Canada is a developed country, whose economic progress is built on immigration. Immigration to Canada is an engine for the growth of the well-being of the population of a country that is in dire need of highly qualified and skilled workers. Foreign professionals are in demand in all provinces of the country. Federal economic immigration is served through the Express Entry online system!
What is Express Entry?
Express Entry (EE) is a federal system for selecting qualified candidates for permanent residence in Canada. Potential immigrants must apply online through Express Entry for one of the three federal economic immigration programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW) is a program for skilled workers. The program is aimed at engineers, programmers, managers with higher education.
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST) is designed for tradespeople with a one-year job offer from a Canadian employer in a NOC B tradesman’s skill. FST is suited for electricians, mechanics, construction workers and other technical or vocational education professionals.
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is a program for professionals with Canadian work experience of at least 12 months of full-time employment in the NOC 0, A or B. It is created for international students, graduated from Canadian colleges and universities and foreign workers who came to Canada to work for a Canadian employer.
The federal government has delegated some of the powers in immigration to the provinces, which have their immigration programs under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), which are linked to Express Entry. Successful completion of the provincial program will allow you to apply for permanent residence through Express Entry, and the province nomination grants an additional 600 points in the system.
PNPs linked to Express Entry
- Ontario Human Capital Priorities (OINP HCP) is a program that selects candidates working in in-demand occupations. The province invites candidates within the Express Entry system.
- Ontario French-Speaking Skilled Worker (OINP FSSW) is a program for candidates with good knowledge of French and English. The province invites candidates within the Express Entry system.
- Ontario Skilled Trades (OINP ST) is a program for tradespeople similar to the federal FST program. The primary condition of this program is work experience in the province of Ontario. This program is designed for foreign graduates and foreign workers in Ontario who have worked for one year in Ontario.
- Express Entry British Columbia – Skilled Worker (BCPNP EEBC SW) is a program for skilled workers who have received a job offer in British Columbia.
- Express Entry British Columbia – Healthcare Professional (BCPNP EEBC HP) is a program for healthcare professionals who have received a job offer in British Columbia.
- Express Entry British Columbia – International Graduate (BCPNP EEBC IG) is a program for international students who have received a job offer in British Columbia.
- Express Entry British Columbia – International Post-Graduate (BCPNP EEBC IPG) is a program for international students who have completed a master’s or doctoral program in the natural, applied or health sciences and have received a job offer in British Columbia.
- Alberta Express Entry (AINP AEE) is a program for foreigners with strong ties to Alberta legally residing in the province when applying. It is aimed at international graduates and foreign workers in Alberta.
- Manitoba Skilled Workers Overseas: Express Entry Pathway (MPNP SWO EEP) is designed for candidates with skills, training, and experience in the in-demand occupations in Manitoba, who have strong ties in Manitoba. To receive an invitation to apply, you must have a passing score in the provincial system.
- Saskatchewan International Skilled Worker: Express Entry (SINP ISW EE) is for skilled workers qualified to participate in the program. To receive an ITA, you must have a passing score in the provincial system.
- New Brunswick Express Entry Labor Market Stream (NBPNP EELMS) is for international workers who want to live and work in New Brunswick, in the in-demand occupation.
- Newfoundland and Labrador Express Entry Skilled Worker (NLPNP EESW) is designed for foreigners who want to live in Newfoundland and Labrador and have received a job offer in the province. To receive an invitation to apply, you must have a passing score in the provincial system.
- Newfoundland and Labrador Priority Skills (NLPNP PS) is established for international students who have studied in Newfoundland and Labrador and foreign workers in medical, engineering, aquaculture or computer occupations. To receive an ITA, you must have a passing score in the provincial system.
- Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry (NSNP EE) is for foreign workers with one year of work experience in Nova Scotia. To receive an ITA, you must have a passing score in the provincial system.
- Nova Scotia Express Entry Labor Market Priorities (NSNP EE LMP) is a program for foreign workers whose occupation is on the Nova Scotia In-Demand Occupation List. To receive an ITA, you must have a passing score in the provincial system.
- Nova Scotia Express Entry Labor Market Priorities for Physicians (NSNP EE LMPP) is a program for physicians and family doctors licensed to practice in Nova Scotia, who have received a job offer from a provincial medical institution. To receive an invitation to apply, you must have a passing score in the provincial system.
- Prince Edward Island Express Entry (PEIPNP EE) is a program for foreigners wishing to live and work on Prince Edward Island. The program’s eligibility criteria depend on whether you have a job offer in the province or not. Applicants who live and work on Prince Edward Island will have priority. To receive an invitation to apply, you must have a passing score in the provincial system.
- Yukon Express Entry (YNP EE) is a program for foreign workers wishing to live in Yukon, who have received a job offer from a Yukon employer. The candidate and the employer must apply for the nomination.
- Northwest Territories Express Entry (NTNP) is a program for foreign workers wishing to live in the Northwest Territories who have received a job offer from a local employer.
How does Express Entry works?
Once candidates complete an Express Entry profile, they are awarded Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for language proficiency, education, work experience, age, and other factors. The Department of Immigration regularly conducts rounds of invitations to the Express Entry and sends invitations to apply for permanent residence (ITA) to the candidates with the highest scores. After receiving the invitation, you need to upload all the necessary documents for verification. After processing the application for eligibility and security checks, the Department of Immigration will notify the applicant of its decision. If the application was approved, the applicant will receive an immigrant visa for himself/herself and their family.
The system allows you to get a maximum of 1200 points, 600 of which can be obtained only for the provincial nomination. Of the remaining 600 points, 100 are assigned to combinations of transferability factors. Finally, of the remaining 500, 460 are allocated to the main applicant and 40 to the principal applicant’s spouse.
It will be critically important for the main candidate to achieve CLB level 9 in English, which IELTS General 7.0 and 8.0 for Listening or 9 in all four bands in CELPIP. CLB level 9 is required to achieve the maximum transferability factors scores (in combination with a master’s degree and three years of foreign work experience).
There are several ways how you can improve your profile score. The easiest way is to enhance your knowledge of the official languages of Canada. Substantial bonuses are provided for bilingualism (62 points). In addition, the higher the level of education, the more points, so raising your education from bachelor’s to master’s degree can also increase your chances. And when you find a Canadian employer, you can add 50 more points. Finally, studying and working in Canada can also bring additional points: 15-30 points for study and 35 points for one year of work experience in Canada.
How long does it take to get an invitation to apply?
The Department of Immigration aims to process most complete applications within six months, although in 2021, the processing time for all three federal programs increased. For example, the processing time of applications in Federal Skilled Trades has doubled and is currently 12 months for almost all candidates. As for the Federal Skilled Worker program, the processing time has increased to nine months. The processing time for the Canadian Experience Class has also changed slightly and now takes about seven months.
The Express Entry profile is valid for 12 months. After that, the system deletes those of them that have not been invited. However, they still can create a new profile and re-enter the pool, provided they still meet all the criteria for at least one program in Express Entry.
Book a consultation about Express Entry with Oleg Schindler!