Express Entry: Canada's Skilled Worker Pathway to Permanent Residence
Express Entry is the online system Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses to manage permanent residence applications from skilled workers. You do not apply directly. You create a profile, IRCC ranks it against everyone else in the pool, and the highest-ranking candidates in each round receive an invitation to apply.
The three programs
Express Entry covers three federal programs. Your work history decides which one fits you.
| Canadian Experience Class | Federal Skilled Worker | Federal Skilled Trades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | People who have worked in Canada | Skilled workers, in Canada or abroad | People qualified in a skilled trade |
| Experience | 1 year in Canada within the last 3 years | 1 year continuous within the last 10 years | 2 years in the trade within the last 5 years |
| Language | CLB 7 for TEER 0 or 1 jobs; CLB 5 for TEER 2 or 3 jobs | CLB 7 | CLB 5 speaking and listening; CLB 4 reading and writing |
| Job offer | Not required | Not required, but it earns selection points | Required, unless you hold a Canadian certificate of qualification |
| Education | Not required | Secondary school required | Not required |
Read the detailed guides: Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker, and Federal Skilled Trades.
How the process works
- Check your eligibility. Confirm you meet the minimum requirements of at least one of the three programs.
- Prepare your documents. Most people need an approved language test, and many need an Educational Credential Assessment for education earned outside Canada. Some need proof of funds.
- Create your profile. You enter details about your work, education, language ability and family. You enter the pool if you qualify.
- Get ranked. IRCC gives your profile a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score out of 1,200. See our CRS guide.
- Wait for a round of invitations. IRCC invites candidates whose scores meet the cut-off for that round. Some rounds are open to everyone, and others target specific groups.
- Submit your application. If invited, you have a limited time to submit a complete application. You have 60 calendar days from the date of the invitation. Get your immigration medical exam after you are invited, as close to your application date as possible, because the results must be valid when you apply.
- IRCC decides. IRCC reviews your application. Its stated goal is to decide 80% of complete Express Entry applications within six months of submission, but actual times vary.
Category-based rounds and provincial nomination
Besides general rounds, IRCC runs category-based rounds that invite people with specific skills, language ability, or work backgrounds. A provincial nomination adds a large block of points to your CRS score, but it requires a separate application to the province first. Both are covered on the CRS and category rounds page.
Common reasons profiles run into trouble
- The job title doesn't match the duties. IRCC checks your actual duties against the official occupation description, not just the title on your letter.
- Expired language results. Test results are valid for two years and must be valid on the day you apply.
- Missing education assessment. Education earned outside Canada usually needs an assessment before it earns points.
- Weak proof of funds for the programs that require it.
- Inconsistent dates and details across the profile, reference letters and forms.
An error on your profile can cost you an invitation or lead to a refused application, so it pays to get the details right before you enter the pool.
Get help from a licensed consultant
Only authorized representatives can charge a fee to represent you before IRCC. I am a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant, and I offer full representation in English and Bengali, from checking your eligibility through to submitting your application. No consultant can guarantee an invitation or an approval, because those decisions belong to IRCC.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a job offer for Express Entry? Not for the Canadian Experience Class or the Federal Skilled Worker Program. The Federal Skilled Trades Program requires either a qualifying job offer or a Canadian certificate of qualification in your trade.
Can I apply from outside Canada? Yes, under the Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades programs. The Canadian Experience Class requires work experience gained in Canada.
Does Express Entry guarantee permanent residence? No. Being in the pool does not guarantee an invitation, and an invitation does not guarantee approval.
How long are language test results valid? Two years. They must still be valid on the day you submit your application.
Can I settle in Quebec through Express Entry? No. Quebec selects its own skilled workers, and Express Entry candidates must plan to live outside Quebec.
Sources: IRCC, Express Entry: Who can apply; Express Entry: Check your score.
This page is general information, not legal advice on your situation. Check current rules on IRCC's website.