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.
Hi CICS,
How can I assess if my credentials and language scores from IELTS in General Module is eligible under Express Entry? Any link from your websit? Thanks for your usual support.
Hello,
I have created my express entry profile and am the principle applicant with my husband as secondary. My husband is also highly educated and skilled. Can he also create his express entry profile separately with him as primary and me as secondary? Or will that pose a problem for us?
Thanks in advance.
Regards.
Yes. He can have his own profile as the principal applicant.
I am a graduate from a 2 year college diploma in marketing from Toronto. I am currently working as a recruiter in Toronto as well .which is a professional job my Ielts score is 7.5 ,The problem is my open work permit will finish before I get my 1 year of work experience. I wanna know what is the best way for me to get my “pr”as I am doing a professional job have a good language score but the only problem is lack of professional experience. Your feedback would be very helpful.
do we must need job offer to enter in express entry.. Thanks
Hi CICS,
Can i apply without spouse in express entry if I am married and have one baby because I have no relative over there and it would be very difficult to manage expenses in initial period. So, First I will find accomodation and a job and then I will call my spouse and baby. Is it possible or not? Or I should include every family member in my EE profile. Please suggest.
If you are married, then you must include your spouse in the application. Contact us if you would like us to assist you with the application.
How can we contact you guys so you can assist us in our immigration process?
I have 5 years working as an interpreter in my country. Work experience in Canada and also high school studies. My IELTS scores are reading 8, speaking 7.5, writing 6.0, lsitening 5.5 . I lived in Canada for 5 years. However I’m still trying to complete my studies and get a diploma in translation and interpreting . Would I be elegible for express entry?
For welders is Ielts sore must
Yes. For any economic immigration applicant, language is a must.
Hi sir I want to knw I have completed my bcom in 2000 after that I did nothing now I have four experience as accountant am I elegible for pr under express entry
Dear team,
I have determined my eligibilty in the system for EE- FSW, passed the requirements for IELTS and did the ECA with WES. I have 6 years professional experience in different roles.
Once I submit my application, 5 min later the system advises that my profile in ineligible ? is this a system bug? is there anything that I shoud be aware of? and, is there a phone number where I can reach CIC team?
Thanks!
I am a recent graduate from the University of Alberta. Do I still have to take a language test to be considered for the Express Entry program?
Hloo..i m gradute in bsc nursing nd i have 1nd half yr exprince in clinical instructor.plz tell me i m eligibal for apply exprss entry nd how many points i m requried to become eligible..
hi there, I filled my express entry profile and while I was doing registration with the job bank there was a page in which I should fill in my credentials. I don’t know what to do. I have my ECA done by WES but I don’t see any WES in it. And also I have 2 years experience but even though I uncheck the box ‘ I have no work experience’, it still shows no experience. I don’t know why? Somebody help me.
I completed my Masters and PHD from USA. I am working as a postdoctoral fellow at university of Toronto for past 10months. Should i take IELTS for express entry.
Dear Sir,
I am an IT professional with more than 14 years of experience.
My Qualification:
=>Bachelor of Computer Application
=>IELTS result: R5.5 ,W6,S7,L5.5
=>Professional Certifications: Microsoft MCITP
Q: Am I eligible to apply under Express Entry program ?
Kindly suggest
Kind regards,
Anshu
Hello,
We want to immigrate to Canada. Can we apply to Express Entry (preferably Federal Skilled Worker) with the following IELTS test results:
Listening 8.5
Reading 8
Writing 7.5
Speaking 6
(OSB 7.5)
Thank you for your help.
Regards
I being principle applicant scored Ielts General L-8.5,r-7.5 w-7,S-6.5 overall 7.5 where as my husband has done Ielts achdemics is it valid for express entry crs rating
Hi,
Im currently working as food counter attendant under the old LMo, there is a question in filling out express entry profile ” do you have a job offer” should i say yes bec iam currently working or no bec it’s not skilled. If yes then, for the LMIA, i will type my LMo number and it’s start and expiration date.? Thank you for your help.
Hi Sir
I have 6.5+ yrs of experience in Software Development and I have appeared for IELTS as well.
I got the below score
7.5L
7.5S
6.5W
5.5R
I got below 6 in one of the category but overall its 7. Can I proceed with score for Express Entry or I need to reappear.
