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
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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.
Dear All,
I have fulfilled application, but I have not ECA report for my academic degrees/diplomas. However I have bachelors and masters degrees.
I have questions:
1) Is it much important to have ECA assessment and how much it will reflect my scores
2) May I finish application now. Get ECA later and modify application
3) Maybe there is already list of universities that has assessment already and i can find them somewhere officially
Thank you in advance for your help!!!
Dear CICS team,
My IELTS General results are
L:7.0
R:7.0
S:6.5
W:7.0
over all Band 7.0
What is the minimum required score for PR application
I have worked as a health care manager for 7years. I am single I have a bachelors and a graduate degree.
What are my chances that i will get selected for the express entry pool
Dear Sir/Madam,
My education backgrounds are:
1) BA in Business Management (London Metropolitan University, London)
2) MA in Human Resource Management (Middlesex University, London).
My IELTS General Score:
Reading :7.5, Listening :7 , Writing: 7, Speaking: 7
I have 1.5 years of work experience as HR Professional (I am actively working now).
My question is, Can I apply for Canadian PR visa ? Is the Canadian Immigration system will accept my business degrees ? I am little bit confused with their education assessment criteria.
Would you please give me some suggestion ?
I hope, I will get an answer from you.
Regards,
Safat
Hello – please could you let me know the definition of ‘spouse’? My partner and I have been together for 2.5 years, but do not live together. We’ve been advised elsewhere that we could build a case to prove we’re a couple (previous holiday receipts/ declarations from professional friends etc.) but I’ve not been able to find anything about this on the official website. We’d like to apply as a couple for Express Entry if possible.
Hi all,
Can anyone tell me that will canada embassy accepts the test report of IELTS from IDP or not for immigration?
Can i change the IELTS score after i have filled the application
For Express Entry, yes. You can update your information, including IELTS score.
Hi all,
I’m having total 9 years experience in different sectors like 2yrs in Banking (INDIA), 5yrs in Production management (Australia), 2+ yrs in Imports (Purchase) (INDIA).
Academic Backgrounds: Commerce major subject in graduation, MBA(India) and Cert-IV in Adv diploma in Hospitality Management (Australia). had Australian experience in this field but no document proof.
would please suggest me. on which profession i can apply EE, either management field or Hospitality field.
How much IELTS band required.
My wife is Dentist, having no experience, with IELTS (academic) R-6.5, S- 6, W- 6.5 and L-6 O.all- 6.5, she just started college in CANADA.
Does my wife profile gives any add on points.
Thanks in Advance.
I have an Associate’s degree in Film and Media. Will only this suffice instead of doing the language test? I ask because I have been unable to find testing sites in my area, Mesa, AZ
Must write an English test.
I HAVE DONE MSC BSC BED AND HAVE A JOB EXPERIENCE MORE THEN 5 YEARS IN INDIA , NOW WORKING AT ARIZONA USA . MY CREDENTIAL HAS BEEN DONE IN TEXAS. I HAVE IELTS GEN BAND 7.5 (ALL 6ABOVE)
PLEASE GUIDE ME HOW TO GET JOB OFFER IN CANADA AND PR AS WELL
Hi!i would like to know that i should say yes or no to a question in express entry. The question is : do you have a certificate of qualification issued by a province or territory? And I have a certificate of registration as a Registered Practical nurse issued by college of nurses of ontario.
Certificate of Qualification is for Trades workers.
Hello,
I have engaged an immigration agent for Canada immigration. My WES valuation is done but now the agent is saying to get my wife documents attested and to send for WES. To get my wife educational attested and to be sent to WES directly i would need the WES number. My agent is asking for a bunch of money to handle my wife document. I am the primary applicant. I am not thinking of doing my wife WES registration myself but i need to know how to I link her WES number with mine to CIC knows its meant for me.?
Thanks,
Aamir
Tell the agent you want to do this yourself. He cannot take an application hostage by asking for more money.
Thanks, so how to do it myself what information do i need from the agent?
Hi sir
I completed my Advanced diploma in canada. Was awarded ontario college advanced diploma. My study duration was 2 years. I am not sure according to new points system for education my diploma will be a three year credential or a 2 year crdential.
Hi.
I am a registered Physical Therapist who wants to work and migrate to Canada. May I know if you have an idea if the TOEFL Score accepted by the Canada Alliance of Physiotherapists is also recognized in the Canada Immigration under FSWP,or PNP? I took the TOEFL and passed it but I am wondering if it will be honored by the Immigration or IELTS must be taken too.
Thank you in advance.
Am I eligible for express entry if my 4 years experience is in NOC category C ?
If not, what would be my second best option to apply for ?
