Canada Express Entry Requirement

Individuals and families around the world can immigrate to Canada within just a few months through the Express Entry immigration selection system. Express Entry introduced in 2015, has become the main part of economic immigration to Canada and one of the most popular immigration systems globally. And it’s increasing since then. Apex Immigration Consultants helps in-depth knowledge of Canada Express Entry Requirement.

What is Canada Express Entry?

Canada Express Entry is a system used by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It manages, processes applications received through Canada’s federal economic immigration programs. Hence, applications are received from eligible candidates who have been invited to apply to immigrate to Canada based on some of the factors like human capital factors, skills, experience, and others.

Under Express Entry, (individuals and families) wishing to settle in Canada can become new Permanent Residents within just a few months.

The latest Express Entry draw took place on November 14, with 3,900 candidates set to receive an invitation to apply (ITA). As a result — the joint-highest number of invitations issued this year.

Under the 2019-2021 Canada Immigration Levels Plan, the number of new permanent residents admitted through Express Entry over the coming years is set to increase.

How Express Entry works:

  1. Potential applicants will need to be eligible under one of the following federal economic immigration programs such as:

The Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC); The Canadian Experience Class (CEC); or The Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC).

A portion of the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are streamlined through Express Entry, but candidates must be eligible under one of the three federal programs in order to enter the Express Entry pool.

  1. Also, eligible individuals may submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). This EOI will be assessed and issued a ranking score.

Canada Express Entry requirement is based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Under the CRS, candidates are assigned is a score out of 1,200 used to rank federal economic candidates for immigration to Canada. Candidates can improve their rank, and thereby increase their chances of receiving an Invitation.

The CRS is not a selection criterion (like that of the one used for the Federal Skilled Worker Class). While it’s a ranking system for candidates who are eligible under the FSWC, CEC, or FSTC.

The CRS score is used as a cut-off point in Express Entry draws. It is designed to project a candidate’s likelihood of being economically successful in Canada. It ranks different candidates based on some factors. Factors namely career and educational history, language skills, and whether they have already received a qualifying job offer or provincial nomination in Canada.

Those candidates with a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), or another qualifying job offer, are eligible for either 50 or 200 bonus points in the CRS. Provincial nominees can receive (6oo bonus points).

  1. Candidates without a job offer or a provincial nomination may then register in the Canada Job Bank. A free public resource used to help Canadian employers identify and select workers possessing the skills they require. This step used to be mandatory but now became voluntary as of June 2017.
  1. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conduct Express Entry draws at regular intervals (usually every two weeks). In these Express Entry draws, candidates above a certain rank are invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence. Invited candidates are given 60 days time period to submit an online application for permanent residence, including all supporting documentation.
  1. Candidates in the pool who have not yet been selected are able to improve their Express Entry profile and score. They can do this by submitting new and updated information. For example increased language scores, educational credentials assessments, adding additional work experience, and/or obtaining a qualifying job offer or a provincial nomination.

And for federal skilled trade program:

(Six Selection Factors – Federal Skilled Workers)

Applicants must score 67 points or higher (out of 100) to qualify to immigrate to Canada as a federal skilled worker.

  • Education
  • Language Proficiency
  • Age
  • Work Experience
  • Arranged Employment
  • Adaptability

Work Outside Quebec:

Quebec has its own skilled immigration program called the Quebec Skilled Trades Program. This is for prospective immigrants who are qualified in a skilled trade and wish to work and settle in Quebec are not able to get through the Federal Skilled Trades Program and must instead apply to the relevant authorities in Quebec.

The FSTP is only for prospective immigrants who wish to live and work in British Columbia (BC), Alberta (AB), Saskatchewan (SK), Manitoba (MB), Ontario (ON), New Brunswick (NB), Nova Scotia (NS), Prince Edward Island (PEI), Newfoundland (NL), or any of the Canadian territories.

FSTP Cap:(2018)

The maximum cap for the Canada Federal Skilled Trade Program is 3000 successful applicants, but for many of the occupations, a maximum sub-cap of 100 is applied. To qualify for the Skilled Trades Program an applicant must first be found eligible through various factors such as job offers, qualifications, language proficiency, and work experience. The employment opportunities are mainly found in the following sectors of the economy.

Eligible occupation categories:

  • law partner, your dependent children, and their dependent children (your grandchildren).
  • Spouse means either of the two people (opposite or same-sex) who entered into a legal marriage either inside or outside of Canada.
  • Common-law Partner means either of the two people (opposite or same-sex) living in the same house in a conjugal relationship.

Federal Skilled Trades Program Eligible Jobs List:

  • Industrial
  • Electrical and Construction
  • Maintenance and Equipment operations
  • Agriculture and Production
  • Processing
  • Transport
  • Manufacturing
  • Cooks and Chefs
  • Bakers and Butchers

The following occupations, all of which are classified as National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Level B, are eligible for the Canada Skilled Trades Program. NOC Skill Type B jobs are skilled trades and technical jobs that typically require a college diploma or apprenticeship training.

In general, prospective immigrants who are skilled in trades that are in high demand in Canada, such as welders, electricians, machinists, cooks, carpenters, mechanics, and plumbers, are qualified for immigration to Canada through this program. We have listed all the eligible occupations for the Federal Skilled Trades Program Canada below, including the official NOC job code pertaining to each.

Do you have sufficient funds to Apply for Permanent Residents in Canada under the Federal Skilled Worker Program?

You have to show that you have enough money in your possession to support all of your family members. Even if they will not come with you to Canada, this money cannot be borrowed from another person. The amount of money you need is based on the number of family members you have.

Family Members

For the purpose of a Federal Skilled Worker application, ‘family members’ means the applicant’s spouse or common-law partner, your dependent children, and their dependent children (your grandchildren).

Spouse means either of the two people (opposite or same-sex) who entered into a legal marriage either inside or outside of Canada.
Common-law Partner means either of the two people (opposite or same-sex) living in the same house in a conjugal relationship for at least one year.
Dependent Children means the children of the applicant or their spouse or common-law partner who are

  • 22 years old or younger and single, or
  • Financially dependent on the parent since before 22 years old and still in school, or
  • Financially dependent since before 22 years old due to a medical condition

Refugee G5 sponsorship

A Group of Five (G5) is when five or more persons (Canadian citizen or permanent residents) come together to sponsor refugee that lives outside of Canada. Furthermore, this is a fantastic program as it allows refugees to come to Canada and escape the issues they are facing in their current home country. However, it is only limited to refugees that are recognized by United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) or a foreign state. Inshort, the principal applicant must have refugee status (Syrian and Iraqi refugees are exempt from this requirement).

The refugee must meet the terms and conditions set up by UNHCR. However, this document is given by the foreign state or UNHCR must be submitted with the refugee sponsorship application. As it proves they are recognized refugee (photocopy of the document is sufficient).

Also, each G5 must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident
  • You must be at least 18 years of age
  • Live in the community in which the refugee will settle