Express Entry is an online system launched by the Canadian Government in January 2015 to manage immigration applications from skilled workers. There are 3 immigration programs managed through Express Entry:
- Canadian Experience Class
- Federal Skilled Worker
- Federal Skilled Trades
If you are eligible for one of the programmes listed above, you can also apply for the Provincial Nominee Program through Express Entry. If you are nominated, you will receive bonus points and will be invited to apply as soon as possible.
Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Category: If you have at least one year of skilled work in Canada in a managerial, professional, or technical job, as well as proficiency in English or French, you may be eligible for the CEC Class. In many cases, however, a job offer from a Canadian employer is required in order to receive an Invitation to Apply for Permanent Residence in Canada.
Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Category: Applicants must score a minimum of 67 points on the FSW selection matrix before they can create their Express Entry profile. Immigration Canada will conduct another Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points assessment and invite selected applicants to apply for permanent residence in Canada through regular draws from the Express Entry pool of candidates.
Federal Skilled Trades (FST) Category: If you have at least two years of experience in one of the trades listed below in the last five years, you may be eligible to immigrate to Canada. You must also have the necessary proficiency in English or French, as well as a full-time job offer from a Canadian employer.
Skilled trades for the Federal Skilled Trades Program are organized under these groups of the National Occupational Classification (NOC):
- 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
- Minor Group 633, butchers and bakers
The major NOC groups are subdivided into different occupations, and they are all skill type B.
Contact us for a free assessment of your profile and advice on how to improve your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in Canada.
Also, if you are not eligible for express entry, there are a variety of other programs available to obtain Permanent Residency in Canada; please contact us for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 – 6 months
Once you have an online Express Entry profile, candidates can remain in the Express Entry pool for up to 12 months
Applicants may have one Express Entry profile which is valid for 1 year. If they do not receive an invitation within this period, they may submit a new profile.
There are many ways to improve your chances of success, including increasing your CRS score, provincial nomination, adaptability, Canadian work experience and improving educational qualifications and language skills.