All About Express Entry Canada

Canada has been one of the top destinations for any skilled and qualified professional who aspires to settle down abroad. Seeing this, the Canadian federal government has come up with a new immigration route for skilled and qualified international workers to find permanent residency, called the Express Entry programme.

While the Express Entry programme has been designed specifically for those with work experience outside of Canada, in this article, you can find out if you, as an international student in Canada can apply for permanent residency.

If you are thinking of applying for a Permanent Residency inCanada then you must know about the Express Entry. To apply for permanent residency in Canada, Express Entry allows all immigrant workers to apply for the same, provided they meet the eligibility criteria to apply for immigration to Canada. People tend to be confused about the Express Entry in Canada i.e whether it is related to an academic programme in Canada or about staying in Canada. Hence, we have come up with a detailed article that will help you understand all about Express Entry in Canada.

Express Entry in Canada - Highlights

What is Express Entry in Canada?

Express Entry is an online application management system through which the Canadian immigration departments manage the applications received for Permanent residency in Canada. Under Express Entry there are three types of programmes that are managed independently defined are as follows:

• Canadian Experience Class

• Federal Skilled Trades Programme

• Federal Skilled Worker Programme

Those interested in applying for permanent residency in Canada must ensure that they meet the eligibility criteria for Express Entry in Canada along with its application processes.

Also Read: Reasons for Rejection of Student Visa for Canada

Eligibility Criteria to Apply for Express Entry

Check the detailed eligibility criteria to apply for Express Entry in Canada for different categories:

Federal Skilled Worker Programme

Designed specifically for those with foreign work experience, the Federal Skilled Worker programme allows skilled workers to migrate and settle down permanently in Canada. To be classified as skilled workers, applicants must have worked in one of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) job groups:

• Professional Jobs (Skill Level: A)

• Managerial Jobs (Skill Type: 0)

• Skilled Trades and Technical Jobs (Skill Level: B)

While working in the primary occupation, the candidate must prove that he/she performed the duties as defined in the lead statement of the job description in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). The skilled work experience must:

• Be in the same job as required/specified in the immigration application.

• Have one continuous year, full-time work experience within the last 10 years.

• Be engaged in paid work.

• Provide proof of having at least 1 year of continuous job experience or 1560 hours(30 hours per week).

• For part-time work, the candidate must have worked 15 hours/ week.

• Student work experience is counted only if the candidate was paid by wages or commissions, the job was continuous and they meet all other requirements of the programme.

Note: Students are required to earn at least 67 points out of 100, on the Foreign Skilled Worker Programme (FSWP) grid, which evaluates an applicants parameters such as Education, Age, Work Experience, Language Proficiency, Arranged Employment and Adaptability.

Language Requirement

To meet the language requirements, the candidate must take an approved test in English or French in all the four sections - Writing, Reading, Listening and Speaking. Applicants must attain a minimum score equal to CLB 7 (Canadian Language Benchmark) in all 4 sections of the French or English language.

The test result must be entered in the Express Entry profile. The language test score is valid for 2 years after taking the test. It must be valid when applying for Permanent Residence in Canada.

Education

When applying for the Foreign Skilled Worker Programme, applicants must ensure:

• They have a Canadian Education Credential, i.e. certificate, diploma or degree; or

• If they possess a foreign credential, then an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report, which will assess the foreign credential to it equivalent to a Canadian Education Credential.

Proof of Funds

The candidate must show that they have enough money to sustain themselves, if accompanied then their family as well, in Canada. They must prove that they are working in accordance with Canadian Immigration laws and possess a valid job offer from a Canadian employer to work in Canada.

Also Read: Stay Back and Post Study Work Permit in Canada

Federal Skilled Trades Programme

Those skilled trades workers aspiring to settle down as permanent residents in Canada under an acquired skilled trade can apply for the Federal Skilled Trades Programme under the Express Entry programme in Canada. The eligibility criteria to apply for PR in Canada based on Federal Skilled Trades Programme is as follows:

• Candidates should provide proof of at least 2 years of full-time work experience in a skilled trade within 5 years of applying for immigration in Canada;

• The work experience must meet the job requirements for skilled trade as set out in the National Occupational Classification.

• Candidates will be required to display proof of their skills and experience in the specified trade, and have successfully performed the duties of the job.

• Must have valid job offers of full-time, paid and continuous, employment with 30 hours per week, from 2 Canadian employers for at least 1 year; Or a certificate of qualification from a territorial or provincial body.

The skilled trades for Federal Skilled Trades Program are organized under the following groups of NOC:

• Minor Groups -

  • Minor Group 633 - Bakers and Butchers;

  • Minor Group 632 - Cooks and Chefs.

• Major Groups -

  • Major Group 92 - Utility, Manufacturing and Processing Supervisors and Central Control Operators;

  • Major Group 82 - Technical and Supervisory Roles in Agriculture, Natural Resources and other related fields;

  • Major Group 73 - Trades for Maintenance and Equipment Operations;

  • Major Group 72 - Trades in Construction, Industries and Electrical.

