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What are the different programs available through Express Entry?

Federal Skilled Worker Program
The Federal Skilled Worker Program is an Express Entry program used by the government to choose candidates as permanent residents based on their work experience, education, knowledge of English and/or French and other factors that allow them to become economically established in Canada.

A candidate who applies to this program can live in any Canadian province or territory except Quebec because it has its own program to select skilled workers. In 2018, 74.900 candidates got their permanent residence as skilled workers, and in 2019, 81.400 candidates became permanent residents due to this program.

The Canadian government assesses a candidate on six selection factors: education, language skills, age, experience, arranged employment in Canada and adaptability, but before this assessment, the candidate has to fulfill three minimum requirements. A candidate needs a score of at least 67 points to qualify as a Federal Skilled Worker.

Federal Skilled Worker Program minimum requirements

The first minimum requirement is work experience. It has to be voluntary, remunerated and in the same type of job according to the primary National Occupational Classification (NOC) for at least one year, within the last ten years. According to Immigration Canada (IRCC), NOC is a system that classifies jobs or occupations based on the type of work or job duties a person does. It is important to know that a candidate must comply with at least 1,560 hours, either a full-time job, part-time or full time at more than one job. Candidates can get up to 15 points according to the number of years in full-time paid work.

The second minimum requirement is language ability. The candidate has to take a test and get a minimum score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in all four abilities for English or Niveaux de Compétence Linguistique Canadien (NCLC) 7 for French, it means an adequate intermediate level. An important fact is that any candidate can get up to 28 points if they score CLB 9 in English and at least CLB 5 in all of the four abilities for French. Test results must not be more than two years old on the day a candidate applies for permanent residence, and all this information has to be included in the Express Entry Profile.

The third minimum requirement is education. People who went to school in Canada must have a certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian secondary or post-secondary school. Meanwhile, people who have foreign education must have an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from an approved agency to show that their foreign education is equal to Canadian education. Candidates with a University degree at the Doctoral (PhD) level or equal can get 25 points. For a University degree at the Master’s level or University level entry-to-practice professional degree (or equal), a candidate can get up to 23 points.

Federal Skilled Trades Program
The Federal Skilled Trades Program is an Express Entry program that allows candidates to become permanent residents if they are qualified in a skilled trade and if they fulfill the minimum requirements. People who apply for permanent residence through this program have to plan to live in Canada but outside of Québec as this Province has its own Skilled Trade Program. Moreover, they have to meet minimum language abilities in English or French and take a test approved by Immigration Canada.

Federal Skilled Trades Program Minimum Requirements

The minimum English level is CLB 5 for speaking and listening and CLB 4 for reading and writing. Candidate’s test results must not be more than two years old on the day they apply for permanent residence.

Another minimum requirement is work experience. Candidates must have at least two years of experience within the five years before applying, either part-time, full time or work experience at more than one job.

Furthermore, they have to meet the job requirements for the specific skilled trade according to the National Occupational Classification. Another important requirement is to have either an offer of full-time employment for a total period of at least one year or a certificate of qualification in the specific trade issued by a Canadian province or territory. An important fact of this program is that education level is not required; however, it is important to get points under the Express Entry System.

According to the IRCC, 1.178 candidates were admitted in 2019 through this Program.

Canadian Experience Class
Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is a permanent resident category for candidates with skilled work experience in Canada. Canadian government developed this category for foreign graduates with qualifying Canadian work experience and temporary foreigners. Candidates who apply for permanent residence through CEC must meet some minimum requirements.

Canadian Experience Class minimum requirements

Candidates must have at least 12 months of skilled work experience in Canada during the last three years before they apply, either full-time or part-time job. An important fact is that work experience just counts after the completion of the course of study. In fact, any work experience while candidates study does not count for them. In addition, the work experience has to be gained while the candidate has a legal temporary resident status as a worker.

Another factor is that candidates have to show their language ability. The minimum score for NOC A or 0 jobs is CLB 7 and CLB 5 for NOC B jobs. It is important to mention that NOC 0 are Managerial jobs, NOC A are professional jobs, and NOC B are technical jobs and skilled trades.

Canadian Experience class has some steps and requirements to have an adequate application for permanent residence. Immigration Pros has extensive experience to guide you through this type of application. Call us for consultation.

Provincial Nominee Program
This program is used by provinces and territories in Canada to nominate immigrants that contribute to the province’s economy or territory based on their education, work experience and skills. It is important to mention that each province/territory has its own criteria for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

Provinces and territories can nominate business people, skilled workers or semi-skilled workers and also students. This program has become increasingly important for candidates who want to get permanent residence in Canada. In fact, 20.014 candidates were admitted in 2019 and gained their permanent residency through this program. Candidates in the Express Entry pool who are nominated from a province can get 600 points in the CRS.

Express Entry procedure for Provincial Nominee Programs

There are two ways to apply for an Express Entry PNP:

First, a candidate can contact the province or territory and apply for a nomination under the specific province’s Express Entry stream. After being accepted, the candidate has to create an Express Entry profile to accept the nomination.

The second way is to first create an Express Entry profile to show in which province or territory the candidate wants to live and work. Then, wait for a notification of interest of the specific province or territory and then apply under its Express Entry Stream.

What is CRS?

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is a point-based system used by the government to assess and score candidates’ profiles.

Candidates are ranked in the Express Entry Pool, and the highest scores can get an ITA to immigrate as a permanent resident in Canada. According to Immigration Canada (IRCC), the total number of points assigned by the CRS is 1,200 points under four divisions:

The core human capital factors establish a maximum of 500 points if the candidate has no spouse or common-law partner and 460 points if they have an accompanying spouse or common-law partner.
For skill transferability factors, candidates can get up to 100 points.
For accompanying spouse or common-law partner factors, candidates can obtain a maximum of 40 points.
For additional factors (like Education degrees from Canada, valid job offer, Provincial Nomination, siblings living in Canada and strong French skill), candidates can get up to 600 points.

Candidates must know that they can increase their points in the CRS to get a higher score by bettering any of these conditions (a better job offer, more education or language proficiency).

While it is essential to understand the application steps of Express Entry in Canada, we know that it may be overwhelming and confusing to navigate this process without the help of a certified immigration consultant.  Our advisors can assess you on the entire Express Entry application.