The Express Entry system is a merit-based system which allows you to apply to immigrate to Canada through the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class. You may be invited to apply to become a permanent resident of Canada if you file a profile with the Express Entry system, score above a certain number, and are invited. Even if you are among the highest-ranking candidates, you must still meet all requirements to live and work in Canada.
How Express Entry Works
To be eligible, you must have an education and work experience which makes you qualified for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, or the Canadian Experience Class.
Your profile will be judged based on a number of factors, using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) formula. When you fill out your profile, you will get a core number of up to 600 points and may qualify for up to 600 additional points.
The core points are based on:
- Your education and work experience
- Your work skills
- The language, education, and skills of your common-law partner or spouse
You can earn additional points if you have:
- An eligible job offer
- A provincial or territorial nomination
- Certificates, degrees, or diplomas from Canada
- Good language skills in French
- A sibling living in Canada who is a permanent resident or citizen of Canada
Together, your additional and core points will give you a CRS score out of 1200.
When is the Next Draw?
You will want to get as many points as possible before the next draw. Draws for candidates are held regularly throughout the year. For example, in 2018, a draw took place on January 10 and another on January 24. On these dates, qualified candidates with the highest scores were given invitations to become permanent residents of Canada.
Draws are held throughout the year, often multiple times per month. During each round of invitations, instructions are published, indicating the time of the draw, the programs included in the draw, and the number of invitations which will be issued.
No matter when you apply for Express Entry, there will be a draw coming up since the invitations are issued on a rolling basis. For this reason, you will want to set up your profile as fully as possible so you can get the maximum number of points in time for the next draw. If you qualify for Express Entry and want to immigrate to Canada, you can start creating an online profile today.
If you would like help to ensure you get all the points you may qualify for, Immigration Direct has resources for Express Entry to ensure you understand every element of this program and may apply quickly. Our free blog gives you updates about changes to the immigration system and tips you can use.
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