At East West Immigration Services Inc, we will provide you with the guidance for the Express Entry to get your Permanent Residence. We will give our best, and our professional and experienced team will make sure that you will get the help you need throughout the process of the PR visa application.
Express Entry Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Express Entry you must qualify under one of the following programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
- Canadian Experience Class
To check if you are eligible to apply for Permanent Residence under the Express Entry, Click the Button Below!
FAQs About Express Entry
Express Entry has been compared to applying for a job through one large central organization, Canada, who then presents the applicant’s resume and credentials to smaller organizations, such as Canadian Provinces and employers.
- First, all potential candidates will create an Express Entry profile using an online platform that identifies their skills and qualifications, taking the form of an online resume. All Express Entry profiles will be ranked against the other applicants in the system based on a variety of factors, including their language proficiency in English and/or French, their education, their Canadian work experience (if applicable), and other factors that indicate the candidate will be successful in Canada.
- Applicants to the program without a job offer from a Canadian employer will be required to register with the newly upgraded Canada Job Bank. The Job Bank is a platform where individuals can post their credentials and Canadian employers seeking workers can search for an applicant who meets the requirements of their position in order to offer them a job.
- After each profile in the system has been assessed, the candidates who meet the criteria of a federal economic program will be placed in the pool of candidates for Express Entry.
- If their application is selected, the applicant will be issued an “Invitation to Apply,” and will have 60 days to apply for permanent residence.
- The successful candidate will then apply for permanent residence under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW), the Federal Skilled Trade Program (FST), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), or through a Provincial Nomination Program (PNP). After being offered an invitation to apply applicants will still be required to meet the criteria of the program they are applying under. The entire process of applying for permanent residence will be online.
| 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 | Maximum points per factor |
|---|---|
| Brother or sister living in Canada (citizen or permanent resident) | 15 |
| French language skills | 30 |
| 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 – the 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
(Maximum 25 points)
(Maximum 50 points)
| 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
Under the new Express Entry program, anyone will be able apply. Instead of needing to have experience in an occupation on a strict list of eligible occupations as with many other immigration programs, Express Entry will have no occupation list and applicants can present their impressive credentials regardless of what industry or profession they are in.
Additionally, Express Entry will also not include the application caps featured in many other Canadian immigration programs, including the FSW program. Without a cap on the number of applications being accepted for processing, applicants can apply to Express Entry at any time without fear that the program will close or fill up before their application is completed.
The new Express Entry program will also allow applicants to focus on and highlight their impressive credentials as opposed trying to fit those same credentials into the CIC’s existing framework. While current immigration programs require applicants to demonstrate how their work experience and qualifications match existing occupations, the Express Entry program allows for the creation of a profile that best highlights the applicant’s experience, skills and qualifications. Free from the limitation of having to try and explain how they fit into a related category at some time over the past decade, applicants will be able to create an application that highlights their relevant skills and experience across occupations. When the applicant has the freedom to include a wide array of related skills in their profile, they can ensure their application is the most accurate reflection of the contribution they would make to the Canadian labour market, enhancing immigration officials’ understanding of each applicant.
Even before the final details of the program are announced, there are many measures that prospective applicants can take to prepare for Canadian immigration through the Express Entry program. Applicants can begin updating their resumes, obtaining references and documenting their credentials. By looking at Canada’s current immigration requirements, applicants may be able to predict some of the documentation that will be useful under Express Entry. Below are some of the many steps that prospective applicants might take in anticipation of Express Entry, or another Canadian immigration category. IELTS: a language test is required for almost every immigration stream that leads to a Permanent Resident visa. Documenting one’s language ability may help them immigrate, and even if an IELTS is not required for Express Entry, the score may still help an applicant convey their English language proficiency to a potential employer. Credential assessment: Under the current FSW programs, foreign diplomas are given an equivalent value in Canada. The credential assessment can also be an important first step towards licensing or certification in their field in Canada. Resume and reference letters: Many people do not have an up to date resume and have not needed to ask their employer for reference letters. Beginning to update and edit a resume, as well as starting to determine how to obtain references may be useful for job searching or immigrating to Canada.
