EXPRESS ENTRY
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) selects skilled immigrants as permanent residents based on their potential to settle in Canada and contribute to its economy. Express Entry is the system designed to manage applications for immigration to Canada from individuals with skilled work experience.
Express Entry is utilized to oversee applications for permanent residence under various federal economic immigration programs, including:
– The Federal Skilled Worker Program,
– The Federal Skilled Trades Program, and
– The Canadian Experience Class.
Furthermore, provinces and territories have the option to recruit candidates from the Express Entry system through their Provincial Nominee Programs to address their local labor market needs.
The Express Entry process involves two main steps:
(Step 1) Creation of Online Express Entry Profile
Prospective candidates must complete an online Express Entry profile on the secure IRCC website. This profile serves as a platform for applicants to provide detailed information about their skills, work experience, language proficiency, education, and other pertinent details for assessment.
Those who meet the criteria of one of the federal immigration programs mentioned earlier will be accepted into a pool of candidates. Candidates without a job offer supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or a nomination from a province or territory must register with Employment and Social Development Canada’s (ESDC) Job Bank to connect with potential employers in Canada.
(Step 2) Invitation to Apply for Permanent Residence
Candidates in the pool are ranked against each other using the Comprehensive Ranking System, a point-based system that evaluates various factors from their profile. The highest-ranking candidates are invited to apply for permanent residence.
Additional points are awarded for factors such as a job offer, nomination from a province or territory, skills and experience, education in Canada, or a valid job offer. These points can elevate a candidate’s ranking, increasing their chances of receiving an invitation to apply.
Successful candidates are given 90 days to submit an online application for permanent residence. IRCC aims to process most complete applications in six months or less.