There is more than one way to immigrate to Canada, but one of the fastest and easiest ways for skilled workers is the Express Entry Program. This is a relatively new program (started in 2015) which is often much quicker than other North American countries like the United States.
The Express Entry Program is specifically for skilled immigrants who want to settle in Canada permanently and can take as little as 4-6 months from start to finish.
Three programs under Express Entry:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program – this program is for skilled workers with foreign work experience who want to immigrate to Canada permanently
- Federal Skilled Trades Program – this is for skilled workers who want to become permanent residents based on being qualified in a skilled trade, e.g., electricians, plumbers, technicians
- Canadian Experience Class – this is for skilled workers who have Canadian work experience and want to become permanent residents
Eligibility:
There are two things you’ll need in order to decide if Express Entry is right for you – your eligibility and Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. For eligibility there are a few factors based on which program you’re interested in, such as:
Work Experience:
- Federal Skilled Worker program: 1 year of continuous, paid work experience in a skilled role
- Canadian Experience Class: 1 year of paid work experience in a skilled role in Canada (within the last 3 years, does not have to be continuous)
- Federal Skilled Trades program: 2 years of paid work experience in a skilled trade, in the last 5 years
A minimum score in an English or French Exam
You can learn more about the IELTS exam here.
High School degree or higher
The quickest way to determine which, if any, of the Express Entry programs you may be eligible for is to use our free tool, Visto Qualify, to see which programs would be the best fit for you!
CRS Score:
What is a CRS score?
Every 2 weeks, Immigration Canada invites applicants to apply based on their score, so it’s important to understand your score to have a good idea of whether Express Entry is a good option for you. It is calculated out of a maximum of 1,200, and is based on a variety of factors, including age, education, language skills, and work experience.
To determine your CRS score, head to the CRS Score page here or use our free tool, Visto Qualify, to calculate it right away!
Language Exams:
While the programs are slightly different, they all require a language skill for eligibility. Canada has two official languages, English, and French, and you will be evaluated on your writing, reading, listening, and speaking in the official language of your choice. You do not need to know both English and French as long as you are strong enough in one, but knowing both will give you a better chance at eligibility and ultimately finding a job as well.
Canadian immigration accepts the following four language exams:
- CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program
- IELTS: International English Language Testing System
- TEF Canada: Test d’évaluation de français
- TCF Canada: Test de connaissance du français
The Costs Associated with Express Entry:
The government fee to apply is $1,325 CAD for you, an additional $1,325 CAD if you include a spouse, and $225 CAD per child. You will also incur additional expenses, such as fees for biometrics, medical exams, language exams, translation of documents (if not in English or French), and a few others that may apply. You can learn more about Express Entry costs here.
Note: until June 2, 2020, you need to pay in two installments. See the instructions here on how to pay the fees properly.
You will also need to prove that you have enough funds to settle in Canada ($13,213 CAD if applying alone, more if you include spouse and/or children).
Signup here to get started.
This post was initially prepared by a group of graduate students / recent graduates that are exploring issues related to the Canadian immigration programs for skilled workers. Their project is powered by Visto!
