What is Canada Express Entry?
In January 2015, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) launched a new immigrant selection system entitled Express Entry that allows Citizenship and Immigration Canada to select the highest-ranking applicants — those considered to have the best chances of becoming economically established — to become permanent residents of Canada. Express Entry is an online system which involves both the federal and provincial governments, as well as Canadian employers, and has been facilitating faster processing times. The approximate processing time is six months.
Requirements and Eligibility under Express Entry
Candidates who are eligible and meet the requirements of one of the immigration categories may create a profile for the Express Entry pool and may be issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA). If candidates meet the minimum requirements under the Federal Skilled Workers, Federal Skilled Trades, Canadian Experience Class, or some Provincial Nominee Programs, they may submit an application to the Express Entry pool. Each program has its own requirements. If an applicant does not initially receive an invitation, their profile will remain in the pool for 12 months.
Canada Express Entry Draws
When you submit you profile to the pool, it will be ranked under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) based on the following factors:
- Human capital factors
- Spouse or common-law factors
- Skills transferability factors
- Additional points
Immigration periodically conducts rounds of invitations. In June 2017, IRCC introduced a tie-break procedure. This procedure ranks candidates with the same score by the date and time their profiles were created in the Express Entry pool. The tie-break procedure prioritizes the candidates whose profiles have been in the pool longer.
How to Improve your Express Entry Score
- Improve your language test results, including your spouse’s: preparation will increase your score and, with it, your chances.
- Take French as well if English is your first language.
- Gain proper and acceptable work experience.
- Upgrade your education: the higher your education, the higher your score (Master’s, PhD).
- Act fast, as after a certain point, increased age gets you fewer points.
- If you are short on points, find an employer in Canada who would be able to offer you a job; you might wish to read our blog about this at https://milmantasimmigration.com/get-job-in-canada.
Minimum English (IELTS) Score Requirements
All applicants, including those for whom English or French is their native language, must submit language test results (IELTS, CELPIC for English or TEF for French). See Language Assessment
If you are proficient in both languages, taking French might bring your score to the required level, so it is worthwhile to put in that extra effort.
Different immigration programs have different minimum language test requirements. Your language test results are valid for two years.
How to apply for Canada Express Entry?
Creating a profile in the Express Entry pool doesn’t mean that you will be invited to apply for permanent residence. Your score is very important. We assist our clients in improving their Comprehensive Ranking Score in order to maximize their chances of being invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence. We guide our clients skillfully and help them to receive the highest chances of being invited to apply.
Please contact us to determine your eligibility and to learn how to improve your profile.
To help us determine what program would be best for you, please complete the questionnaire.
