How To Apply for Express Entry to Canada​​


An immigration program that helps those who are eligible through a more expedient immigration process towards Canadian permanent residence. Fill out our immigration assessment form and we’ll get back to you to discuss your eligibility and options.

What Is Express Entry?

In January 2015, the Canadian government launched a new electronic immigration system that offers express entry to Canada for skilled and qualified immigrants.

The new Express Entry program will manage applications for permanent residence for immigrants who can fill jobs where there is a lack of available skilled Canadian workers. (View LMIA information for a related topic as well.)

Permanent Residence in Canada Annually

The Canadian government has recognized the fact that Canada requires new immigrants to meet future labour market needs and to help ensure the country’s long-term economic growth and prosperity.

The new system will allow Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to proactively assess, recruit and select immigrants who are skilled and/or possessed the relevant qualifications under federal economic immigration programs:

  • Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
  • Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
  • Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

  • The Express Entry program will also allow individual provinces and territories to use the system in order to recruit suitable candidates as part of the Provincial Nominee Programs so that labour market demands are met.

    Employers will play a key part in selecting economic immigrants, and will be able to access suitable candidates via Canada’s recently improved Job Bank, as well as the relevant provinces and territories where applicable.

    Express Entry Processing Times

    THave you received the message “Your Express Entry application is taking us longer than usual to process” from the government of Canada? This may be a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.

    Visit our page on Canada Visa Processing Times to learn more about how long your Express Entry application should take. Using a qualified immigration professional to apply for Express Entry can speed up the overall processing time for your application by avoiding any mistakes or missing documents.

    Receiving an ITA (Invitation to Apply)

    After you have successfully filling out an Express Entry Form to be eligible in a Express Entry pool, foreigners will wait to receive an ITA. Each draw whether it is through a PNP or Express Entry will have a minimum CRS score and those with a ranking CRS score higher than the published one, will receive an invitation. Once one has received an ITA, there is a 60 day period where you must apply and submit all the required supporting documents to become a permanent resident. There are documents and following steps after receiving an invitation to apply including a chance to deny the ITA.

    Am I Eligible for Express Entry?

    Determining whether you can apply under the Express Entry System can be confusing, but here are some of the basics.

    According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), Express Entry is a system put in place to “manage applications for permanent residence under these federal economic immigration programs.” These economic immigration programs include the Federal Skilled Workers Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canada Experience Class.

    Requirements for eligibility vary depending on the class you wish to apply under, though for all programs you must be legally admissible to Canada and be intending to live in a province or territory other than Quebec. Candidates also have to achieve a minimum score on the Comprehensive Ranking System. Points can be scored based on age, education, language ability, certifications, and Canadian and non-Canadian work experience.