Express Entry

Canada is changing its economic immigration programs to give more opportunities to prospective skilled immigrants. Starting January 2015, skilled foreign workers will have access to Express Entry, which will cover Canada’s key economic immigration programs:

Candidates who are invited to apply for permanent residence under the Express Entry system will benefit from fast processing times of six months or less.Express Entry will also provide a pathway for skilled workers to connect with potential job opportunities in Canada prior to arrival.Express Entry will ensure that the candidates who are most likely to succeed economically – not simply those first in line – are able to immigrate to Canada.

How Express Entry Works

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Step 1

Potential candidates create an online Express Entry profile

Express your interest in coming to Canada as a skilled foreign worker. Starting in January 2015, create an online Express Entry profile and tell us about your skills, work experience, language ability, education and other details.

Before doing this, you will need to take a language test in English or French. If you were educated outside of Canada, you may also need to have your education assessed against Canadian standards. More information on language and education assessments is available online.

If you meet the criteria of one of the federal economic immigration programs subject to Express Entry, you will be placed in a pool of pre-screened candidates.

If you do not already have a Canadian job offer or a nomination from a province/territory, you must register with the Government of Canada’s Job Bank. Job Bank is an easy, online search tool that will help you get matched with jobs in Canada based on your skills, knowledge and experience.

Express Entry Pool

You will be given a score to determine your place in the Express Entry pool using a Comprehensive Ranking System that includes factors known to contribute to economic success (such as language, education, and work experience).

There will be regular draws of candidates from the Express Entry pool, inviting them to apply for permanent residence. Candidates with the highest scores, including those who have a valid job offer or a provincial/territorial nomination, will be invited to apply.

Your Express Entry profile will be valid for 12 months. During that time, you will need to update your profile if circumstances change, such as your level of education or language test results.

Important: Filling out an online Express Entry profile is not a guarantee that you will qualify for permanent residence. If you are invited to apply for permanent residence, information provided in your Express Entry profile will be verified at that time.

Step 2

Selected candidates are invited to submit an electronic application for permanent residence

You will receive an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence if you:

  • have a valid job offer from an employer in Canada (subject to the Labour Market Impact Assessment process in place at that time);
  • have been nominated by a province or territory; or
  • are among the top ranked in the pool based on your skills and experience.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada will process the majority of complete permanent residence applications received within six months or less.

Candidates in the Express Entry pool who do not receive an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence after 12 months can resubmit their profile and re-enter the pool if they still meet the criteria.

Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) Criteria – Express Entry

A. Core / human capital factors

Factors Points per factor – With a spouse or common-law partner Points per factor – Without a spouse or common-law partner
Age 100 110
Level of education 140 150
Official languages proficiency 150 160
Canadian work experience 70 80

B. Spouse or common-law partner factors

Factors Points per factor
(Maximum 40 points)
Level of education 10
Official language proficiency 20
Canadian Work Experience 10

A. Core/human capital + B. Spouse or common-law partner factors = Maximum 500 points (with OR without a spouse or common-law partner)

C. Skill Transferability factors (Maximum 100 points)

Education Points per factor
(Maximum 50 points)
With good/strong official languages proficiency and a post-secondary degree 50
With Canadian work experience and a post-secondary degree 50
Foreign work experience Points per factor
(Maximum 50 points)
With good/strong official languages proficiency (Canadian Language Benchmark [CLB] level 7 or higher) and foreign work experience 50
With Canadian work experience and foreign work experience 50
Certificate of qualification (for people in trade occupations) Points per factor
(Maximum 50 points)
With good/strong official languages proficiency and a certificate of qualification 50

A. Core/human capital + B. Spouse or common-law partner + C. Transferability factors = Maximum 600 points

D. Additional points (Maximum 600 points)

Factor Points per factor
Post-secondary education in Canada 30
Arranged employment 200
PN nomination 600

A. Core/human capital + B. Spouse or common-law partner factors + C. Transferability factors + D. Additional points = Grand total – Maximum 1,200 points

