Express Entry is a selection system the Canadian Government implemented to expedite the Permanent Resident visa process for various Economic Immigration Programs. It is an electronic process with online submissions which allows for quicker processing times, averaging around 6 months.
More details on each of the four Express Entry programs can be found by clicking on them:
- Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC)
- Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)
To be Eligible to apply under Express Entry:
The eligibility requirements for one of the Immigration Programs that are processed by Express Entry should be met. Specific eligibility requirements are determined by each program. If requirements are met, you can make an expression of interest to apply through creating a profile specifying personal information including work experience, skills, education, language ability (test scores).
Every candidate who meets the eligibility requirements to apply is placed into a pool and is ranked using a Comprehensive Ranking System. Occasionally, Invitations to apply for Permanent Residence will be sent to a certain number of the highest ranked applicants. When a candidate receives an Invitation to Apply (ITA), submitting permanent residence application with ALL necessary supplementary documents should take place within 90 days. All required documents should be submitted within this 90-day period, otherwise they will be rejected. After the process is completed, successful candidates and their dependents (spouse and children) can arrive in Canada as Permanent Residents and start their journey to become Canadian Citizens.
Candidates who are in the Express Entry pool and have not yet received an ITA (invitation to apply), will stay in the pool for 12 months and might be selected later. If a candidate is not picked after being in the pool for 12 months, a new expression of interest to apply can me made through making another profile.
Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)
Eligible candidates for immigration to Canada are ranked by the CRS through Express Entry. Candidates are ranked based on the following factors by the CRS:
- core human factors
- accompanying spouse or common-law partner factors
- skill transferability factors
- factors relating to a provincial nomination or a qualifying offer of arranged employment