I have a master degree in PR, ielts score 8, single and 31 years old ?
Thank you
Hi Team,
Myself and my wife are both holding Master’s degree(ECA thru WES completed) and our IELTS Scores are 8 and 8.5 respectively. Both of us have more than 5 years of relevant experience in our respective fields.
The CRS tool has indicated that my score would be 471 and my wife’s score would be 479.
I have already created an express entry profile with me being the primary applicant and my wife as a dependent and it is in the pool.
However, we were wondering if we can create another profile for the express entry with my wife as primary applicant and me as a dependent considering that her CRS is more than mine and chances of the her profile getting picked is higher?
Regards,
VG
Yes you can create a new profile under your wife.
Does an applicant still have to do the French proficiency examination if he/she has already DELF B2. where should I mention this info? in language skills selection there is only TEF (french exam). Thank you
Hi,
I’m wondering about foreign work experience.
I have a year foreign work experience. To get points, it should be continuous a year full time work? Which means, that work experience should be continued in ‘one company’ or just continuous experience in a year?
What about 8 months work experience in 2010, and 4 more months experience in 2011? It can be 1 year, but not gonna be counted because it doens’t mean ‘continuous work experience’?
Hi
I just want to know that can i apply for express entry. as i have 3.5 years of experience in Recruitment.
My points are:
L:6 , R:6.5, W:5, S:7
IELTS should be minimum 6.0 in each ability as one of the requirements.
I have more than 2.5 years of work experience in global accounts and finance. I have scored 6.5 in reading, writing and speaking. , In listening I got 7.5 points in IELTS. Please advise if I am eligible under express entry system for Canada.
Hi,
I am d spouse of the principal applicant, will assessing my credentials give us more points?
Yes.
Dear Sir/Madam
I am on H1B in US and my wife is on H4.
I am a software engineer (M.Tech (Comp Sc.)) with 10 yrs of experience and my wife(MBA, M.Com, M.Phil, PhD pursuing) was a Lecturer in a management institution back in India having 8 yrs of experience and 3 yrs in financial institution. I am interested in Express Entry. Should I apply for me or my wife as primary applicant?Thanks.
Hello sirmadam,
i am 28 years old and i have Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and i have 4.5 years of experience, i have got WES assessment of mine and Wife. My score in IELTS exam is Listening-7, Reading-6, Writing-6 and Speaking-6.
May i please know whether i am eligable to apply for PR visa.
Hello,
Do I need to have the ECA report before submitting my Express Entry profile?
Thank you!
Unless you graduated in Canada, yes.
Hello,
I already had my Express Entry profile submitted but had to make some changes with the new questions being added for Canadian education. Meanwhile, I also received my PNP nomination and updated that question but the options are greyed out and I am unable to edit the response any longer. This is marking my profile incomplete and I’m not able to submit it. I already reported this technical issue but the response I got from CIC is of no help to fix it.
I wanted to ask if you know other people facing such technical issues? And will it be a wise idea to withdraw my profile and start a new one? I read that it is advised not to create a new profile so I just want to be sure that it will not impact my application in any sense.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Sara
Communicating with CIC about these issues takes a long time to resolve. We recommend that you start a new EE application and contact your province to switch over and attach the PNP to the new Express Entry profile.
Hello CIC Immigration Team,
Please kindly guide me. Today I got my scores as below:-
Listening :- 7.5
Reading:- 6.5
Writing:- 7
Speaking:- 7
Sir, I am in the middle of Express entry process. My WES also got approved as equal to Masters level. Please let me know Can I create an express entry Profile for the next step entry pool? Please kindly guide me.
Hi,
my wife has done WES evaluation for her studies in the US. can I use her same ECA in the spouse education category while filling my application for express entry.
Yes.
Hi,
on the NOC code i am not sure which to select. I am into investment banking where we raise funds (debt /equiy) for corporates from banks and private equity funds. in the profile i also specialize in fund raising for real estate companies.
which NOC code should i select??
Respected sir,
i had scored overall 6.5 bands in IELTS
L : 7
R: 7
W: 6
S: 6.5
Sir , am i eligible to apply for PR via express entry?
You meet the minimum score required for language. However, there are other factors as well. See federal skilled worker requirement for more information.
Sir/Ma
Please sir.ma,I am an IT Certified Professional ,please can you guide me if i can use this my IELTS score for canada immigration.
Writing 6.5,Speaking 5.5,Listening 4.0,Reading 4.0
Thank you.
One of the requirements is that you have minimum 6 in each factor under IELTS
Good afternoon. I have one year experience in teaching and I did the ielts test. I also have a bachelor degree in education. I am 31 yrs old. Can I apply for express entry