CRS – A. Core / human capital factors

  • With a spouse or common-law partner: Maximum 460 points total for all factors.
  • Without a spouse or common-law partner: Maximum 500 points total for all factors.
Age With a spouse or common-law partner
(Maximum 100 points)
Without a spouse or common-law partner
(Maximum 110 points)
17 years of age or less 0 0
18 years of age 90 99
19 years of age 95 105
20 to 29 years of age 100 110
30 years of age 95 105
31 years of age 90 99
32 years of age 85 94
33 years of age 80 88
34 years of age 75 83
35 years of age 70 77
36 years of age 65 72
37 years of age 60 66
38 years of age 55 61
39 years of age 50 55
40 years of age 45 50
41 years of age 35 39
42 years of age 25 28
43 years of age 15 17
44 years of age 5 6
45 years of age or more 0 0
Level of Education With a spouse or common-law partner
(Maximum 140 points)
Without a spouse or common-law partner
(Maximum 150 points)
Less than secondary school (high school) 0 0
Secondary diploma (high school graduation) 28 30
One-year degree, diploma or certificate from  a university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute 84 90
Two-year program at a university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute 91 98
Bachelor’s degree OR  a three or more year program at a university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute 112 120
Two or more certificates, diplomas, or degrees. One must be for a program of three or more years 119 128
Master’s degree, OR professional degree needed to practice in a licensed profession (For “professional degree,” the degree program must have been in: medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, optometry, law, chiropractic medicine, or pharmacy.) 126 135
Doctoral level university degree (Ph.D.) 140 150

Official languages proficiency – first official language

Maximum points for each ability (reading, writing, speaking and listening):

  • 32 with a spouse or common-law partner
  • 34 without a spouse or common-law partner
Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level per ability With a spouse or common-law partner
(Maximum 128 points)
Without a spouse or common-law partner
(Maximum 136 points)
Less than CLB 4 0 0
CLB 4 or 5 6 6
CLB 6 8 9
CLB 7 16 17
CLB 8 22 23
CLB 9 29 31
CLB 10 or more 32 34

Official languages proficiency – second official language

Maximum points for each ability (reading, writing, speaking and listening):

  • 6 with a spouse or common-law partner (up to a combined maximum of 22 points)
  • 6 without a spouse or common-law partner (up to a combined maximum of 24 points)
Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level per ability With a spouse or common-law partner
(Maximum 22 points)
Without a spouse or common-law partner
(Maximum 24 points)
CLB 4 or less 0 0
CLB 5 or 6 1 1
CLB 7 or 8 3 3
CLB 9 or more 6 6
Canadian work experience With a spouse or common-law partner
(Maximum 70 points)
Without a spouse or common-law partner
(Maximum 80 points)
None or less than a year 0 0
1 year 35 40
2 years 46 53
3 years 56 64
4 years 63 72
5 years or more 70 80

Subtotal: A. Core / human capital factors

  • With a spouse or common-law partner – Maximum 460 points
  • Without a spouse or common-law partner – Maximum 500 points

CRS – B. Spouse or common-law partner factors (if applicable)

Spouse’s or common-law partner’s level of education With spouse or common-law partner
(Maximum 10 points)
Without spouse or common-law partner
(Does not apply)
Less than secondary school (high school) 0 n/a
Secondary school (high school graduation) 2 n/a
One-year program at a university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute 6 n/a
Two-year program at a university, college, trade or technical in school, or other institute 7 n/a
Bachelor’s degree OR  a three or more year program at a university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute 8 n/a
Two or more certificates, diplomas, or degrees. One must be for a program of three or more years 9 n/a
Master’s degree, or professional degree needed to practice in a licensed profession (For “professional degree”, the degree program must have been in: medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, optometry, law, chiropractic medicine, or pharmacy.) 10 n/a
Doctoral level university degree (PhD) 10 n/a

Note: (n/a) means that this factor does not apply in this case.

Spouse’s or common-law partner’s official languages proficiency – first official language

Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level per ability (reading, writing, speaking and listening ) Maximum 20 points for section
Maximum 5 points per ability
Without spouse or common-law partner
(Does not apply)
CLB 4 or less 0 n/a
CLB 5 or 6 1 n/a
CLB 7 or 8 3 n/a
CLB 9 or more 5 n/a

Note: (n/a) means that this factor does not apply in this case.

Spouse’s Canadian work experience Maximum 10 points Without spouse or common-law partner
(Does not apply)
None or less than a year 0 n/a
1 year 5 n/a
2 years 7 n/a
3 years 8 n/a
4 years 9 n/a
5 years or more 10 n/a

Note: (n/a) means that this factor does not apply in this case.

