FAQs: Canada’s Express Entry System

Canada’s Express Entry System has created the opportunity for thousands of skilled immigrants to find a pathway to Canada every year.

Every two weeks, applicants are entered into an Express Entry draw pool and ranked according to a unique scoring system based on factors such as their age, language skills, qualifications, education, and work experience. This scoring system, also known as the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), makes it easier for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to discover the top talents looking to move to Canada and offer them permanent residency.

Although it is the most popular way to immigrate to Canada, there may be some things that you don’t know about the various Express Entry requirements. So, let’s take a look at some of the most frequently asked questions about getting Express Entry to Canada. 

Top 5 FAQs About Express Entry

1. How many points do you need to immigrate to Canada through Express Entry?

This not only depends on the Express Entry program you are applying through, but also the scores of the other applicants in your draw pool. There are three programs managed by the Express Entry system:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) – for highly-skilled workers such as doctors, lawyers, architects, and dentists.
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) – for skilled and experienced trade workers like long-haul truck drivers, industrial butchers, and electricians.
• Canada Experience Class (CEC) – for highly-skilled workers with at least one year of Canadian work experience.

If you apply through the FSWP, you’ll need to prequalify by scoring at least 67 out of a possible 100 FSWP points first before being ranked according to the CRS.

Whether or not you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency depends on the CRS score of the other applicants in your Express Entry draw pool. An average score of all applicants in the draw pool is taken into account to work out the CRS cut-off. To receive an ITA, you will need to meet the cut-off score or score higher.   

For more information about the CRS score and how to improve it, visit this page.

2. How much does it cost to apply for Express Entry to Canada?

It’s free to create an Express Entry profile. However, there are fees for processing your permanent residency application should you receive an ITA. The fees are as follows:  

• Application processing fee – $825
• Right of permanent residence fee – $500
• Spouse or partner processing + right of admission fee – $1,325
• Dependent child – $225

3. How long does Express Entry to Canada take?

Express Entry processing times can vary, but on average, it takes between six to eight months, making it one of the fastest ways to immigrate to Canada. 

4. What is the Age Limit for Express Entry?

There is no age limit to qualify for Express Entry. However, your age does affect the number of CRS points you can score. If you are between the ages of 20 and 29 years old, you will be able to score the maximum amount of points for your age, which is 100 if you apply with your spouse and 110 if you apply alone. If you apply when you are 45 years or older, you will not be able to score any CRS points.   

5. How do I qualify for Express Entry?

There are different Express Entry requirements for each program. The main factors that are considered are your:

• language skills,
• type or level of work experience,
• amount of work experience,
• whether or not you have a Canadian job offer, and
• your education.

Take a look at the requirements below for each program:

 

Eligibility Criteria	Canadian Experience Class	Federal Skilled Worker Program	Federal Skilled Trades Program
Language Skills (English or French)	CLB7 (NOC 0 or A) CLB5 (NOC B)	CLB7	CLB5 (speaking & listening) CLB4 (reading & writing)
Type/Level of Work Experience	Canadian experience in NOC 0, A or B	Canadian experience in NOC 0, A or B	Canadian experience in skilled trade under key groups of NOC B
Amount of work experience	1 year in Canada in the last 3 years (combination of full-time or part-time work)	1 year continuous within the last 10 years (combination of part-time, full-time or more than 1 job in your primary occupation)	2 years within last 5 years (combination of full-time or part-time work)
Job offer	Not required.	Not required, but you can get selection criteria (FSW) points for having a valid job offer	Required: Valid full-time job offer for a total of at least 1 year, or A certificate of qualification in a skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority
Education	Not required.	Secondary education required. You can get more selection criteria (FSW) points for your post-secondary education.	Not required.

Taking the First Step

Immigrating to a new country is a big decision, and it’s best that you have as much knowledge as possible before applying for your visa. For more information on Canada’s Express Entry system, and the application process, visit CanadianVisa.org.