Before the new Express Entry system came into effect, we could only predict how much it would affect Canadian immigration.
However, four months in, it’s safe to say that Express Entry has revolutionized immigration in Canada for the better. Thousands of candidates have already received invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residence.
If you’re interested in applying for Express Entry, we’re going to detail everything you need to know below.
*Do you want to apply for the Express Entry Program?*
The VisaPlace Express Entry Application Service will get you in to the pool quickly and with a profile that gives you the best chance of being selected.
Check your eligibility for Canadian Express Entry
Express Entry Eligibility
If you’re eligible for any of Canada’s main federal economic immigration programs, you’ll be able to submit your online profile for Express Entry. These include:
- The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FTWP)
- The Canadian Experience Class
- A portion of Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
For more information on how PNPs work, check out this blog from.
Create Your Online Profile
Once you’ve checked your eligibility, the first step is to create your online Express Entry profile. You will need to provide information including:
- Your age and basic information
- Skills
- Relevant work experience,
- Your language ability,
- Qualifications and educational background
- Any other information that will aid your assessment
Upon completion of your profile (providing you meet all the eligibility requirements), you will be submitted into a pool of candidates, and ranked according to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
Register with the Job Bank
If you have a qualifying job offer or provincial nomination from a province or territory, you can ignore this next step.
According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC): “Anyone who does not already have a job offer supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) (if you need one), or a nomination from a province or territory, must register with Employment and Social Development Canada’s (ESDC) Job Bank. The Job Bank will help connect Express Entry candidates with eligible employers in Canada.”
Express Entry Pool Explained
The Comprehensive Ranking System will score you up to 600 points for various human capital factors. An additional 600 points are awarded to those who receive a job offer or Provincial Nomination (PNP).
Candidates who enter the pool and score highly enough will then be selected based on regular ‘draws’ by the Canadian government, with those selected being invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence.
These draws always require candidates to score a certain number of points, which could be anything from over 700 (meaning that candidates require either a job offer or provincial nomination), to significantly lower (with one draw so far only requiring 469 CRS points)
According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada: “Rounds of invitations to invite candidates to apply will take place regularly over the course of each year. We will only pick the top ranking candidates no matter when they are accepted into the pool.”
Are You Interested in Applying for Express Entry?
The most important aspect of the Express Entry program is to get an invitation to apply for permanent residence. Our job is to make you STAND OUT from the crowd. We will assess your case, highlight the best aspects of your application, and make sure that the government notices you! This way, your chances of getting an invitation are maximized.
Call us today for an assessment to see if you are eligible for Express Entry to Canada, or fill out our online assessment form.
President & CEO
Michael Niren
Mr. Niren is CEO of VisaPlace LLC and the President and Managing Partner of VisaPlace Legal Canada, an immigration law firm based in Toronto, and VisaPlace Legal US a law firm registered in The District of Columbia, USA. Mr. Niren is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association’s Citizenship and Immigration Section, American Lawyers Association, and an Associate Member of the American Bar Association.
