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Canadian Express Entry system is the application platform that Canada uses to manage most immigration applications. It also is the most popular platform to use to immigrate to Canada.

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Typically, Canadian Express Entry draws for permanent residence occur approximately every two weeks.

In each draw, Canada issues qualified candidates from the Express Entry pool an invitation to apply for permanent residence.

You may pre-qualify for a Canada immigration program.

After Immigration and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) approves your application. You then complete the landing process, and officially become a Canadian permanent resident.

Eligibility for Canadian Express Entry – General

You must first create an Express Entry profile in order to enter the Canadian Express Entry pool.

As well, you must meet the eligibility requirements for one of the three programs. These are: the Federal Skilled Worker Class; the Federal Skilled Trades Class; and the Canadian Experience Class.

A job offer is not required to enter or be selected from the Express Entry pool. However, additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score points are awarded to those who already have a job.

A total of 1,200 points is available. Out of that, 600 points are available for a job offer or a nomination under any of Canada’s Provincial Immigrant Nomination Programs (PNPs).

A candidate’s CRS score is based on factors such as age, education, skilled work experience and proficiency in English or French.

Individual applicant or a couple may get CRS points. Candidates do not need to have any experience in Canada in order to get ITA for permanent residence.

Your CRS is a numerical value, out of a possible 1,200, determined by your core human capital. This is essentially your age, work experience, educational background, ability to adapt and language skills.

Importantly, only a limited number of candidates with the highest CRS points in the pool get Invitations to Apply (ITAs).

Canadian Express Entry Quick Steps

How Express Entry works

Step 1: Find out if you’re eligible

There are two ways to find out if you’re eligible for a program that is part of Express Entry:

Step 2: Get your documents ready

You need documents, such as language test results, to show that you’re eligible for Express Entry.

However, note that some documents take a long time to get, so you should get them ready now.

Get the documents you need

Step 3: Submit your profile into Canadian Express Entry pool

See How to create Canadian Express Entry profile for your Canada PR Application

Basically, your Express Entry profile is where you give IRCC information about yourself.

A key point specifically if you’re married or have a common-law partner. One of you must be the main or principal applicant.

To clarify, this person is the ONE to submit a profile and list the spouse or partner in it.

Your principal applicant should be the one of you most likely to:

meet the eligibility requirements
earn the most points in the selection factors (if applying under the Federal Skilled Workers Program)
earn the most points in Express Entry’s Comprehensive Ranking System

If you’re eligible, IRCC will accept you, and register you into the Express Entry pool of candidates.

You’ll be ranked in the Express Entry pool using the CRS points-based system. Your score is based on the information in your profile.

Quickly Check your CRS score with our simple FREE CRS Score calculator.
THEN use the more detailed official Canada government CRS Score form for Free.
THEN create your official Canada government Express Entry Profile.

Step 4: Receive an invitation and apply for Canadian permanent residence

IRCC will send Invitations to Apply (ITA) to the candidates with the highest scores in the pool.

If IRCC invites you to apply, you’ll have 60 days to submit your application for permanent residence.

IRCC processes complete applications that have all the supporting documents in 6 months or less.

Apply for Canadian permanent residence

How to improve your Canadian Express Entry CRS score

An Express Entry candidate typically needs a CRS score of 470-490 points in a regular draw.

To emphasize, to get to these higher scores you need to maximize your points on all available factors.

We advise that you continue to improve your Express Entry CRS scoring. See for example Tips for Improving Express Entry CRS Scores.

Additional resources:

Documents for Express Entry Profile

To emphasize again, you need certain documents at different stages of the Express Entry application process.

You don’t need to upload documents to submit a profile. However, you may need information from some or all of these documents:

passport or travel document
language test results
education credential assessment report if
- you’re applying through the Federal Skilled Workers program, or
- you want to get points for the education you got outside Canada
provincial nomination (if you have one)
written job offer from an employer in Canada (if you have one)

Documents for your application for Canadian permanent residence

Most importantly, you must upload the documents referenced in your profile.

Most applicants will also need to upload the following: