About Express Entry in Canada
What is Express Entry
Express Entry (EE) is an immigration system launched by the Canadian government to manage and select overseas skilled workers who wish to immigrate to Canada as permanent residents.
The EE system manages 3 federal economic immigration programs:
The system is flexible and efficient, for example, candidates can update their profiles and Comprehensive Ranking System scores in real time. It helps applicants increase their chances of being invited to apply.
How Express Entry Works
Launched in January 2015, the Express Entry system is used to expedite the application processing for permanent residency. It uses a points-based system, the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to rank and select candidates based on their skills, education, language proficiency, work experience, age, and other factors.
Eligible applicants are placed in the EE pool and ranked against one another based on their CRS scores. Periodically, the Canadian government conducts draws from the pool of candidates. The Invitation to Apply (ITA) will then be issued to candidates who have the highest ranking in a round of invitations to apply for permanent residency. ITA candidates have 60 calendar days to submit their application for permanent residence. If approved, candidates can immigrate to Canada along with their family members.
Eligibility to Apply
To determine whether you are eligible to apply through the Express Entry system, you can use the tool offered by IRCC on their website. Here are the steps:
- Go to the Submit an Express Entry profile: Online form website.
- Click on the “Find out if you’re eligible” button.
- Arrive at the “Come to Canada” tool website. Click on the “Check your eligibility” button.
- Answer a few questions about your nationality, age, language ability, education, work experience, and other factors.
- Based on your responses, the tool will assess your eligibility for Express Entry and provide you with next-step instructions.
- You may get a positive or negative result.
- If you are not eligible to apply for any stream under the EE system, the tool will not provide you with any further steps regarding the next-step application instructions. You could find other ways to immigrate to Canada.
- If you are eligible to apply for any stream under the EE system, the tool will give you a number at the end, which looks like JM1234567890. The tool will also provide you with instructions on how to create an Express Entry profile and how to submit an application for permanent residency.
Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is a points-based system used by IRCC to evaluate and rank candidates who have created a profile in the Express Entry system. The maximum score each candidate can get under the CRS is 1,200 points. It is no doubt that the higher the CRS score, the higher chance of being invited to apply for permanent residency.
The CRS assesses candidates’ profiles on various factors such as age, education, language proficiency, work experience, and other factors. It will then determine the CRS score of each candidate.
The factors that are considered in the CRS calculation are as follows:
The CRS score is dynamic and can change based on a candidate’s profile updates or changes in the pool of candidates. Candidates with the highest CRS scores are invited to apply for permanent residency during regular draws conducted by the IRCC.
How to Improve the Profile and Ranking after Getting into the Express Entry Pool?
The Government of Canada selects candidates from the Express Entry pool according to its Comprehensive Ranking System ranking. Therefore, it is in a candidate’s best interest to improve their ranking in the Express Entry pool to maximize their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence.
Once a candidate has created an Express Entry Profile and entered the pool, there are several ways they can improve their profile and increase their ranking:
- Improve language proficiency: Candidates can work hard to improve their language skills and retake the language tests to get a higher CLB level. Although having French language skills can get an additional 50 points, it is not quite applicable to candidates who have to learn French from scratch.
- Enhance education qualifications: Candidates can obtain additional degrees, diplomas, or certificates to increase their CRS score, especially getting the qualification from a Canadian institution.
- Get a job offer: Candidates holding a job offer from a Canadian employer may receive an additional 50 or 200 points, depending on the job’s skill level.
- Gain more work experience: Candidates can gain more work experience in their field. Foreign and Canadian work experience can help demonstrate candidates’ valuable skills and experience that can benefit the labour market in Canada.
NEW SELECTION MEASURE (Announced on May 31, 2023)
On May 31, 2023, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a new selection measure for the Express Entry system. Canada will implement the category-based selection for the country’s flagship economic immigration management system, Express Entry.
This approach allows Canada to attract experienced professionals in high-demand fields and prioritize the significance of Francophone immigration.
