Find out about Express Entry eligibility with our comprehensive guide. Learn the requirements, criteria, and steps to improve your chances of qualifying for Canada’s Express Entry program.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) selects the highest-scoring candidates in Express Entry draws for invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residence. These candidates are chosen based on their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and various other factors.
Individuals with university or college degrees, skilled work experience and moderate proficiency in English and French are ideal Express Entry candidates. Complete our free assessment to find out if you’re eligible!
1. Age
If you’re interested in applying through Canada’s Express Entry program, your age plays an important role in determining your eligibility. Applicants are given an overall score called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) based on their information and become part of a candidate pool for a specific immigration program.
A CRS of at least 67 points is required to receive an Invitation to Apply, but the higher your score the better your chances are. In order to increase your CRS, you can do a number of things, such as improve your language ability or gain more work experience.
You can also gain points if you have a Canadian post-secondary degree or diploma. This includes a Bachelor’s, Master’s or Ph.D., which can give you between 50 and 200 extra points in the Express Entry program.
The ability to speak English and French is also an important factor in assessing a prospective immigrant’s potential to succeed in the Canadian workforce. Immigrants who can speak both of the country’s official languages are more likely to integrate successfully into the community, and therefore can be awarded more points under this selection factor.
Lastly, candidates can get additional CRS points for having a job offer in one of the three federal programs that use the Express Entry system. These include the Federal Skilled Workers program, the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades program. Having an employment offer under one of these programs gives you the opportunity to apply for permanent residency through Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
You can also gain points for a Canadian provincial nomination or for a qualifying arranged job offer, but these are only given to the top candidates in the Express Entry pool. You’re only able to add up to 600 points total in the CRS through these methods, so an ITA doesn’t necessarily guarantee you will be invited to apply for a visa.
2. Language
The Express Entry eligibility to speak one of Canada’s official languages, English or French is a critical factor for prospective immigrants to consider. It will significantly improve their chances of integrating into the Canadian society. It is also the largest factor that contributes to your CRS score as an Express Entry applicant. Those with a proficiency in English can receive up to 16 points, while those who are fluent in French can gain up to 24 points.
Applicants for Canadian permanent residency through the Express Entry system will need to create an online profile which includes various details about their age, education, language ability and work experience. They will then be given a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on these factors. The top candidates in the pool, along with those who have a valid job offer or provincial nomination will be issued an Invitation to Apply for immigration to Canada.
Every two weeks, the Government of Canada holds an Express Entry draw and sets a minimum CRS cut-off. Those with a score above this cut-off are invited to apply for Canadian citizenship and permanent residency. Depending on their rankings, a candidate’s age, education level, language skills, work experience and other details in their profile, the potential newcomers will receive different amounts of CRS points.
To ensure your profile has the best chance of being selected, you should use professional guidance and take an approved language test like IELTS or PTE Core. Having higher scores on these tests will significantly increase your chances of being selected in the Express Entry pool, and therefore, will give you a better shot at obtaining an ITA. If you decline an ITA, your profile will remain in the Express Entry pool and will be considered for future draws.
3. Education
If you’re interested in applying for a Canadian permanent residence through Express Entry, you’ll need to meet certain educational requirements. Generally, you must have completed a post-secondary education that is equivalent to a Canadian degree or higher in your field of study. You may also need to obtain an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report to show that your education is valid in Canada.
In addition, the government requires that you have work experience in your field of study or employment. The amount of work experience you need can vary depending on the targeted category, but you must have at least six months of relevant work experience in Canada or abroad.
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) assigns points to candidates for their education, work experience and language abilities. These factors are used to rank applicants against one another and to determine who will receive an Invitation to Apply for permanent residency. CRS scores are based on the information submitted by candidates in their Express Entry profile. Those with the highest score are issued an ITA.
A number of other factors can increase your CRS score, including having a job offer from a Canadian employer, having a provincial nomination or a qualifying arranged employment and previous study in Canada. IRCC also offers special points for those who have a spouse or common-law partner who is able to communicate in the official languages of Canada.
Since there is a correlation between the Express Entry eligibility to speak and understand both English and French and a newcomer’s Express Entry eligibility to successfully integrate into the Canadian society, both languages are given equal weight in the CRS score. For those seeking to immigrate to Canada with a spouse or common-law partner, they can be awarded up to 10 additional points in their CRS score if they can read, write and speak fluent English or French.
4. Work Experience
The work experience section of your resume is an important part of your professional story. It reveals how you have used your skills and abilities over time, whether in previous full-time positions or more recently in temporary roles. It also helps employers determine if your skills and experience match their hiring needs.
Work experience is also an important factor for determining your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, which determines the likelihood of being economically successful in Canada once you immigrate. The CRS score is calculated based on your career and education history, language proficiency, and other factors.
Applicants who have at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada are eligible to be invited to apply through the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, or the Canadian Experience Class. Those with a higher CRS score will be given priority over candidates that have less work experience or those who have a lower English or French level.
When you write about your work experience, try to focus on specific achievements rather than describing general tasks. Providing quantifiable details such as the number of customers served, projects completed, or the size of the budget you managed can help demonstrate your accomplishments and boost your profile.
Another way to enhance your CRS score is through a qualifying job offer or provincial nomination. These additional points can be very useful for increasing your chances of getting an Invitation to Apply.
If you have a spouse or common-law partner who has Canadian work experience, this can give you extra points in the CRS category for skill transferability. This is a key component of the Express Entry program and can make or break your chances of being invited to apply.
5. Proof of Funds
If you meet the minimum requirements for an Express Entry program, you’ll be accepted into the pool and ranked using Canada’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Your CRS score is determined by your age, education, work experience, language skills and more. A high enough score will result in an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
However, you don’t have to wait until your CRS score reaches the required level before applying for permanent residence through Express Entry. You can also take the necessary steps to improve your chances by submitting more documents, such as reference letters, additional identity certificates, police clearance certificates and more.
In addition, you must show that you have the money to support yourself and your family after you land in Canada. This is known as proof of funds and it is a requirement for all applicants except those who apply under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
Proof of funds can include assets such as equity in your home, money held in a bank account or even unused credit card balances. They must be readily available to you and you must demonstrate that they will cover the cost of living for your family in Canada during their first few months there. You may be able to include funds that are in the name of your spouse or common-law partner, provided they can prove they have access to them.
If you have a valid job offer in Canada that meets the minimum requirements for a federal program, you can claim 40 extra points in your CRS score by including it in your profile. This can give you a significant boost over other candidates. Alternatively, you can obtain a provincial nomination through the Federal Skilled Workers Program or the Federal Skilled Trades Program and receive 600 more points in your CRS score.
