The Canada Express Entry program is an electronic immigration program designed by the Government of Canada. It allows people from around the world to apply to immigrate to Canada based on their specific skills.
Canada needs skilled workers in a variety of occupations, the country launched the Express Entry Program to attract as many qualified people as possible. This article will explore what this program is and how to apply for it.
1. What is Canada Express Entry Program?
The Express Entry program is completed online on the Government of Canada website. It allows people to submit records of their skills, education and employment history to gain points through a specific calculator designed by the government. Depending on the type of characteristics a candidate has, they are ranked through different factors and receive points. Applications with the most points will be invited to apply for permanent residence in Canada.
If approved for permanent residence, the applicant can move to Canada and have all the privileges that legal residents have, including the right to apply for Canadian citizenship when they are eligible.
So, the Canada Express Entry Program allows skilled workers to immigrate to Canada and work there, while also being on the path to receiving citizenship.
2. What are the Types of Canadian Immigration Express Entry Programs?
Because there are different levels of skilled workers, the Government of Canada has designed four different programs in Express Entry. These programs are also known as economic immigration programs because they attract skilled workers to improve and grow the Canadian economy. These programs are as follows:
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- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Programs vary depending on their requirements for eligibility. The main differences between them are language skills, qualified occupations and work experience.
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) is designed for all skilled workers with foreign work experience to immigrate to Canada. It requires a high level of language proficiency in English or French (Level 7), as well as careers related to management jobs, professional jobs requiring a university degree, or technical jobs or occupations require a university diploma or vocational training. Finally, it also requires one year of work experience in the specific occupation within the past 10 years.
Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is designed for skilled workers in specific occupations with overseas work experience. It requires English or French language proficiency at level 5 or 4, occupations related to technical jobs require a university diploma or apprenticeship and 2 years of work experience within last 5 years. Additionally, applicants must have a valid job offer from a Canadian company and a certificate demonstrating that they have a high level of skill in their field of business.
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is designed for skilled workers with Canadian work experience. They must have a level 5 or 7 English or French language proficiency and have an occupation in management jobs, professional jobs or technical jobs. They must also have one year of work experience in Canada in the past 3 years.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is a program designed for Canadian provinces to nominate and select workers with specific skills that meet their needs. Applicants invited to apply must live and work in the province that nominated and sponsored them. The program is administered by the provinces and only uses the Express Entry portal to receive online applications.
3. What are the Canada Express Entry Program requirements?
If you have decided you want to immigrate to Canada through the Express Entry Program then you must meet the eligibility criteria. The first three programs have their own set of criteria, while the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) has some additional requirements that are specific to each province.
To determine if you are eligible, you can visit the website of Canada Government. You should click on the “Check your eligibility” button and it will redirect you to a short questionnaire. The questionnaire will ask you detailed information about yourself such as:
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- Nationality
- Age
- Foreign language skill
- Education
- Work experience
- Family member
- Detailed information about job offers in Canada
Each answer you give to these questions will be used to calculate your score on the CRS Calculator. Different answers yield different points, and each Express Entry program requires you to pass a certain threshold to qualify. The total score is 100 and, for example, to qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, you will need a minimum of 67 points.
After you complete the questionnaire, the website will generate a specific code for you. You can use that information to start your profile after creating your account.
For the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), you will need to qualify for Express Entry, but you must also meet additional requirements. You must decide in which Canadian province you want to live and contact the responsible authorities.
You can find a list of all Canadian Provinces and links to their contacts on the PNP eligibility page. Contact your chosen province and find out what the requirements are and assess whether you qualify. If so, the province must nominate you, so you can apply.
4. How to apply for the Canada Express Entry Program?
The application process for the Express Entry Programs will vary, depending on the program you want to apply for. There is a application process for the first three programs, while the Provincial Nominee Program has a different process.
Applying for the Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades or Canadian Experience Class Programs can be done through these steps.
Prepare the documents
You will need a list of supporting documents to be able to apply for the programs. This includes:
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- Valid passport of travel document;
- Foreign language test results (English or French);
- Educational credential evaluation report (for federal skilled worker and experience classes);
- Job offer letter from an employer in Canada (if you have one);
- Certificate from a competent authority to prove you have a clear criminal record;
- Medical Certificate;
- Proof that you have enough money to pay for your stay in Canada if you are invited to apply;
Submit your profile
The way the Express Entry Program works is through selection from different profiles submitted from potential candidates. So, you will have to submit your resume and prove that you are eligible.
To submit this application, you must open an account on the Government of Canada website. You will enter the code you received from your eligibility questionnaire and then answer all the questions on file. You will write details about your age, nationality, education level, work experience and submit the documents you collected in the first step.
You can complete the application in 60 days and then you must submit it. If you wait longer than 60 days, you will not be able to send it and will have to start over.
After submitting your application, you will have to wait to see if you are selected or not. Every year, the Government of Canada selects from a pool the highest scoring and ranked candidates based on their qualifications. This process can take 6 months or more, and in the meantime you can work on improving your scores and updating your profile. For example, you could retake a language test to get a higher score or get a job offer in Canada if you didn’t have one before.
Invite to apply
If you are among those with the most points, the Government of Canada will invite you to apply. Additionally, if you are eligible and meet the requirements, the province to which you submit your application will invite you to apply for the PNP.
When invited to apply, you must accept the invitation to be eligible for permanent residence. You can also decline an invitation if you are selected for a program that is not among your first choices. If you decline the invitation, you’ll have to go through the process again, submit your profile, and wait to be selected.
Apply for permanent residence
The Canadian Government will send you the necessary forms you must submit to apply for permanent residence. You will have to complete those forms as well as submit any supporting documents they require for your application to be considered. You also have to pay different fees depending on the program you sign up for.
You will have 60 days to complete your application for permanent residence, and once submitted, you will only be allowed to make significant changes.
The Canadian government will then assess your application for permanent residence in approximately 6 months and then notify you of their decision. If they approve your application then you will be able to move to Canada permanently. If they decline, they will inform you of the reason so you can correct it and reapply