Eligibility
In order to receive an invitation in a category-based round, it is essential to fulfill all the requirements specified in the instructions for that particular round. During a category-based round of invitations, the following steps will be taken:
- Candidates in the pool who satisfy the category requirements will be ranked.
- Top-ranking candidates will be invited to apply for permanent residence.
Categories Chosen for 2023
Below are the categories chosen for 2023:
- French-language proficiency
- Healthcare occupations
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations
- Trade occupations
- Transport occupations
- Agriculture and agri-food occupations
To meet the eligibility criteria for French-language proficiency, you must fulfill the following requirements:
- Provide French-language test results indicating a minimum score of 7 in all four language abilities as per the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens.
- Satisfy all the requirements mentioned in the instructions specific to the respective round.
To meet the eligibility requirements for the above-mentioned occupations, you must satisfy the following conditions:
- Acquire a minimum of 6 months of continuous work experience, either in Canada or abroad, within the past 3 years. This work experience should be in a single occupation listed in the table provided below.
- Fulfill all the requirements specified in the instructions for the particular round.
Healthcare occupations
| Occupation | 2021 NOC Code | 2021 TEER Category |
| Audiologists and speech language pathologists | 31112 | 1 |
| Chiropractors | 31201 | 1 |
| Dentists | 31110 | 1 |
| Dieticians and nutritionists | 31121 | 1 |
| Education counsellors | 41320 | 1 |
| General practitioners and family physicians | 31102 | 1 |
| Instructors of persons with disabilities | 42203 | 2 |
| Kinesiologists and other professional occupation in therapy and assessment | 31204 | 1 |
| Licensed practical nurses | 32101 | 2 |
| Massage therapists | 32201 | 2 |
| Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations | 33101 | 3 |
| Medical laboratory technologists | 32120 | 2 |
| Medical radiation technologists | 32121 | 2 |
| Medical sonographers | 32122 | 2 |
| Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates | 33102 | 3 |
| Nurse practitioners | 31302 | 1 |
| Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors | 31300 | 1 |
| Occupational therapists | 31203 | 1 |
| Optometrists | 31111 | 1 |
| Other assisting occupations in support of health services | 33109 | 3 |
| Other practitioners of natural healing | 32209 | 2 |
| Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating | 31209 | 1 |
| Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment | 32109 | 2 |
| Paramedical occupations | 32102 | 2 |
| Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants | 33103 | 3 |
| Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals | 31303 | 1 |
| Physiotherapists | 31202 | 1 |
| Psychologists | 31200 | 1 |
| Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses | 31301 | 1 |
| Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists | 32103 | 2 |
| Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 31100 | 1 |
| Specialists in surgery | 31101 | 1 |
| Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies | 41301 | 1 |
| Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists | 32200 | 2 |
| Veterinarians | 31103 | 1 |
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations
| Occupation | 2021 NOC code | 2021 TEER category |
| Architects | 21200 | 1 |
| Architecture and science managers | 20011 | 0 |
| Business systems specialists | 21221 | 1 |
| Civil Engineers | 21300 | 1 |
| Computer and information systems managers | 20012 | 0 |
| Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) | 21311 | 1 |
| Computer systems developers and programmers | 21230 | 1 |
| Cybersecurity specialists | 21220 | 1 |
| Data scientists | 21211 | 1 |
| Database analysts and data administrators | 21223 | 1 |
