Frequently Asked Questions

Express Entry is a system used to manage applications of people with skilled work experience who want to immigrate to Canada. The Canadian government chooses skilled immigrants as permanent residents based on their ability to settle in this country and participate in its economy.

Express Entry covers Canada’s economic immigration programs such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program and Canadian Experience Class. Provinces and territories to recruit candidates from the Express Entry pool according to the local labour market need through the Provincial Nominee Program. It is important to highlight that nobody can apply directly to any of these programs unless the government sends them an ITA (Invitation to Apply).

Candidates are more likely to get an ITA if they score 433 or more points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). This score changes depending on government requirements. After getting the required score, the government shows you which Express Entry program you can apply to become a permanent resident. It is also important to mention that candidates who get an ITA will benefit from a fast processing time of six months or less.

Express Entry Changes

The Canadian government has made some changes to the Express Entry System. Now candidates can get additional points for having at least one brother or sister living in Canada who is a citizen or permanent resident. They must be at least 18 years old, have a parent in common and be related by blood, marriage, common-law partnership or adoption.

Moreover, candidates can also get additional points for having strong French language skills. If candidates score NCLC 7 (Niveaux de Compétence Linguistique Canadiens) or higher on all four French language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) and Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) with a score of 4 or lower in English, they will get 15 additional points. If candidates score NCLC 7 or higher on all four French language skills and CLB 5 or higher on all four English skills, they will get 30 additional points.

There are new chances of getting more points to apply for a permanent residence in Canada! You may need the opinion of a professional in the field. Immigration pros is a licensed immigration consultancy service by CICC.

According to the Canadian Government, there are two steps to apply to the Express Entry system and get a permanent residence:

Create an Express Entry Profile online
Get an Invitation to Apply.
The latter is based on the Comprehensive Ranking System. Candidates should consider that the Express Entry profile will be valid for 12 months, and the Invitation to Apply is valid for 90 days. During that time, candidates will need to update their profile if circumstances change, such as their education level or language test results.

The key to this process is having a consultant from Immigration Pros to guide you through the complete Express Entry Application.

Language is an essential factor in the Express Entry process because candidates can get up to 160 points according to their skills. Fluent English and French speakers can maximize their points potential on entry to the pool. Candidates who get a low score in language test results should consider preparing for retaking a test.

Any improvement across any of the four abilities (speaking, writing, reading, and listening) can bring a higher Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) ranking score. If a candidate has an intermediate adequate English level on all four abilities, such as CLB7 or IELTS 6, they can get 68 points over 136 points in the CRS. However, if a candidate has an advanced level (CLB10+, TEF 393-415+) on all four abilities, they can get 136 points, the highest score on the first official language.

It is crucial to establish the importance of combinations between English and French skills. For example, if a candidate has an adequate intermediate English and French level on all four abilities, they can get 80 points in the CRS.

However, if a candidate has an advanced English level and an adequate French intermediate level, they can get 148 points over 160 points. An important fact is that any candidate, no matter their origin, even if they English or French, has to take a test to know their language level and be assessed in an unbiased way.

A person can be a sponsor if they are at least 18 years old and a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada. Sponsors who are permanent residents must be living in Canada. Canadian citizens who live outside this country must show that they will live in Canada when their sponsored relatives become permanent residents.

A sponsor must have enough income for their basic needs and also for the sponsored person. Moreover, sponsors have to prove that they are not receiving social assistance, except for disability issues.

According to Immigration Canada (IRCC), during 2019, 91.311 candidates were admitted as permanent residents through this category. The sponsored family has four different programs, Sponsored Spouse or Partner, sponsored children, Sponsored Parent or Grandparent, Sponsored Extended Family Member and Sponsored Family Member H&C Consideration.

IRCC detailed that candidates with a spouse can improve their CRS score through the spouse’s skills such as Canadian work experience, language ability or level of education. In fact, candidates can get up to 40 points due to spouse’s factors.

Within them, 20 points can be obtained for language ability, 10 points for Canadian work experience and 10 points for education. For the Spousal or Partner Sponsorship Program, all applicants, both in Canada and overseas, can use the same application package and checklist.

