Express Entry Visa
Express Entry is an online system that are used to manage immigration applications from skilled workers.
There are 3 immigration programs managed through Express Entry:
Canadian Experience Class
- for skilled workers who have Canadian work experience
- work experience must have been gained in the 3 years before you apply
Federal Skilled Worker Program
- for skilled workers with foreign work experience
- must meet criteria for education and other factors
Federal Skilled Trades Program
- for skilled workers who are qualified in a skilled trade
- must have a valid job offer or a certificate of qualification
Steps:
Step 1: Find out if you’re eligible
Step 2: Check your score
Step 3: Get your documents ready
Step 4: Fill out your profile
Step 5: Get an invitation and apply
Eligibility and requirements to apply Express Entry
This program is for skilled workers with foreign work experience who want to immigrate to Canada permanently.
This program has minimum requirements for:
- skilled work experience
- language ability
- education
You must meet all the minimum requirements to be eligible.
Selection Factors for Express Entry
If you meet all the minimum requirements, we’ll then assess your application based on:
- Age
- Education
- Work experience
- Whether you have a valid job offer
- English and/or French language skills
- Adaptability (how well you’re likely to settle here)
These factors are part of a 100-point grid used to assess eligibility for the Federal Skilled Worker Program. You earn points for how well you do in each of the 6 factors.
Minimum requirements
Skilled work experience
Skilled work experience means that you’ve worked in 1 of these National Occupational Classification (NOC) job groups:
- Managerial jobs (skill type 0)
- Professional jobs (skill level A)
- Technical jobs and skilled trades (skill level B)
You must show that while working in your primary occupation, you performed the duties set out in the lead statement of the occupational description in the NOC. This includes all the essential duties and most of the main duties listed.
Your skilled work experience must be
- in the same type of job (have the same NOC) as the job you want to use for your immigration application (called your primary occupation)
- within the last 10 years
- paid work (have been paid wages or earned commission—volunteer work or unpaid internships don’t count)
- at least 1 year of continuous work or 1,560 hours total (30 hours per week)—you can meet this in a few different ways:
- full-time at 1 job: 30 hours/week for 12 months = 1 year full-time (1,560 hours)
- equal amount in part-time work: for example 15 hours/week for 24 months = 1 year full time (1,560 hours)
- You can work as many part-time jobs as you need to meet this requirement
- full-time at more than 1 job: 30 hours/week for 12 months at more than 1 job = 1 year full time (1,560 hours)
Part-time work experience
Your skilled work experience must be paid work including paid wages or earned commission. Canadian government does not count volunteer work or unpaid internships.
For part-time work, you can work more or less than 15 hours/week as long as it adds up to 1,560 hours. You can work more than 1 part-time job to get the hours you need to apply.
Canadian government does not count any hours you work above 30 hours/week.
Student work experience
Work experience gained while you were studying may count towards your minimum requirements if the work:
- was paid by wages or commissions
- was continuous (no gaps in employment), and
- meets all the other requirements of the Program
Language ability
Your language tests are valid for 2 years after the date of the test result. They must be valid on the day you apply for permanent residence.
You must:
- take approved language tests in English or French for:
- writing
- reading
- listening
- speaking
- get a minimum score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in all 4 abilities
- enter the test results in your Express Entry profile
Education
Education
If you went to school in Canada, you must have a certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian:
- secondary institution (high school) or
- post-secondary institution
If you have foreign education, you must have:
- a completed credential, and
- an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for immigration purposes from a designated organization showing that your education is equal to a completed certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian:
- secondary institution (high school) or
- post-secondary institution
The designated organizations are:
- World Education Services (WES),
- International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS),
- Comparative Education Service (CES), University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies
- International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)
- International Credential Evaluation Service.
Professional bodies authenticate and assess foreign educational credentials to determine how they compare to a Canadian credential needed to practice in their respective regulated occupations. They are also recognized as a step in the licensing process. The designated professional bodies are:
- Medical Council of Canada (MCC); and
- Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC).
Proof of Funds
You must show that you have enough money for you and your family to settle in Canada, unless you:
- are currently able to legally work in Canada
- have a valid job offer from an employer in Canada
How much money you’ll need
The amount of money you need to support your family depends on the size of your family. To calculate the size of your family you must include
- yourself
- your spouse or partner
- your dependent children and
- your spouse’s dependent children
Include your spouse or dependent children even if they’re
- permanent residents or Canadian citizens
- not coming to Canada with you
This table shows the minimum amount you need to immigrate to Canada as of June 9, 2022. If you have more money, you should list the full amount in your profile or application.
Number of | Funds required |
1 | $13,310 |
2 | $16,570 |
3 | $20,371 |
4 | $24,733 |
5 | $28,052 |
6 | $31,638 |
7 | $35,224 |
For each additional family member | $3,586 |
Admissibility
Where you can live in Canada
You must plan to live outside the province of Quebec. The province of Quebec selects its own skilled workers. If you plan on living in Quebec, see Quebec-selected skilled workers for more information.
Important information to obtain an ECA Report:
You must be assessed by an organization or a professional body designated by IRCC. They will give you a report that tells you what your education is equal to in Canada. Once you choose a designated organization or a professional body, they will tell you how to submit your documents to get your assessment. Designated organizations include:
- Comparative Education Service (CES)
- International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS)
- World Education Services (WES)
- International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)
- International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES)
- Medical Council of Canada (professional body for doctors)
- Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (professional body for pharmacists)
For processing times and costs may vary by organization or professional body. For more information about ECAs visit: www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=681&top=29
