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.
Hi..
I am 32 years old , I had completed M.Tech and have a seven years of experience as an assistant professor. My spouse is also an assistant professor with M.Tech and he also has a 5 years and 6 months of experience in teaching. We have two kids and currently we are unemployed, can we process for PR? Will the teaching experience considered ?
does FSW need ielts before arriving to canada? or we can take ielts test after immigratinn?
I am dilbag singh have 5 year experience in mobile crane operator from UAE i have vaild UAE license of heavy mechine operator and light driver . My quilification is B.A
what is minimum ielts band requirment for me for apply for canada in any cetagory. I am in india now
Hi.i live temporarly in usa and i will plan back to my country in 5 months.and maybe can extend my stay.i have all required documents to submit.can i apply to express entry program from usa and if my application approved ,can i continue the process for ita?thanks for help.regards
How much ECA will cost? Should I make all the certificates and credentials verified? Masters certificate and transcripts will suffice or not please suggest.
Thanks in advance.
i just dun my ielts but my band is 4.5 .but my work experience is eight year in five star hotel in India .my professional is chef.
Can we apply under Express entry and under provincial immigrant prograns simultaneously?
yes
Hello Sir,
My wife is charted accoutant in india but i m confuse about point system.So can you please tell me how much point we get of charted accoutent degree in CRS express entry?charterd accoutant is similar to master degree or what?please guide me ASAP.
Thank You
hi…i am sarvesh…i have got 6 each band in all of the four section of ielts but on academic training…can i apply with that or i need general training??
Hello
How can you calculate charted accoutant degree in CRS renking system?means Charted accoutant is similar to master degree?please tell me about how much score we get in express entry for charted accoutant degree?
Thank You
I have passed MBA from UK , and my English language ability is B2 level , and I have got 2 years of managerial level job experience in UK as well ,is there necessity of getting GT or IELTS scored certificate for express entry ? Could somebody please reply just YES NO 🙁
hi…i am a teacher working in a govt. school in india..i have four years experience…my ielts score is L..-7.5
R-9 W-6.5 S-6…
MY husband is mechanical …engineer….working in a company ….he has 7 years of work experience and his ielts score is S -6..L-7.5 W-6 R-7
what will be our csr score….can we apply for express entry programme
My score for express entry is 443, I have my PhD from Canada, but my spouse score is 469 and she has a foreign degree and we are in a process to evaluate her education credentials from WES.
My question is, can I submit the express entry with 443 score in the mean time my wife degrees get evaluated?
hi
I have done business management diploma one year and I have 3 year experience as restaurant manager from New Zealand . I got 7 band in ielts and my age is 29 year . I select a Toronto . Am I eligible for express entry??
I am eagerly waiting for your responce.
Dear Sir,
I have completed Bachelors in Culinary in April 2015 for the last four months working as an Trainee Supervisory chef in India.
While doing my graduation I had worked for two years three months as Chef part time.
Prior to this I worked as Kitchen Assistant for one year full time with a catering company.
I understand my total work experience is two years and six months
Is my experience is valid for applying for express Visa.
Please confirm,
Regards,
Pius pereira.
Hi i’m BHMS doctor. Can i apply for canada express entry?
Hello,
I am trying to input my TEF results in the CIC website, but it does not update my score. What is the proper format to input ‘attestation n’? Which form is appropriate:
1) 0000000 – 00000000 (number as it appears in the report)
2) 0000000 0000000 (number without the hyphen)
3) 0000000 (just the first cluster of digit numbers)
Thank you,
Laticia
hello CICS Immigration Team,
i am a Registered Male Nurse here in the Philippines and working in one of the government hospital here for about 4 years. I have a job offer in Vancouver to work as a caregiver (child care). I am about to take IELTS general to create my profile in express entry. My concern is, if i will be hired,will it count as 600 points since i am a nurse and the offer is caregiver? thanks in advance. hope to hear from you soon. 🙂
Hello. Can you explain please. I have IELTS overall 7.0 and also I have TEFaQ B1\B1. What should i choose in my frech language graph ? There are only TEF test results available …Can i put my scores from TEFaQ that I have ?If so, what should i answer on that parts that i didin’t pass? Also, Can you explain .. If I have Delf\Dalf, where should I mention this info? in language skills selection there is only TEF (french exam). Thank you.