Work experience and strong language skills can result in more points for a candidate to Permanent Residence. If they get a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) with a 9 or higher score, and if the candidate has just one or two years of skilled work experience outside of Canada, they can get 25 points.

However, if the same candidate has three years of experience instead of two, they can get an additional 25 points. Furthermore, if a candidate has worked in Canada, their options are higher because points can be obtained for up to five years of experience and because this factor is valued as itself, not only in combination with other elements.

In fact, if a candidate has Canadian work experience, they can get up to 80 points in the CRS. It is also essential for candidates to update their profile with any work experience because it can be valuable for a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) category.

Candidates have to keep in mind that cities like Ontario face a human capital shortage in the tech sector. This city requires people with work experience in careers such as Telecommunication Carriers Managers, Computer and Information Systems Managers, Electrical and Electronics Engineers and Computers Engineers. Candidates with work experience in Information Communications Technology (ICT) occupations can be eligible to get a notification of Interest that can become an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for a provincial nomination, even if they scored less than 400 points in the CRS.

Federal Skilled Worker Program
The Federal Skilled Worker Program is an Express Entry program used by the government to choose candidates as permanent residents based on their work experience, education, knowledge of English and/or French and other factors that allow them to become economically established in Canada.

A candidate who applies to this program can live in any Canadian province or territory except Quebec because it has its own program to select skilled workers. In 2018, 74.900 candidates got their permanent residence as skilled workers, and in 2019, 81.400 candidates became permanent residents due to this program.

The Canadian government assesses a candidate on six selection factors: education, language skills, age, experience, arranged employment in Canada and adaptability, but before this assessment, the candidate has to fulfill three minimum requirements. A candidate needs a score of at least 67 points to qualify as a Federal Skilled Worker.

Federal Skilled Worker Program minimum requirements

The first minimum requirement is work experience. It has to be voluntary, remunerated and in the same type of job according to the primary National Occupational Classification (NOC) for at least one year, within the last ten years. According to Immigration Canada (IRCC), NOC is a system that classifies jobs or occupations based on the type of work or job duties a person does. It is important to know that a candidate must comply with at least 1,560 hours, either a full-time job, part-time or full time at more than one job. Candidates can get up to 15 points according to the number of years in full-time paid work.

The second minimum requirement is language ability. The candidate has to take a test and get a minimum score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in all four abilities for English or Niveaux de Compétence Linguistique Canadien (NCLC) 7 for French, it means an adequate intermediate level. An important fact is that any candidate can get up to 28 points if they score CLB 9 in English and at least CLB 5 in all of the four abilities for French. Test results must not be more than two years old on the day a candidate applies for permanent residence, and all this information has to be included in the Express Entry Profile.

The third minimum requirement is education. People who went to school in Canada must have a certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian secondary or post-secondary school. Meanwhile, people who have foreign education must have an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from an approved agency to show that their foreign education is equal to Canadian education. Candidates with a University degree at the Doctoral (PhD) level or equal can get 25 points. For a University degree at the Master’s level or University level entry-to-practice professional degree (or equal), a candidate can get up to 23 points.

Federal Skilled Trades Program
The Federal Skilled Trades Program is an Express Entry program that allows candidates to become permanent residents if they are qualified in a skilled trade and if they fulfill the minimum requirements. People who apply for permanent residence through this program have to plan to live in Canada but outside of Québec as this Province has its own Skilled Trade Program. Moreover, they have to meet minimum language abilities in English or French and take a test approved by Immigration Canada.

Federal Skilled Trades Program Minimum Requirements

The minimum English level is CLB 5 for speaking and listening and CLB 4 for reading and writing. Candidate’s test results must not be more than two years old on the day they apply for permanent residence.

Another minimum requirement is work experience. Candidates must have at least two years of experience within the five years before applying, either part-time, full time or work experience at more than one job.

Furthermore, they have to meet the job requirements for the specific skilled trade according to the National Occupational Classification. Another important requirement is to have either an offer of full-time employment for a total period of at least one year or a certificate of qualification in the specific trade issued by a Canadian province or territory. An important fact of this program is that education level is not required; however, it is important to get points under the Express Entry System.

According to the IRCC, 1.178 candidates were admitted in 2019 through this Program.

