A Step-By-Step Guide to Canada’s Express Entry Program

Express Entry is the fastest and most popular way to land a permanent residency in Canada. The government of Canada uses an online system called Express Entry which processes and organizes the applications for skilled workers to immigrate and enter Canada for permanent residence.

There are three federal economic programs:

1. Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

• for skilled workers who have Canadian work experience
• work experience must have been gained in the 3 years before you apply

2. Federal Skilled Trades (FST)

• for skilled workers who are qualified in a skilled trade
• must have a valid job offer or a certificate of qualification

3. Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)

• for skilled workers with foreign work experience
• must meet criteria for education and other factors

Step 1: Find out if You’re Eligible

There are 2 ways to find out if you’re eligible for a program that is part of Express Entry:

• answer a few questions to see if you meet the minimum requirements
• read the detailed requirements for each program

Step 2: Check Your Score

If you’re eligible for one or more of the Express Entry programs and submit your profile, you’ll be ranked in the Express Entry pool using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

The CRS is a points-based system used to

• assess and score your profile and
• rank it in the Express Entry pool

To be invited, you need to have a score above the minimum points score for your round of invitations.

Step 3: Get Your Documents Ready

You don’t need to upload documents to submit a profile, but you may need information from some or all of these documents:

• a passport or travel document
• Venezuelan passport holders: You may need to complete extra steps when you create a profile or fill out your application.
• language test results
• proof of Canadian education or an educational credential assessment report for immigration purposes if
• you’re applying through the Federal Skilled Workers Program, or
• you want to get points for the education you got outside Canada
• provincial nomination (if you have one)
• written job offer from an employer in Canada (if you have one), proof of work experience, certificate of qualification in a trade occupation issued by a Canadian province or territory (if you have one)
• proof of funds

Documents for Your Application for Permanent Residence

You’ll need to upload copies of the documents you used for your profile. Most applicants will also need to upload the following:

• police certificates
• medical exams
• proof of funds
• birth certificate
• required if you’re declaring dependent children
• use of a representative form
• required if you’ve hired a representative
• common-law union form
• required if you’ve declared your marital status as “common-law”
• marriage certificate
• required if you’ve declared your marital status as “married”
• divorce certificate and legal separation agreement
• required if you’ve declared your marital status as “divorced”
• death certificate
• required if you’ve declared your marital status as “widowed”
• adoption certificate
• required when a dependent child is listed as “adopted”

Other Documents

You only need to submit these if IRCC includes them in your personalized document checklist. Your application may not be refused or rejected if you don’t submit these documents. They’re only used to check if you meet the requirements of the program you’re applying for.

• proof of relationship to a relative in Canada
• digital photos to confirm your identity
• other name to confirm aliases
• authority to release personal information to a designated individual form
• any other documents that you feel are relevant to your application

Step 4. Fill Out Your Profile

Your Express Entry profile is where you provide information about yourself. If you’re eligible, IRCC will accept you into our pool of candidates and give you a CRS score.

Completing an online Express Entry profile or entering the pool doesn’t guarantee that you'll get an invite to apply for permanent residence.

Step 5. Get An Invitation and Apply

IRCC sends out invitations to apply to the candidates with the highest scores in the pool. If you are invited to apply, you’ll have 60 days to submit your application.

Most complete applications that have all supporting documents are processed in 6 months or less.

Source: THE ECONOMIC TIMES