The Basics of the Express Entry system and process are outlined in the steps below.

Do you Qualify?

In order to be eligible to submit an application through Express Entry you need to meet the criteria of one of the four immigration programs below and be able to show the minimum amount of required settlement funds for your family size. Check your eligibility below:

Federal Skilled Worker

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Federal Skilled Trades

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Canadian Experience Class

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Provincial Nominee Programs

Learn More →

Documents Required

If you qualify under Step1, you will have to write an approved language test and obtain an educational credential assessment. Be sure to have your credentials assessed by one of the agencies recognized by Immigration, Citizenship and Refugees Canada. Read below for details

•   Book an Approved Language Test

  For Express Entry applications, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will only accept the General Training IELTS and the CELPIP-General Test for an English test. For those who speak French, they will only accept the TEF Canada: Test d’évaluation de français or the TCF Canada: Test de connaissance du français.

  You can now earn up to 50 additional points for strong French language skills (even if French is your second language).

•   Educational Credential Assessment

  If you completed your education with a non-Canadian educational institution, you will need to have your qualifications assessed by a recognized organization to show that they are equivalent to a Canadian qualification. There are seven different organizations that you can use as follows:

  •   Comparative Education Service: University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies
  •   International Credential Assessment Service of Canada
  •   World Education Services
  •   International Qualifications Assessment Service
  •   International Credential Evaluation Service
  •   Medical Council of Canada (Doctors must use this organization)
  •   Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (If you need a license to practice as a Pharmacists, you must use this organization)

Enter the Express entry?

Once you have the documents required to enter the Express Entry system, create your Express Entry Profile online. If you qualify you will receive a message that you have met the criteria and will receive a Job Seeker code and Profile code number. If you did not meet the criteria you will receive a message stating that you are ineligible.

At this stage you will also be issued your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on the information you have entered. This is the score that will be used when Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) selects people from the Express Entry Pool.

Wait to be selected

After you have been entered into the Express Entry Pool you wait to be selected based on your Comprehensive Ranking System Score. While you are in the pool, you can improve your score and increase your chances of being invited to apply by:

•   getting a valid job offer by:
  •   using Job Bank
  •   promoting yourself to employers in Canada using private-sector job boards
•   contacting provinces and territories to consider you for a Provincial Nominee Program
•   improving your language score
•   improving your education
•   gaining more relevant work experience

Canadian Province or Territory CRS Scores

If you are selected by a Canadian Province or Territory 600 points will be added to your CRS score.

Just remember, you will be required to work and live in the province that has nominated you so ensure you are willing to comply with these requirements before applying to a province.

Keep your profile up-to-date

You must make sure that the information in your profile stays true and accurate at all times. You must update your profile if your situation changes, for example if you:

•   start a new career
•   gain or lose a job offer
•   get a new language test
•   get married or divorced
•   have or adopt a new child

Submit Application

If you receive an invitation to apply you must submit your application for permanent residence within 60 days.If we invite you to apply, you’ll need to upload copies of the documents you used for your profile. Most applicants will also need to upload the following:

•   police certificates
•   medical exams
•   proof of funds
•   birth certificate
•   common-law union form
•   marriage certificate
•   divorce certificate and legal separation agreement
•   death certificate
•   adoption certificate

You only need to submit the following documents if these are included in your personalized checklist: proof of relationship to a relative in Canada

•   digital photos to confirm your identity
•   other name to confirm aliases
•   authority to release personal information to a designated individual form
•   any other documents that you feel are relevant to your application

Immigrate

Once you have submitted your application, you will be sent a message later on to request that you complete biometrics at your closest visa application centre. Once you receive your biometrics letter you will have 30 days to complete the biometrics. The full processing time for applications submitted via the Express Entry system is 6 months from the day of submission. After six months you will be notified if your application was approved or rejected.

Settlement Funds Requirements

This table show the minimum amount you need to immigrate to Canada. If you have more money, you should list the full amount in your profile or application.