| Electrical and electronics engineers | 21310 | 1 |
| Engineering managers | 20010 | 0 |
| Industrial and manufacturing engineers | 21321 | 1 |
| Information systems specialists | 21222 | 1 |
| Land surveyors | 21203 | 1 |
| Landscape Architects | 21201 | 1 |
| Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries | 21210 | 1 |
| Metallurgical and materials engineers | 21322 | 1 |
| Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants and program officers | 41400 | 1 |
| Software developers and programmers | 21232 | 1 |
| Software engineers and designers | 21231 | 1 |
| Urban and land use planners | 21202 | 1 |
| Web designers | 21233 | 1 |
| Web developers and programmers | 21234 | 1 |
Trade occupations
| Occupation | 2021 NOC code | 2021 TEER category |
| Residential and commercial installers and servicers | 73200 | 3 |
| Elevator constructors and mechanics | 72406 | 2 |
| Machine fitters | 72405 | 2 |
| Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics | 72402 | 2 |
| Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics | 72400 | 2 |
| Carpenters | 72310 | 2 |
| Plumbers | 72300 | 2 |
| Electricians (except industrial and power system) | 72200 | 2 |
| Welders and related machine operators | 72106 | 2 |
| Contractors and supervisors, Other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers | 72014 | 2 |
Transport occupations
| Occupation | 2021 NOC code | 2021 TEER category |
| Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors | 93200 | 3 |
| Transport truck drivers | 73300 | 3 |
| Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators | 72604 | 2 |
| Engineer officers, water transport | 72603 | 2 |
| Deck officers, water transport | 72602 | 2 |
| Air traffic controller and related occupations | 72601 | 2 |
| Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors | 72600 | 2 |
| Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors | 72404 | 2 |
| Railway carmen/women | 72403 | 2 |
| Managers in transportation | 70020 | 0 |
Agriculture and agri-food occupations
| Occupation | 2021 NOC code | 2021 TEER category |
| Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services | 82031 | 2 |
| Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors | 82030 | 2 |
| Butchers – retail and wholesale | 63201 | 3 |
Express Entry Draws
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) rank candidates in the Express Entry pool using a points-based system, the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Highest-ranking candidates are selected from the pool and invited to apply for permanent residence. The below table shows a list of all the Express Entry rounds of invitations in 2023.
| Express Entry – Rounds of Invitations 2023 | ||||
| ROUNDS | DATE | LOWEST CRS SCORE | INVITATIONS ISSUED | IMMIGRATION PROGRAM |
| 262 | Aug 15, 2023 | 496 | 4,300 | EE |
| 261 | Aug 3, 2023 | 388 | 1,500 | EE (Trade Occupations) |
| 260 | Aug 2, 2023 | 435 | 800 | EE (French Language Proficiency) |
| 259 | Aug 1, 2023 | 517 | 2,000 | EE |
| 258 | Jul 12, 2023 | 375 | 3,800 | EE (French Language Proficiency) |
| 257 | Jul 11, 2023 | 505 | 800 | EE |
| 256 | Jul 7, 2023 | 439 | 2,300 | EE (French Language Proficiency) |
| 255 | Jul 6, 2023 | 463 | 1,500 | EE (Healthcare Occupations) |
| 254 | Jul 5, 2023 | 486 | 500 | EE (STEM) |
| 253 | Jul 4, 2023 | 511 | 700 | EE |
| 252 | Jun 28, 2023 | 476 | 500 | EE (Healthcare Occupations) |
| 251 | Jun 27, 2023 | 486 | 4,300 | EE |
| 250 | Jun 8, 2023 | 486 | 4,800 | EE |
| 249 | May 24, 2023 | 488 | 4,800 | EE |
| 248 | May 10, 2023 | 691 | 589 | PNP |
| 247 | Apr 26, 2023 | 483 | 3,500 | EE |
| 246 | Apr 12, 2023 | 486 | 3,500 | EE |
| 245 | Mar 29, 2023 | 481 | 7,000 | EE |
| 244 | Mar 23, 2023 | 484 | 7,000 | EE |
| 243 | Mar 15, 2023 | 490 | 7,000 | EE |
| 242 | Mar 1, 2023 | 748 | 667 | PNP |
| 241 | Feb 15, 2023 | 791 | 699 | PNP |
| 240 | Feb 2, 2023 | 489 | 3,300 | FSW |
| 239 | Feb 1, 2023 | 733 | 893 | PNP |
| 238 | Jan 18, 2023 | 490 | 5,500 | EE |
| 237 | Jan 11, 2023 | 507 | 5,500 | EE |
