Program Overview
IRCC states: "To be chosen from the pool and invited to apply, you need to have one of the highest-ranking scores when we send out invitations." (IRCC, Create your Express Entry profile)
IRCC states: "We invite candidates from the pool to apply in rounds throughout the year." "The Minister establishes a category to meet a specific economic goal." (IRCC, Rounds of invitations)
Key Facts
- Processing times are published by IRCC and updated regularly.
- "You have 60 days to complete and submit your Express Entry profile." (IRCC)
- "Your invitation to apply is valid for 60 days only." (IRCC, Apply for permanent residence through Express Entry)
- "Provincial or territorial nomination": 600 points (IRCC, CRS criteria)
Express Entry Programs
Federal Skilled Worker Program
“The Federal Skilled Worker Program is for skilled workers who have foreign work experience and want to become permanent residents.”
Key requirements (IRCC):
- “be at least 1 year of continuous work or 1,560 hours total (30 hours per week)”
- First official language: “CLB 7” in all 4 abilities
- “If you score 67 points or higher, you may qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker Program.”
Sources: IRCC program page, IRCC language test page
Federal Skilled Trades Program
“The Federal Skilled Trades Program is for skilled workers who want to become permanent residents based on being qualified in a skilled trade.”
Key requirements (IRCC):
- “be at least 2 years of full-time work experience (or 3,120 hours total) in a skilled trade within the 5 years before you apply”
- A job offer or “a certificate of qualification in your skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority”
- Speaking and listening “CLB 5”; reading and writing “CLB 4”
Sources: IRCC program page, IRCC language test page
Canadian Experience Class
“The Canadian Experience Class is for skilled workers who have Canadian work experience and want to become permanent residents.”
Key requirements (IRCC):
- “total at least 1 year of work or 1,560 hours total (30 hours per week) in the 3 years before you apply”
- TEER 0 or 1: “CLB 7”; TEER 2 or 3: “CLB 5”
- “There is no education requirement for the Canadian Experience Class.”
Sources: IRCC program page, IRCC language test page
Comprehensive Ranking System
IRCC states: "The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is a points-based system that we use to assess and score your profile and rank it in the Express Entry pool." (IRCC, CRS criteria)
A. Core/human capital factors
“Maximum 460 points total” with a spouse or common-law partner; “Maximum 500 points total” without
B. Spouse or common-law partner factors (if applicable)
“Maximum 40 points”
C. Skill Transferability factors
“Maximum of 100 points”
D. Additional points
“Maximum 600 points”
Additional Points (IRCC)
- “Provincial or territorial nomination”600
- “Scored NCLC 7 or higher on all four French language skills and scored CLB 5 or higher on all four English skills”50
- “Post-secondary education in Canada - credential three years or longer”30
- “Post-secondary education in Canada - credential of one or two years”15
- “Brother or sister living in Canada who is a citizen or permanent resident of Canada”15
IRCC states: "As of March 25, 2025, we’re removing job offer points from the Comprehensive Ranking System for current and future candidates in the Express Entry pool." (IRCC, CRS criteria)
Nominations come through a Provincial Nominee Program.
Eligibility Points to Check
Language Test Results
IRCC states: "If you apply for permanent residence with language test results that have expired, we’ll refuse your application." (IRCC, Language test results)
Admissibility
IRCC states: "You must be admissible to Canada." "There are different reasons we may not let you into Canada, such as security, criminal or medical reasons." (IRCC) See inadmissibility and criminal rehabilitation.
Proof of Funds (FSW and FST)
IRCC states: "You must show that you have enough money for you and your family to settle in Canada." "You don’t need proof of funds if you:" "are currently able to legally work in Canada, and" "have a valid job offer from an employer in Canada" (IRCC, Federal Skilled Trades Program)
Quebec
IRCC states: "You must plan to live outside the province of Quebec." "The province of Quebec selects its own skilled workers." (IRCC)