Dear sir,
Please apprise me that is spouse Ielts score is mandatory for FSW Express entry filing ?
I am grateful to know that is the CAP for university lecturer (4011 university professors and lecturers) is full or not. Please sir do needful and affable response as soon as possible.
I am eagerly waiting for your response.
Regards.
Hi Sir,
I have secured S= 7, R- 6.5 , W= 6, L=6 , TOTAL = 6.5 in general IELTS test.
Please advise whether i am eligible to file express entry this year for Canada PR.
m divorced nd hve a baby .can i apply under express visa entry.thx sir in advance
I got 6.0 in ielts..L-5.5 R-6.0 W-6.0 S-6.5… may I eligible for any PNP for canada or not???
am Medical imaging field service engineer for nuclear medicine and ultrasound , I got in L 6 , R 6 , S 7 & W 5.5 am I still eligible to EE.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am currently applying in express entry program. I am married with two kids. According to the system, I should have enough point to be invited for applying the PR if I submit without spouse, however with my spouse my score will be reduced and can not meet the minimum score (around 450) at the moment. I want to know if I submit my application without my spouse and luckily be accepted for PR application can my kids will also become PR at the same time as I do? Additionally, how long after I become PR can I sponsor for my wife to become PR?
Appreciated your time to review this query. I hope to hear the response from you soon.
Best regards,
Luong
I am currently applying in express entry program through Canadian Experience category. Currently I live and work in Toronto along with my family (Wife and Kid)
According to the system, I should have enough point to be invited for applying the PR if I submit without spouse, however with my spouse my score will be reduced and can not meet the minimum score (around 450) at the moment. I want to know if I submit my application without my spouse and luckily be accepted for PR application can my kid will also become PR at the same time as I do? Additionally, what is the process to sponsor my wife and how long after I become PR can I sponsor for my wife to become PR?
Appreciated your time to review this query. I hope to hear the response from you soon.
Express Entry Profile got Ineligible
13 Years of Experience,36 years,IELTS Overall Band Score – 6.5, Valid WES-Evaluation Report, 69 points
1. On 14th March 2015 – My Express Entry Profile was marked ‘Eligible’ with Overal Score – 303 – I celebrated
2. In the month of June I turned 36 years
3. On 3rd July 2015 – The Profile was marked ‘Not Eligible’ with following reasons provided
• not having a valid language test
• language test results that are more than two years old
• a language test score that is too low
• not having enough relevant work experience
• not having the required education level
• not having enough funds
My consultants said because of my age (36 yrs) the points got reduced and thus could be the reason for the profile to go ‘Not Eligible’
Questions
1. Why are the reasons mentioned all different and did not point about my age or a specific reason for making the profile Ineligible
2. Are they looking for skilled and experienced worker? Then its obvious as experience increases the age would also increase/grow (Directly Proportional).
3. How can one control his age? Why/How does age matter?
Totally disappointed with the score/point system. Please guide me not sure what should I do now to make my profile eligible
Hi! I just want is it possible to have ITA even without IELTS and ECA?
Thank you
If we get overall 6.5 band, how much points we will get
Hi, my husband is applying for express entry as main applicant. I want to contribute with my one year experience in Canada, but I’m not sure if this experience would grant me some points as it seems it is not a job in categories NOC O, A, B. Please advise
Dear sir
I have checked my eligibility in Come to Canada tool… That says I m eligible but when I created my express entry profile they says… Profile ineligible.
I have 6yrs experience in teaching NOC 4021
.. And ielts score are… Overall 7 bands
L-8, R-7 , S_6 , W-7 and my spouse got overall 7bands……. L-8,R-6.5,W-6,S_7
We both are engineering graduates..
Also my brother is PR in Canada . Kindly guide and suggest in which state I should apply and how to apply…
Thanks,
Gurpreet