How to immigrate to Canada with Express Entry

How to immigrate to Canada

 Canada offers several immigration programs to individuals who want to live and work in the country. Here are some of the most popular ones:

1. Express Entry: This program manages applications for three federal economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class.

2. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): This program allows Canadian provinces and territories to nominate individuals who are interested in living and working in a specific province or territory.

3. Family sponsorship: Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their spouses, common-law partners, dependent children, parents, and grandparents to come to Canada.

4. Start-up visa program: This program is for entrepreneurs who want to start a business in Canada and have the support of a designated organization.

5. Caregivers program: This program allows individuals to work in Canada as caregivers for children, elderly, or people with disabilities.

6. Self-employed program: This program is for individuals who have relevant experience in cultural activities, athletics, or farming and want to become self-employed in Canada.

These are just a few examples of the immigration programs available in Canada. The eligibility criteria and application processes vary for each program.

Express Entry

Express Entry is an immigration system used by the Canadian government to manage applications for permanent residency in Canada through three federal economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class.

To apply through Express Entry, candidates first create an online profile that outlines their education, work experience, language proficiency, and other factors. The system then ranks candidates based on a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, which awards points based on factors such as age, education, language skills, work experience, and other factors.

Candidates with the highest CRS scores are then invited to apply for permanent residency through regular draws held by the Canadian government. The minimum CRS score required for an invitation to apply (ITA) varies with each draw and is based on the number of candidates in the pool and the number of spots available.

The Express Entry system aims to select skilled immigrants who have the highest chances of succeeding in Canada's economy and help fill gaps in the Canadian labor market. The system is known for its speed, with most applications processed within six months or less.

Express Entry Requirements

The requirements for Express Entry depend on the specific program you are applying for, but here are the general eligibility requirements:

1. Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP):

• At least one year of full-time (or equivalent part-time) skilled work experience within the last ten years in a National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level 0, A, or B occupation.
• Meet minimum language requirements in English or French (Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 for all language abilities).
• Have a minimum of secondary education.
• Score at least 67 out of 100 points on the Federal Skilled Worker Program points grid, based on factors such as age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and other factors.

2. Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP):

• At least two years of full-time (or equivalent part-time) skilled work experience within the last five years in a skilled trade listed in Minor Group 72, 73, or 82, or Major Group 72, 73, or 82 of the NOC.
• Meet minimum language requirements in English or French (CLB 5 for speaking and listening, CLB 4 for reading and writing).
• Have a valid job offer for at least one year or a certificate of qualification from a Canadian provincial or territorial authority.
• Meet other requirements, such as education and work experience, as specified by the program.

3. Canadian Experience Class (CEC):

• At least one year of full-time (or equivalent part-time) skilled work experience within the last three years in a NOC skill level 0, A, or B occupation in Canada.
• Meet minimum language requirements in English or French (CLB 7 for NOC 0 or A jobs, CLB 5 for NOC B jobs).
• Have gained your work experience in Canada with proper authorization.
• Plan to live outside the province of Quebec.

In addition to the above requirements, all applicants must meet the admissibility requirements for Canada, such as passing medical and security checks. It's important to note that meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee an invitation to apply for permanent residency. The final decision rests with the Canadian government, based on factors such as the number of spots available and the overall demand for each program.

Calculate Your points

To calculate your points for Express Entry, you will need to use the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points calculator. Here are the factors that are considered and how they are scored:

1. Core human capital factors:

• Age: You can earn a maximum of 110 points based on your age at the time of application. Candidates between 20 and 29 years old can receive the maximum points, and the points decrease with each age bracket.

• Age is a factor that is considered in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) for Express Entry. The maximum points that can be awarded for age are 110.

  The points are awarded based on your age on the day you submit your Express Entry profile. The points are awarded as follows:

  • Age 17 or less: 0 points
  • Age 18-19: 99 points
  • Age 20-29: 110 points
  • Age 30: 105 points
  • Age 31: 99 points
  • Age 32: 94 points
  • Age 33: 88 points
  • Age 34: 83 points
  • Age 35: 77 points
  • Age 36: 72 points
  • Age 37: 66 points
  • Age 38: 61 points
  • Age 39: 55 points
  • Age 40: 50 points
  • Age 41: 39 points
  • Age 42: 28 points
  • Age 43: 17 points
  • Age 44: 6 points
  • Age 45 or older: 0 points

  It's important to note that age is just one of the factors that are considered in the CRS, and other factors such as language proficiency, education, and work experience can also have a significant impact on your total CRS score.

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• Education: You can earn up to 150 points based on your education level and whether you have completed a study program in Canada.