Subtotal : A. Core / human capital + B. Spouse or common-law partner factors = Maximum 500 points

CRS – C. Skill transferability factors (Maximum 100 points for this section)

Education

With good official language proficiency (Canadian Language Benchmark Level [CLB] 7 or higher) and a post-secondary degree Points for CLB 7 or more on all first official language abilities, with one or more under CLB 9
(Maximum 25 points)
Points for CLB 9 or more on all four first official language abilities
(Maximum 50 points)
Secondary school (high school) credential or less 0 0
Post-secondary program credential of one year or longer 13 25
Two or more post-secondary program credentials AND at least one of these credentials was issued on completion of a post-secondary program of three years or longer 25 50
With Canadian work experience and a post-secondary degree Points for education + 1 year of Canadian work experience
(Maximum 25 points)
Points for education + 2 years or more of Canadian work experience
(Maximum 50 points)
Secondary school (high school) credential or less 0 0
Post-secondary program credential of one year or longer 13 25
Two or more post-secondary program credentials AND at least one of these credentials was issued on completion of a post-secondary program of three years or longer 25 50

Foreign work experience – With good official language proficiency (Canadian Language Benchmark Level [CLB] 7 or higher)

Years of experience Points for foreign work experience + CLB 7 or more on all first official language abilities, one or more under 9
(Maximum 25 points)
Points for foreign work experience + CLB 9 or more on all four first official language abilities
(Maximum 50 points)
No foreign work experience 0 0
1 or 2 years of foreign work experience 13 25
3 years or more of foreign work experience 25 50

Foreign work experience – With Canadian work experience

Years of experience Points for foreign work experience + 1 year of Canadian work experience
(Maximum 25 points)
Points for foreign work experience + 2 years or more of Canadian work experience
(Maximum 50 points)
No foreign work experience 0 0
1 or 2 years of foreign work experience 13 25
3 years or more of foreign work experience 25 50
Certificate of qualification (trade occupations) – With good official language proficiency (Canadian Language Benchmark Level [CLB] 5 or higher) Points for certificate of qualification + CLB 5 or more on all first official language abilities, one or more under 7
(Maximum 25 points)
Points for certificate of qualification + CLB 7 or more on all four first official language abilities
(Maximum 50 points)
With a certificate of qualification 25 50

Subtotal: A. Core / human capital + B. Spouse or common-law partner + C. Skill transferability factors – Maximum 600 points

CRS – D. Additional points (Maximum 600 points)

Additional points Maximum 600 points
Brother or sister living in Canada who is a citizen or permanent resident of Canada 15
Scored NCLC 7 or higher on all four French language skills and scored CLB 4 or lower in English (or didn’t take an English test) 15
Scored NCLC 7 or higher on all four French language skills and scored CLB 5 or higher on all four English skills 30
Post-secondary education in  Canada – credential of one or two years 15
Post-secondary education in  Canada – credential three years or longer 30
Arranged employment – NOC 00 200
Arranged employment – any other NOC 0, A or B 50
Provincial or territorial nomination 600

Subtotal: D. Additional points – Maximum 600 points

Grand total: A. Core / human capital + B. Spouse or common-law partner + C. Skill transferability factors + D. Additional points = Maximum 1,200 points

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One of our licensed immigration consultants can speak with you in person, online or on the phone about your unique immigration situation and give you a breakdown of your options.
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862 thoughts on “Express Entry

  1. I am a PhD holder from the UK in Forensic Accounting with ACIA and have 5 years of working experience. Do I need IELTS score before applying for PR in Canada.

  2. Hi. My IELTS is S: 7.5, L: 7 W: 7 R:6. And I got 4 yrs of work experience. I have my masters from US and Bachelors from India. Am I qualified for an express entry.

  3. I submitted my express Entry Profile today and I got an additional points of 15 for French proficiency. I have not taken TEF exam. Is it a technical error?

  4. I mean, if as a principal applicant, I secure canadian work permit, will the Canadian government secure a job for my spouse

  5. Hi,

    There is lot of confusion and myth around changing jobs once PR application is submitted.
    I got the Invitation from CIC under Canadian Experience Class and I have submitted my documents, do I need to wait until my PR to change my job?
    I am getting a great offer which I don’t want to decline.

