certificate of qualification in the skilled trade issued by the provincial regulatory body
Receive CLB 5 in speaking and listening and CLB 4 on reading and writing in your approved language test
Be able to prove you have the skills and experience to perform the duties of the occupation and meet the job requirements listed in the National Occupation Classification
There is no education requirement, but including education will improve your overall CRS score
You must be admissible to Canada; this includes maintaining valid status if you reside in Canada
You must plan to live outside of the province of Quebec. Applicants who are in Quebec or work in Quebec can still apply through express entry but must prove their intention to
Eligible National Occupational Classification (NOC) for Skilled Trades
The skilled trades program is organized into the following NOC groups:
Major Group 72: industrial, electrical and construction trades,
Major Group 73: maintenance and equipment operation trades,
Major Group 82: supervisors and technical jobs in natural resources, agriculture and related production,
Major Group 92: processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors and central control operators,
Minor Group 632: chefs and cooks, and
Minor Group 633: butchers and bakers.
In order to be eligible for the trades program, you must have worked in a position that falls under the above Major and Minor NOC groups.
What is a Certificate of Qualification?
A Certificate of Qualification is an official notice that you have passed the provincial qualification exam for a specific trade and meet all the requirements to practice the trade in a specific province.
In order to obtain a Certificate of Qualification, you must contact the regulatory body that governs the trade in your province of interest. They will complete an assessment of your training, experience and skills, and determine if you are eligible to write an exam to be certified. If your trade is not regulated provincially, it may be regulated federally.
What Does A Job Offer (Arranged Employment) Mean?
In order to be eligible for the Federal Skilled Trades Class, you must have a Certificate of Qualification or a valid job offer. This should not be confused with a “regular” offer of employment.
To have a valid job offer under this category, you must:
Have a new Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) OR
Be currently working in Canada in a skilled trade job on an LMIA based work permit OR
Be on an LMIA exempt work permit and have worked for one full year for your Canadian employer
AND
Have a valid offer of employment for a full-time permanent skilled trade (NOC that starts with 72,73,82,92 or 632 and 633) for at least one year. The offer can be made by two employers.
Open work permits are not eligible work permits for consideration of a job offer/arranged employment.
What Should I Do Next?
NextGen has helped thousands of applicants just like you obtain their permanent residence through express entry’s Federal Skilled Trades Class. Applying for permanent residence does not have to be complicated, time-consuming or stressful.
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