Note: Those interested in applying for the FSTP Express entry must ensure that their plan sees them reside in any province outside of Quebec. The Skilled Trades Worker immigration rules and regulations and selection processes are different and unique to Quebec and those interested in residing in Quebec must follow the respective guidelines and regulations.

Language Requirements

The language requirements for the Express Entry Foreign Skilled Trades Programme, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Should have obtained a minimum of CLB 5 for speaking and listening and a CLB 4 for reading and writing, in the English Language.

• The language test score is valid for 2 years.

Canadian Experience Class

Among the other two programmes, the Canadian Experience Class will be the most appropriate for international students who have gained their degree from a DLI in Canada and have worked as well. The CEC or Canadian Experience Class has been designed for candidates who have gained work experience by working in Canada under temporary resident status with an authorization to work.

• Candidates with at least 1 year of work experience in Canada, anytime in the last 3 years of applying for permanent residency OR Must have a full-time job for 30 hours a week for a span of 12 months.

• Those engaged in part-time work must ensure that their working hours are at least 15 hours a week for 24 months.

Language Requirement

The candidate must meet the following English Language Test requirements for all the four sections, i.e. Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking sections of the English or French Languages.

• Candidates should have obtained a minimum of CBL 7 for NOC 0 or A jobs; or

• A Canadian Language Benchmark (CBL) 5 for NOC B jobs;

• The language test is valid for 2 years after the date of results and must be valid at the time of applying for Permanent Residency.

Education

While there is no education requirement for the Canadian Experience Class, those who hold education from a foreign country must;

• Provide proof of foreign credentials;

• Provide an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report for immigration purposes.

How to Get a PR in Canada Under the Express Entry System?

To apply for PR in Canada through the Express Entry system, applicants must complete the following steps:

1. Determine Eligibility

Potential Express Entry applicants must be eligible for one of the federal economic immigration programs listed below:

• The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW)

• The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or

• The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST)

Although some PNPs are connected with Express Entry, candidates must still be eligible for one of the three federal programs in order to be considered for the Express Entry draw.

Though the qualifying requirements for each Express Entry-aligned program vary, all candidates must have at least one year of skilled work experience and a specific level of proficiency on an authorized language exam in either English or French. Furthermore, all Express Entry applicants are screened for criminal history and medical concerns that could render them inadmissible.

2. Create Your Express Entry Profile

Individuals who are eligible must submit an Express Entry profile to the pool of candidates. Express Entry profiles serve as Expressions of Interest (EOI). Eligible candidates will be assigned a score based on their profile and ranked with the other candidates in the pool.

The Express Entry ranking score is based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) and is out of 1,200 points. Candidates can raise their ranking by working to increase their CRS score. The higher a candidate's CRS score, the more likely they will be invited to apply for Express Entry (ITA).

In Express Entry drawings, the CRS score serves as a cut-off point. It is intended to forecast a candidate's likelihood of economic success in Canada. It rates candidates based on characteristics such as their career and educational experience, language skills, and if they have already obtained a qualifying job offer or provincial nomination in Canada, among others.

Candidates for Express Entry can earn more points if they have a genuine work offer from a Canadian business, a province nomination, or a combination of these things.

3. Create a Job Bank Profile

Candidates for Express Entry who do not have a job offer or a province nomination may then register in the Canada Job Bank, a free public resource designed to assist Canadian employers in identifying and selecting people with the skills they require. This step was previously mandatory but became voluntary in June 2017.

4. Receive Your Invitation to Apply or ITA

At regular intervals, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) holds Express Entry draws (usually every two weeks). Candidates with a specified rank are asked to apply for Canadian permanent residency through these Express Entry draws. If a candidate is not accepted, their profile will expire after 12 months, at which time they may reapply. For information on the most recent Express Entry draw, please see this page.

5. Improve Your CRS Score

Candidates who have not yet been picked from the Express Entry pool might enhance their Express Entry profile and score. They can accomplish this by supplying fresh and updated data. Increased language scores, educational credentials exams, gaining extra work experience, and/or receiving a qualified employment offer or a provincial nomination are some examples.

6. Submit Your Application for PR in Canada

If you obtain an Express Entry Invitation to Apply (ITA), you will have 60 days to submit a comprehensive permanent residence application. You will be required to supply significant personal information as well as supporting evidence in this application. The full application is filed online.

After you have filed your application, you must wait for a final decision. In six months or less, 80% of Express Entry applications are processed. If your application is accepted, you will be granted permission to activate your permanent resident status in Canada.

If you are interested in learning more about studying and settling down in Canada, then reach out to our study abroad counsellors who will help you from researching the best universities to applying for the appropriate visa. Therefore, connect with us now and have your queries answered now!Feel free to write to us at abroad@collegedekho.com for any doubts or queries related to Canada.