    Please advise.

    Sincerely,
    Gagandeep

  6. Hi,
    I am currently on a work permit ( an intra company transferee) and have moved to Canada in March of 2018. If I create an express entry profile now, can I change it to CEC after March 2019, since i will gain 1 year of experience? Or shall I wait until March 2019 to create a profile. Currently I am getting about 432 points .Please advise.

  7. Hi,
    Please find the details below
    Primary applicant – ECA – 4 years dgree, CLB – 8
    Secondary applicant – ECA – pending, CLB – 7

    I m the secondary applicant.
    I want to know can we proceed with EE if we have a good score.?
    The primary applicant gets a number using which he can apply for job. How can secondary applicant apply for job?
    If secondary applicant ECA is done later after ITA, can secondary applicant still work?

  8. Im getting points
    as follows
    Age :4 Points
    Education:22 Points
    Work Exp: 15 Points
    IELTS: 24 Points
    IELTS Spouse:5 Points
    Total:70 Points
    I have 7.5 IELTS score,almost ten years experience , my age is 43.
    Can I get PR?

  9. i am 42 years have ten years of foreign work experience
    my ielts is 7.5
    and have two masters
    but im unmarried
    can i apply for PR?

  10. i am 42 years have ten years of foreign work experience
    my ielts is 7.5
    and have two masters
    but im unmarried
    will i be aple to get a PR

  11. HI,
    is it possible to submit the profile now and update my low IELTS score after a month or so after i repeat the exam?
    or should i wait to submit the profile with the new score only?

    thanking you 🙂

  12. Hello,

    My husband wants to take PR through express entry in Canada and he is MCA but his score in BCA is less then 50%.

    Will it effect in express entry ?

    Please confirm.

    Regards
    Astha

  13. How we can get a job offer ahead of time? Do we need to have one for Express entry?
    40.y.o both, MS degree, 10+ years of experience. English should be high level

  14. Hi, I am an OCT certified teacher. But I am not getting points for qualification certificate skill transferability section in EE. I know this qualification certificate is for skilled trade. But since teaching also needs license in each province, shouldn’t teaching also be considered under this category? Is there any chance for me to get points under that category?

  15. Hi
    I am Msc and MTech computer science and five years govt teacher experience . My age is 36 and my ilets score is listening 8 speaking writing reading is 7 each is my chances to get PR ?

  16. Hello Team,
    I am Masters in English with 2.5 years experience as an English Instructor.My scores are 8,7,8,7 in listening,Reading,writing,speaking respectively.
    Do I qualify for PR in Canada?

  17. Dear Sir or Madam
    My language level is CLB 9.I hold a B.A in business administration and an MA. in entrepreneurship. In addition, I have recently had three years of work experience as a marketing manager. If my M.A is considered irrelevant to my job, firstly, am I still eligible for Express Entry and secondly, the M.A. point is taken into account?
    Thank you
    Regards

  18. My spouse is applying for PR via Express entry. If my husband is accepted, will I able to work in Canada without applying extra work permit? Is it possible to be just accepted by the employers via job application?

  19. Hi,

    I got ITA in October 2018 and I got married in November ie post AOR. If I add my spouse in my application will my score be recalculated.

  20. I’ve a question and I need an answer. Thank you so much in advance.
    I have a Bachelor of science in Biomedical Laboratory Science. Known as Medical Laboratory Technologist (MLT) in Canada. Its indeed a professional degree needed to practice in a licensed profession. The field of study is Science/Medicine/Medical Science/Medical Laboratory Technology.
    My question is: What level of education shall I choose when I check whether or not am eligible for Express Entry?
    Shall I choose –
    1. Master’s degree, OR professional degree needed to practice in a licensed profession or
    2. Bachelor’s degree OR a three or more-year program at a university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute.
    I’m eligible for Express Entry if I choose 1. And not eligible for Express Entry if choose 2.
    I began to doubt what to choose after I read this: (For “professional degree,” the degree program must have been in: medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, optometry, law, chiropractic medicine, or pharmacy).
    When they say medicine, do they mean, a professional degree in the field of medicine? I believe my professional degree is in the field of medicine.
    Thank you so much in advance.

    Yours sincerely
    A.M.

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