Express Entry Profile
What is Express Entry?
Express Entry is the Government of Canada’s online application system for permanent residency under the following four economic immigration categories:
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
- Federal Skilled Trades (FST)
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) (through an Express Entry-aligned stream)
1. Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
The Canadian Experience Class is one of the immigration programs under Express Entry. It’s for people who have already worked in Canada and want to become permanent residents.
Think of it as a fast-track option for those who’ve gained Canadian work experience while on a valid work permit.
Basic Eligibility for CEC:
To apply, you must meet these conditions:
- Work Experience
- At least 1 year (12 months) of full-time skilled work in Canada
OR
1,560 hours of part-time work in the last 3 years. - Must be legal work (not unauthorized or self-employed unless under special rules).
- Jobs must be in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 (skilled occupations).
- At least 1 year (12 months) of full-time skilled work in Canada
- Language Skills
- If your job was TEER 0 or 1:
CLB 7 in English or French - If your job was TEER 2 or 3:
CLB 5 in English or French
(You prove this through an approved language test like IELTS or CELPIP.)
- If your job was TEER 0 or 1:
- Work Authorization
- You must have had valid temporary resident status as a worker while working.
- Plan to live outside Quebec
- CEC applicants must plan to live in a province or territory other than Quebec (Quebec has its own programs).
2. Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
The Federal Skilled Worker Program is one of the main pathways to immigrate to Canada through Express Entry. It’s for people outside Canada or in Canada who have foreign work experience and want to become permanent residents.
Unlike the Canadian Experience Class, you don’t need Canadian work experience to qualify.
Basic Eligibility for FSW:
To be eligible, you must meet all 3 of these sets of criteria:
- Minimum Requirements
- Work Experience
At least 1 year of full-time (or equivalent part-time) foreign skilled work experience in the last 10 years
In a job listed under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3
It must be paid work (unpaid internships don’t count) - Language Skills
Minimum CLB 7 in English or French (test required – IELTS, CELPIP, or TEF) - Education
At least a high school diploma, but higher education gets you more points
If studied outside Canada, you need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
- Selection Factors (Points Grid)
You need to score at least 67 out of 100 points on a six-factor grid:
- Education (max 25 points)
- Language skills (max 28 points)
- Work experience (max 15 points)
- Age (max 12 points)
- Arranged employment in Canada (max 10 points)
- Adaptability (max 10 points – includes spouse’s language skills, Canadian education, etc.)
- Proof of Funds
You must show you have enough money to support yourself and your family in Canada unless:
- You already have a valid job offer, OR
- You’re already working in Canada legally
3. Federal Skilled Trades (FST)
The Federal Skilled Trades Program is part of the Express Entry system and is designed for people with experience in skilled trades who want to become permanent residents of Canada.
It’s for tradespeople like electricians, plumbers, welders, cooks, and more — whether they’re already working in Canada or applying from abroad.
Basic Eligibility for FST:
You must meet all of these requirements:
- Skilled Work Experience
- At least 2 years of full-time work (or equivalent part-time) in a skilled trade
- Experience must be within the last 5 years
- Your trade must fall under NOC TEER 2 or 3, in one of these groups:
- Major Group 72 – industrial, electrical, construction trades
- Major Group 73 – general trades
- Major Group 82 – supervisors/technical jobs in natural resources
- Major Group 83 – trades in natural resources
- Major Group 92 – processing/manufacturing
- Major Group 93 – machine operators
- Minor Group 6320 – cooks, butchers, bakers
- Minor Group 7330 – transport drivers
- Job Offer or Trade Certification
You must have one of the following:
- A valid full-time job offer in Canada for at least 1 year
OR - A Certificate of Qualification in your trade from a Canadian province or territory
(You may need to pass a trade exam in Canada to get this.)
- Language Skills
- Minimum CLB 5 for speaking and listening
- Minimum CLB 4 for reading and writing
- You must take an approved language test
- Work Authorization (if applying from inside Canada)
- You must have had legal status while working (if your experience was gained in Canada)
- Plan to Live Outside Quebec
- FST applicants must plan to live in a province or territory other than Quebec
Proof of Funds
You must show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family — unless:
- You already have a valid job offer, or
- You’re already working in Canada
4. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
The Provincial Nominee Program is for people who want to immigrate to a specific province or territory in Canada.
Each province and territory (except Quebec and Nunavut) has its own PNP streams, designed to meet local labour market needs.
If a province nominates you, it gives your permanent residence application a big boost either through Express Entry or directly to IRCC.
Basic Ways to Apply under PNP:
There are two main pathways:
- Express Entry–Linked PNP (Enhanced Streams)
- You first create an Express Entry profile
- Then you:
- Apply to a province for a nomination
OR - Get an invitation from a province that sees your profile in the Express Entry pool
- Apply to a province for a nomination
- If nominated, you get 600 extra CRS points, almost guaranteeing an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence
- Non–Express Entry (Base Streams)
- You apply directly to the province under one of their streams (not Express Entry)
- If nominated, you then submit a paper-based PR application to IRCC
- Processing takes longer than Express Entry (can be over a year)
Eligibility (Varies by Province)
Each province has different criteria, but most PNPs look for people who have:
- Work experience in an in-demand job in that province
- A job offer from a local employer
- A connection to the province (e.g. study, work, or family)
- Strong language skills (English or French)
- Education and skills that match local labour market needs
Some provinces also have streams for international graduates, entrepreneurs, or people with lower-skilled jobs.
Examples of PNP Streams:
- Ontario Human Capital Priorities Stream (for skilled workers in Express Entry)
- Alberta Advantage Immigration Program
- BC Skills Immigration
- Saskatchewan International Skilled Worker
- Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities
Important Note:
- You must intend to live in the province that nominates you
- If you move to another province too soon after landing, it could raise serious immigration issues
If you meet the minimum eligibility criteria for at least one of these categories, you can create an Express Entry profile. If you do not meet the eligibility criteria, your profile will be marked as ineligible and will not be entered into the pool.
Creating Your Express Entry Profile
To get started, log into your IRCC “MyCIC” account and follow the prompts to create a new Express Entry profile.
You’ll need to provide personal information, including:
- Name and passport details
- Nationality
- Marital status
- Education
- Work history (Canadian and/or foreign)
- Language test results (IELTS, CELPIP, or TEF Canada)
- Proof of funds (if required)
If you have a spouse or common-law partner, their qualifications (language ability, education, and Canadian work experience) can also contribute to your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.
How the CRS Works
After submitting your profile, you’ll receive a CRS score based on key factors:
- Age
- Education
- Official language proficiency
- Canadian work experience
- Foreign work experience
- Sibling in Canada
- Arranged employment in Canada
- Provincial nomination
- Certificate of qualification (for trades)
Your profile will remain valid in the Express Entry pool for up to 12 months, or until you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
Rounds of Invitations
Every few weeks, IRCC conducts Express Entry draws and invites the highest-ranking candidates in the pool to apply for permanent residency. The number of ITAs and the CRS cut-off score varies by draw. You can always view the most recent and previous rounds of invitations on the IRCC website.
How to Improve Your Express Entry CRS Score
If your CRS score is below the recent cut-offs, consider ways to improve:
- Retake your language test for higher scores
- Complete additional education
- Gain more work experience (especially Canadian)
- Apply to a provincial nominee program (PNP)
- Improve your spouse or partner’s language test scores and education
- Ensure all documentation is accurate and up to date
If you need assistance with your economic application to Canada then get in touch for a consultation.
