Express Entry Canada: Your Fast Track to Canadian Immigration
Express Entry is a electronic application management system used to manage applications for skilled workers who wish to immigrate to Canada. It serves as a pathway to three federal economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class.
What is Express Entry in Canada?
Express Entry is an electronic immigration application management system used by the Canadian immigration to select skilled workers for permanent immigration to Canada under Federal and some Provincial immigration programs.
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How does the Express Entry system work?
It is a completely electronic point based selection process. It allows you to:
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Assess your eligibility to apply
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Collect relevant documents such as Language Test results, Education, Employment documents etc.
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Calculate your score using the CRS or the Point Based system and submit your profile
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Get an invitation to apply and submit your application with in 60 days of receiving the invitation.
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Who is eligible for Express Entry?
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Applicants with university or college degrees who skilled work experience and can demonstrate proficiency in English and/or French languages may qualify for Express Entry to Canada. They can then to submit an application under one of the following Express Entry programs:
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How can I apply for Express Entry for Canada?
Step 1: The first step is to check if you are eligible to apply for Express Entry. Contact us and we will do it for you.
Step 2: Collect all documents. Make sure you have all the correct documents.
Step 3: Once you have established the fact that you qualify, you need to submit your profile to the IRCC.
Step 4: Receive an invitation and apply for permanent residence. Pay the applicable fee and receive a CoPR if you get a positive decision from the assessing officer.
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What are the requirements for Express Entry?
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Eligibility to apply to Express Entry as a skilled worker, is based on the following (but not limited to):
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The applicant must have at least one year of continuous full-time (or equivalent part-time) work experience in a skilled occupation, in the last 10 years from the date of application. For the Federal Skilled Worker category, this work experience needs to be in NOC (National Occupation Classification) TEER 0,1,2,3 job categories. Read more about NOC 2021 teer based system.
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The applicant must demonstrate minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of 7 - CLB 7 in either English or French language. Having an approved language test report in both English as well as French with the minimum required benchmarks will earn you more CRS points for immigration to Canada as a permanent resident. The language test results need to be reported from the following approved language test conductors: ​​​
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Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) - General for Express entry.​
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International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - General for Express entry.​
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Test d’évaluation de français (TEF) - French language test.
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Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada (TCF Canada) - French language test.
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The applicant must have completed post-secondary education that is assessed against Canadian standards with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). Having more than one post secondary diploma or degree adds more points to your overall CRS score.
As with all other aspects of life this a race to the top too. Meeting the minimum requirements to apply to Express Entry as a skilled worker does not guarantee you an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence. Applicants need to compete in a pool of other qualified candidates. Those candidates who have a higher CRS score will always be selected over candidates that simply meet the minimum requirement.
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What are CRS points for Express Entry?
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The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores you on pre-defined factors such as:
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Skills (Pro-tip: Being a highly skilled professional gains you more points).
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Education (Pro-tip: More points are awarded to candidates with 2 Bachelors or 1 Masters degree).
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Language ability (Pro-tip: More points are awarded to candidates with a score or 8(R), 7(L), 7(W), 7(S) in IELTS-G).
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Work experience (Pro-tip: 3 years of fulltime & continuous work experience earns you more points).
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Other factors (Pro-tip: Arranged employment in Canada, siblings, spouse's language skills etc. can earn you additional points).
Based on the information you provide, you will be allotted points which will determine your rank in the Express Entry pool. Candidates with higher points are ranked higher and issued ITA's based on the overall cut-off score for the specified program.
How can I increase my CRS points for my Express Entry application to Canada?
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If you do not have enough points to make the cut-off there are factors that award you more points to improve your ranking. These are (but not limited to):
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Previous education in Canada - Canadian degrees, diplomas or certificates
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Prior work experience in Canada or a future (valid) job offer from a Canadian employer.
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Relatives in Canada who are citizens or permanent residents.
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a nomination from a province or territory, etc..
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Check the video below to gain more clarity on how to increase your CRS score.
How long does it take to process Express Entry applications?
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Depending on your CRS score, eligible Express Entry profiles can stay in the pool for up to 12 months. If IRCC invites you to apply, then you will have 60 days to submit an online application for permanent residency to Canada.
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IRCC aims to process your application for permanent residency within 6 months. If you do not receive an ITA within 12 months, then you can update your profile and you will need to re-enter the pool.
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What is the funds requirement for Express Entry?
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Please note that if you are applying under the Canadian Experience Class program or if you have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer (LMIA approved), you do not need to show proof of funds for your permanent immigration to Canada. On the other hand, if that is not the case then you need to demonstrate you have sufficient funds to support your resettlement in Canada.
On what grounds can my express entry application be refused or rejected?
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All applications are based on the information you provided to the IRCC. The onus of proof of authenticity always lies on the applicant. If the immigration officer believes that you have provided incorrect information or have not submitted enough proof to verify your claims, they may ask for addition clarification or reject your application.
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Here are some of the common reasons that your application might be rejected for:
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INELIGIBILITY
If you do not meet the basic requirements of the program or category you applied for, your application may be denied.
2. MISREPRESENTATION
This is considered a very serious offence with the IRCC. If an applicant is found misrepresenting on their application to immigrate to Canada, they can be deemed inadmissible to Canada. Common examples of misrepresentation are:
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Fake documentation - Education, work experience or any other illegitimate documents.
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Inadmissibility of family members - If 1 or more of your family members are inadmissible to Canada, then you may be charged with misrepresentation and inadmissible.
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Marriage of Convenience - Fake marriages just to for Canadian immigration or failure to declare information about your spouse - like divorce, separation or custody of children etc.
3. MEDICAL GROUNDS
Canada's health care system is considered one of the best in the world. And it is paid for by the government. Therefore, if during your medical exams, it is ascertained that your medical condition:
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is going to affect the overall health of the Canadian citizens OR
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result in an excessive demand on the Canadian health care and social services.
4. CRIMINALITY
This is self-explanatory. If you or any other member of your application or family has a criminal background for which you have not already finished rehabilitation, your application will be denied. Every applicant has to submit a clean criminal record certificate for every country they have lived in for over 6 months since the day they turned 18.
5. FINANCIAL REASONS
As part of the Visa application process for Canada, every applicant needs to submit proof of financial capability. Failure to do so will result in your application being refused. You need to show that you will be able to support all accompanying or non-accompanying family members as part of your immigration application.
6. INCOMPLETE or INCORRECT DOCUMENTATION
Most applications for Canadian immigration are electronic, yet there are some that are paper based as well. If you are unable to provide the correct documents, complete documents or provide all documents in the time-frame specified, your application may be refused. It is advisable to include all documents provided in the document checklist for every application.
7. TIMELINES
The Canadian immigration department receives thousands of applications for every program. In order to maintain efficiency in evaluation and outcome, it is important that applicants abide by the time lines provided in the application package. Failure to do so will result in delays of refusal. The best practice is to keep all your documents ready before you apply and submit your application for immigration to Canada.
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How Can I Avoid a Canadian Immigration Refusal?
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Refusal or denial can be painful and stressful. Most people think that they know what they're doing and will do it right. Not all of them can actually claim that they will not make a mistake. Immigration applications to Canada are a 1-time opportunity. A mistake can lead to irreparable damage to your profile. Therefore, you may want to consider hiring a professional immigration consultant who has the knowledge and expertise in matters of Canadian immigration laws.
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Contact us now to connect with our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) now.