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:
- the Federal Skilled Worker Program,
- the Federal Skilled Trades Program,
- the Canadian Experience Class, and
- A portion of Provincial Nominee Programs
How Express Entry Works
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
Summary of maximum points per factor for Express Entry candidates
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 |
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)
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
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
Points breakdown, section by section
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
—————————————————-
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.
I am 42 married with one son age 10 years. My IELTS score is 7.5. I am in the express entry pool but when my CRS scores were calculated it was 329 only. Am a Post Graduate with 7 plus years of Teaching experience.
what I see now is that only people with above 400 CRS scores are being selected for invitation. So, my question is do I have any chance to get invitation or is there any other way which can help me get the invitation from Canadian Government for immigration.
Please help..
Thanks,
Protima
Apply for entrepreneur visa OR send your child for study to secure visa..
get a bandscore of 8 in ielts. ie L-8, R-7, S-7, W-7. Also, achieve a CLB 7 in french. This will give you a massive boost. Then also it might be difficult to reach the required score for express entry, but chances for PNP will be very high.
Hi This is Ishwor from Dubai, I have 2 years Diploma Degree plus 4 years of Bachelor accredited by WES. My age is 30 running until Aug 2019 and my IELTS score is 6-6-6.5-6.5 R-W-S-L. I have five years plus experience in Finance same field of my Bachelor’s.
I want to move to Canada please advise.
Simple. Read again the guideline above and do the math
Dear sir/ma… Am 32 years old with Bsc in Economic…. Had four years working experience…. Married. I want to become a a Canadian permanent residents with my family. Have not really taken any step. Please what’s the first step I need to take ?
Hi
My husband is a pharmacist not in canada , can he get a job offer in Canada before he start the express entry?
No, it’s a regulated license.so no one will give him job letter
For more information contact 604-364-9949 waatsup
I have applied for PR under EE for canada.
After PR one can work in Canada.
Can someone study in canadian universities after one gets COPR and then you land in canada for your PR card?
Does universities accept this as domestic student?
Or if one has to study there has to go by study visa only??
Yes you are untitled for all these benefits PR.
I am 27, never been married. My IELTS score is 8.5. I am in the express entry pool but when my CRS scores were calculated it was 453 only. Am a Post Graduate with 4 plus years of work experience.
So, my question is why am I getting 25 points for work experience? Any idea how to get my points up
Please help..
Thanks,
I apply for Canada express entry and I have receive my score 70,so what is the next step becus I have not receive invitation to apply.
Hi am 40 yrs old, working in Canada with work.permit since last 4 months. I have done degree in hospitality science and bachelor of arts. Since 12 years working as chef Noc.B . But I had only 5 band score in IELTS . What will be the good optioon to apply for PR IN ALBERTA
Hi, I have professional degree in medicine and I have studied in 6 years but continuous and I receive just one degree that I now it has 135 score in education like a master degree, but in transferability factors with language proficiency CLB9 I receive 25 or 50?
express entry score tool in cic website show 50 but I think it,s wrong.
could you help me?
thank you.
Hi, I have professional degree in medicine and I have studied in 6 years but continuous and I receive just one degree that I now it has 135 score in education like a master degree, but in transferability factors with language proficiency CLB9 I receive 25 or 50?
express entry score tool in cic website shows 50 but I think it,s wrong.
could you help me?
thank you.
Hi,
I have a B.Tech and a MBA. I have an WES ECA for them as mentioned below:-
B.Tech – Bachelors Degree (4 years)
MBA – Postgraduate diploma (one year)
While filling up the Express Entry profile for Canada PR, there is no option in the dropdown which matches the ECA for MBA by WES. Which option should be selected in such a case ?
Did you get the answer?
Hi
I can’t find the option “2 or more degrees” Does it mean the option has been removed?
I AM 53 Years old .i have Many Years working electronics assembly And repair. I worked in nennah electronics assembly in usa along time ago. Can i have the oportunity that a compartir front Canadá offert me Job as skilled worked?