Please suggest on this query.
Regards,
Roshith
Hi,
My IELTS SCORES ARE R-6,L-6.5,W-6and S-7, overall 6.5. Having engineering degree in printing technology also having 11 years of experience. Please let me know am I eligible for express entry.
Thanks
Hi
I am wondering what could be the minimum ielts score to apply under express entry for supervisor in food restaurant category. I had one year experience of working. My ielts score is
R 7.0
L 7.5
W 5.5
S 7.0
And one more thing is ielts required for applying under CEC as a supervisor under express entry?
Please do the needful input
Thanks in advance
My age is right now 40 plus. By the time I will apply for express entry I will be 41 plus. So how my age will be considered? like 41 or 42?
41
Hi! Im working in Canada right now as a Food Counter Attendant and i took the ielts exam and got a result of L – 6.5 R – 7 W – 7 S – 7.5 and i have 3 years of restaurant manager experience in my country. Am i qualify to apply in express entry under the federal?
Thanks and God bless!
Hello,
I have pg diploma in hotel industry. Have more than 8 year’s of experience in the front office department. Have abroad experience for 6years.i like to apply for the job in Canada. Do I need to clear ielts. And if then points for it. Just guide me.
Thanks
Jayakumar
I m working as a ielts tutor from 3 years in ielts insitut . My qualification MA . B.ed. .im from india. My ielts score is L6,R6,S6,W6.according to my occupation can i apply under express entry program for canada
Hi i would like to be assessed in the express entry program of canada.how?
Hi,
I am planning to apply for the PR. I have a query while calculating my CRS. I have completed my Diploma in Electrical & Electronics Engg(3 yrs course) after my secondary education (Tenth grade). Then I joined the Bachelors degree in EEE as a lateral entry (3 yrs again). I am having certificates for both. I would like to know how many points would be given for this. Will these be considered as
”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” and given 128 points
or considered as
”Post-secondary program credential of three years or longer” and given 120 points.
Can you please confirm?
Thanks in advance
Gopi
Can I Apply with academic module IELTS result for express entry??
No. Only General IELTS is accepted.
Does an applicant still have to do the English proficiency examination if he/she has
1. completed an undergraduate degree in Canada
2. has a TEFL(Teach English as a foreign language) certificate.
regards
Yes.
In my express entry profile I haven’t been given my spouse’s education points . Am I eligible to claim my spouse’s education point and if yest then wat’s the procedure? Do I need to get my spouse’s education assessed from canada for claiming points?
yes, if u want to claim points then u must have to do ECA, either the claim do not accept by CIC.
I HV submitted express entry profile, but it is showing ineligible. However I HV ECA bachelor’s degree four years.
Ielts general with 7, 7.5, 6.5,7.5
I HV 7 years experience in one of our NOC occupation. I m architectural engineer.
I m unable to understand the reason for ineligibility
i am also not found the reason behind the ineligibility. u again try pls may be in some cases, there is arising some technical issue.
If i am the main applicant, will my spouse experience add any additional points in CRS?
Yes, they can.
I can’t still find the answer. I hope CICS will take notice of my question. I don’t know whether I’m qualified or not since I’m only a food counter attendant here in CA but with skilled experience as manager in Phils. I passed my celpip with higher grade than wat is required. Please CICS team, iI wanna know so I can do the next steps in express entry. Thank you
Hi CICS Team,
I completed my masters from uk, and further i had applied for level 8 management diploma course in uk. While studing my second degree i.e level 8 in uk due to some emergency i had to come back home . Unfortunetly after going back to uk i learnt that my college had withdrawn my sponsorship due to which i went in appeal and due to bad luck i lost my appeal and had to come to India.”I am applying for express entry visa BUT i am not sure weather my sending me back from uk for loosing appeal will effect my application.”
Many Thanks
Sonali
Dear sir/madam,
Currently i am working in carnival cruise line as a patissier in fine dining restaurant. I am working carnival from last 3 years and before i work in india for 3years. I have done hotel management degree from punjab technical university. I am willing to get job in canada. I have done ielts exam as well and i score-
Reading-7
writing-6.5
speaking-6
listening-6
overall 6.5
so is there any chance for me to get job in canada? Waiting for response