• Education is another factor that is considered in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) for Express Entry. The maximum points that can be awarded for education are 150.

  The points are awarded based on the highest level of education that you have completed at the time you submit your Express Entry profile. The points are awarded as follows:

  • Less than secondary school (high school): 0 points
  • Secondary diploma (high school graduation): 30 points
  • One-year degree, diploma or certificate from a university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute: 90 points
  • Two-year program at a university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute: 98 points
  • Bachelor's degree OR a three or more-year program at a university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute: 120 points
  • Two or more certificates, diplomas, or degrees. One must be for a program of three or more years: 128 points.
  • Master's degree or professional degree required to practice in a licensed profession: 135 points.
  • Doctoral degree (PhD): 150 points

  ECA stands for Educational Credential Assessment. It is a process that evaluates the educational credentials of foreign nationals to determine how they compare to Canadian educational standards.

  An ECA is typically required for immigration purposes, such as applying for Express Entry or a Provincial Nominee Program, as it helps Canadian immigration authorities determine the level of education of an applicant and their eligibility for certain programs.

  The ECA process involves submitting your educational credentials (such as transcripts, diplomas, and degrees) to an organization designated by the Canadian government, such as World Education Services (WES) or International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS). The designated organization will then review the educational credentials and provide a report that indicates the Canadian equivalency of the education.

  It's important to note that the requirements for an ECA can vary depending on the specific immigration program and the country where the education was obtained. Some programs may require specific designated organizations to conduct the assessment, while others may have different requirements for the type of educational credentials that need to be assessed. It's important to check the specific requirements for the program you are applying for to ensure that you meet all the necessary requirements.

  It's important to note that the points are awarded based on the completed education credentials only, and any incomplete education or training will not be counted. Additionally, education credentials must be assessed and recognized by a designated organization in Canada or a Canadian province or territory to be eligible for CRS points.

• Language proficiency: You can earn up to 136 points for your language proficiency in English and/or French, based on your scores in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

• Language proficiency is a key factor that is considered in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) for Express Entry. The maximum points that can be awarded for language proficiency are 290.

  Language proficiency is assessed through standardized language tests that measure the applicant's ability to speak, read, write and understand either English or French. The two accepted language tests are the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) for English language proficiency and the Test d'évaluation de français (TEF) for French language proficiency.

  The points are awarded based on the applicant's language proficiency test results in each language skill (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) for both English and French. The maximum points that can be awarded for language proficiency are as follows:

  • First official language (English or French): Maximum 136 points
  • Second official language (English or French): Maximum 24 points

  For first official language proficiency, the maximum points are awarded as follows:

  • CLB 9 or higher (IELTS score: 7.5 or higher): Maximum 136 points
  • CLB 8 (IELTS score: 7.0) - Maximum 34 points (per language skill: 6 points)
  • CLB 7 (IELTS score: 6.0) - Maximum 22 points (per language skill: 4 points)
  • CLB 6 (IELTS score: 5.5) - Maximum 16 points (per language skill: 3 points)
  • CLB 5 or lower (IELTS score: 5.0 or lower) - No points awarded

  For second official language proficiency, the maximum points are awarded as follows:

  • CLB 5 or higher (IELTS score: 5.0 or higher): Maximum 24 points
  • CLB 4 (IELTS score: 4.0) - Maximum 6 points (per language skill: 1.5 points)
  • CLB 3 or lower - No points awarded

  It's important to note that the language test results must be less than two years old at the time of submission of the Express Entry profile, and the language test results must be equal to or higher than the minimum language threshold set for the immigration program you are applying for.

2. Spouse or common-law partner factors (if applicable):

• Education: You can earn up to 10 points if your spouse or partner has a high level of education.
• Language proficiency: You can earn up to 20 points for your spouse or partner's language proficiency in English and/or French.
• Work experience: You can earn up to 10 points for your spouse or partner's skilled work experience in Canada.

3. Skill transferability factors:

• Education and language proficiency combination: You can earn up to 50 points if you have a high level of education and language proficiency in both English and French.
• Canadian work experience and language proficiency: You can earn up to 50 points if you have at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada and high language proficiency in English and/or French.

4. Additional points:

• Provincial nomination: You can earn up to 600 points if you have a nomination from a Canadian province or territory.
• Canadian study experience: You can earn up to 30 points if you have completed a study program in Canada.
• Siblings in Canada: You can earn up to 15 points if you or your spouse or common-law partner have a sibling living in Canada who is a citizen or permanent resident.

Once you have calculated your total CRS points, you can compare them with the minimum score required for the most recent Express Entry draw. Candidates with the highest scores are typically invited to apply for permanent residency.