I am 26 years old and I have done matriculation from CBSE board moreover I have 3 years diploma in mechanical engineering afterthat six years experience in Godrej manufacturing company as an executive assistant
Ilets is compulsary or not
Compulsary so how much band I need to move abroad in express entry or pr visa
I am Oluwaseun Adesanya, I want to apply for Canadian Permanent residency and I need guidance for the process
hi I am a veterinarian from India, do i need to complete board exams to immigrate or is it only for work?
I calculated my crs it is 385. My foreign work experience (IT) will turn 4 years in August 2019. Will I get same points for 3 years work experience or 4 years work experience. What is the threshold for foreign work experience?
Dear Concern,
I am Taimur Rahman from Bangladesh. I completed a Bachelor Degree (4 years) in Mechanical Engineering. I am interested in Immigrating to Canada. According to ECA (WES) it’s considered as 4 years Bachelor degree with Mechanical Engineering specialization.
I have a few questions and need your assistance.
What will be the Field of study in the Express Entry application form? I am not sure whether it would be “Science.Applied” / “Science.General”? Or, should I select the option as “Others”? Please help.
I have more than 4 years of full-time job experience in total. But, there is a gap of 2 years in between 2 jobs (First job: 2 years; 2 years gap; Second job: 2 years 4 months). Would it be considered as “3 years or more of foreign work experience”. That means, how this in-between 2 years gap would be considered ?
My overall band is 6 and my husbands 8 in IELTS and he is the primary applicant, I just wanted to know am I eligible for Express Entry as a spouse factor with score in my LRWS 6,4.5,6,6.5 ? An
I have law degree and it’s a 5 year integrated program after 12th with dual degree 1) B.L.S (bachelor in legal science) 2) bachelor of law and, law is a professional degree so should i go with masters or professional degree as law is a professional degree which required license or with bachelor degree with 2 to 3 more degrees?
Hi
I am vidur khanna from New Delhi. I have diploma in business management.And I do have certificate of plumbing level 3 .Can I apply for Canada Pr for Nova Scotia in category b
I have done B.A LL.B – 5 yr integrated study. Will it be considered as a professional degree or a mere Bachelor’s degree by WES and also in terms of Express entry profile?
I am a graduate,51 yrs.
I study Electronic/ Telecommunications, And I am basically focus on POS repair and maintenance which am practically doing till now. E.g. Pax S90,Verifone and Nexgo G780.etc.I believe that Canada need skill and experience skillful worker.
I have done bachelor of optometry in India.
My IELTS score is 7.
What is the procedure for pr
I am master degree holder in commerce and want to migrate Canada. what is the fastest way to migrate canada
I am master degree holder
Hi All,
I have completed 1year of work experience in Canada and while creating express entry profile I wanted to leverage that to get additional points but i believe that the option to provide this work experience only appears if i have valid job offer, can someone help me to understand how can i show my Work experience in case where I don’t have job offer and will it fetch me any additional points.
Thanks,
Yogesh
Is an ITA guranteed if I stsnd sbove the cut off score in a particular draw
I am confused which option i need to select . My india education is Bachelors 3yrs and canada diploma 2 yrs . What option do i need to choose in level of education ? Please help
Hi,
Just wanted to gain some true knowledge as every individual come up with fake facts. I have given ielts thrice and but lacking behind because of .05 . I have to apply for PNP for all the provinces depending upon their eligibility .
Kindly suggest.
Hi, my IELTS score is 6.5 overall, not less than six, MBA in int business with a Marketing Minor.
10 years as a marketing manager experience
Age 36
Duel degree considered by WES
My express entry score is 329
My wife has done IELTS with 6 band not less than 5
Plz suggest the way to reach my destination
I have created cic profile, me as primary applicant and my spouse as dependent applicant. My question is, can my spouse use the cic job seeker code to apply for jobs. If not how can he apply. And if he gets job before me , will that help in our crs score?
Please help..
Thank you