On January 1, 2015, the government of Canada introduced a new immigration system called Express Entry – This system was developed to facilitate economic immigration programs. Canada is very attracted to skilled and experienced immigrants who will contribute to its labour market. Express Entry is meant to make the immigration process easy for skilled workers. If you are a skilled worker planning on immigrating to Canada, this system will interest you.
How does Express Entry work?
Express Entry is a platform that allows qualifying individuals to submit Expressions of Interest for permanent residence in Canada. Interested candidates are then ranked on an intricate points system. Based on eligibility and points, the federal and provincial governments invite skilled individuals from this Express Entry pool to apply for permanent residence.
Before you start
To enter the Express Entry pool, you must meet all of the minimum requirements for one of the following federal economic immigration programs:
- Canadian Experience Class
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
Remember that qualifying for one of these programs does not mean you will be selected to apply for permanent residence. Invitations to apply are awarded based on a points ranking system. To view the minimum requirements for the above programs, visit the “Government of Canada” site.
Enter the Express Entry pool by creating a profile
Once you have determined that you are eligible for one of the programs mentioned above, you begin the process by creating an online Express Entry profile. Remember that once you start building your Express Entry profile, you have 60 days to complete it. Here, you will have to provide information about yourself. This includes your work experience, education, language skills, age, etc. Again, entering the pool does not guarantee that you will be chosen to immigrate.
How do you increase my chances of getting chosen?
As mentioned above, your Express Entry profile will run on a points system. This means you will be given a score based on the information you provided. You can earn points based on your work experience, education, English and French language skills, age, and more. For example, if you have a valid offer of employment from a Canadian employer, you will earn points. The higher your total score, the more likely you will be selected.
After nomination
If you have a top-ranking profile score, you will probably receive an invitation from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada to apply for permanent residence. Once you receive your invitation, you have 90 days to submit your application for permanent residence to either one of the three federal economic programs mentioned above or to a provincial nominee program. Usually, applications for permanent residence under Express Entry take only up to 6 months to process.
Contact us
If you have any questions about Express Entry and economic immigration into Canada, please contact us.
Our law offices would be happy to discuss this issue with you.