Canadian Experience Class
Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is a permanent resident category for candidates with skilled work experience in Canada. Canadian government developed this category for foreign graduates with qualifying Canadian work experience and temporary foreigners. Candidates who apply for permanent residence through CEC must meet some minimum requirements.

Canadian Experience Class minimum requirements

Candidates must have at least 12 months of skilled work experience in Canada during the last three years before they apply, either full-time or part-time job. An important fact is that work experience just counts after the completion of the course of study. In fact, any work experience while candidates study does not count for them. In addition, the work experience has to be gained while the candidate has a legal temporary resident status as a worker.

Another factor is that candidates have to show their language ability. The minimum score for NOC A or 0 jobs is CLB 7 and CLB 5 for NOC B jobs. It is important to mention that NOC 0 are Managerial jobs, NOC A are professional jobs, and NOC B are technical jobs and skilled trades.

Canadian Experience class has some steps and requirements to have an adequate application for permanent residence. Immigration Pros has extensive experience to guide you through this type of application. Call us for consultation.

Provincial Nominee Program
This program is used by provinces and territories in Canada to nominate immigrants that contribute to the province’s economy or territory based on their education, work experience and skills. It is important to mention that each province/territory has its own criteria for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

Provinces and territories can nominate business people, skilled workers or semi-skilled workers and also students. This program has become increasingly important for candidates who want to get permanent residence in Canada. In fact, 20.014 candidates were admitted in 2019 and gained their permanent residency through this program. Candidates in the Express Entry pool who are nominated from a province can get 600 points in the CRS.

Express Entry procedure for Provincial Nominee Programs

There are two ways to apply for an Express Entry PNP:

First, a candidate can contact the province or territory and apply for a nomination under the specific province’s Express Entry stream. After being accepted, the candidate has to create an Express Entry profile to accept the nomination.

The second way is to first create an Express Entry profile to show in which province or territory the candidate wants to live and work. Then, wait for a notification of interest of the specific province or territory and then apply under its Express Entry Stream.

Do you qualify for any of the programs listed above? Immigration Pros can help you with your application!

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is a point-based system used by the government to assess and score candidates’ profiles.

Candidates are ranked in the Express Entry Pool, and the highest scores can get an ITA to immigrate as a permanent resident in Canada. According to Immigration Canada (IRCC), the total number of points assigned by the CRS is 1,200 points under four divisions:

The core human capital factors establish a maximum of 500 points if the candidate has no spouse or common-law partner and 460 points if they have an accompanying spouse or common-law partner.
For skill transferability factors, candidates can get up to 100 points.
For accompanying spouse or common-law partner factors, candidates can obtain a maximum of 40 points.
For additional factors (like Education degrees from Canada, valid job offer, Provincial Nomination, siblings living in Canada and strong French skill), candidates can get up to 600 points.

Candidates must know that they can increase their points in the CRS to get a higher score by bettering any of these conditions (a better job offer, more education or language proficiency).

While it is essential to understand the application steps of Express Entry in Canada, we know that it may be overwhelming and confusing to navigate this process without the help of a certified immigration consultant. At Immigration Pros, we can assess you on the entire Express Entry application.

If a candidate for permanent residence is between 20 and 29 years old, and without a spouse or common-law partner, they can get up to 110 points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). This is the highest score that a candidate can get for this category. However, if a candidate is between this age range and has a spouse or common-law partner, they can get a maximum of 100 points.

Candidates must know that if they are less than 20 and more than 29 years old, they will lose points gradually. The candidate’s age is worth 12 percent of the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) selection grid’s overall selection criteria.

Although candidates can lose points if their age is not between 20 and 29 years old, they should remember that they can get points for other factors such as a job offer or language abilities. For example, if a candidate is 40 years old and has no accompanying spouse or common-law partner, they can get up to 45 points. Instead, if the candidate is 30 years old, they can get up to 95 points for the section “human capital factors.”

Canada looks for young immigrants who can be part of its economy and fill jobs that Canadian citizens or permanent residents cannot do. There are specific careers or occupations required according to the market needs of each province. There are several opportunities to come to Canada. Immigration Pros has the expertise to assess you find the best option!

A National Occupation Classification (NOC) code is the number a job is listed under in Canada’s official job classification system.