EXPRESS ENTRY
Express Entry is a selection system that was implemented by the Government of Canada to select the majority of economic immigrants to Canada. Express Entry is a completely online system, whereby applicants complete an online profile and, if selected, submits an application for permanent residence to Canada. The average processing time from submission of a full application is 6 months.
Express Entry is not itself a category of immigration. Instead, it is a new way that the government has decided to process applications for certain economic streams (see below). Applicants must first meet the selection criteria for one or more of these immigration streams in order to apply through Express Entry.
Express Entry Immigration Streams
There are currently four immigration streams that fall under Express Entry:
The Federal Skilled Worker Program is for people who can establish themselves in Canada through a combination of their work experience, education, language skills, and other factors that will contribute to their success.
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The Canadian Experience Class is for people who already have skilled work experience in Canada and want to immigrate permanently.
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The Federal Skilled Trades Program is for people who want to become permanent residents of Canada based on being qualified in a skilled trade.
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The Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) allow Canadian provinces and territories to nominate individuals who wish to immigrate to Canada and who are interested in settling in a particular province.
Read MoreHow to Apply for Express Entry
The first step is to ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements for one of the four immigration streams that are managed by Express Entry. Once you have confirmed your eligibility, you must complete an online profile that will contain information including your language test results, your education, your work experience, and many other items that are required by Immigration Canada to assess you.
Based on their profiles, candidates will be ranked against others in a pool. On a regular basis, Immigration Canada will draw top candidates from the pool and send them an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. Only those who get an Invitation to Apply from Immigration Canada will be able to apply. You will then have 60 days to submit a full application.
It will be of critical importance to have a complete and accurate submission for each step of the Express Entry process. Even seemingly insignificant details that are omitted or incorrect can lead to rejection or refusal of an application.
Check Your Eligibility
If you would like to know if you are eligible to apply for immigration to Canada through Express Entry, you may complete our free Online Eligibility Questionnaire.