Express Entry
Express Entry is a selection system the Canadian Government implemented to expedite the Permanent Resident visa process for various Economic Immigration Programs. It is an electronic process with online submissions which allows for quicker processing times, averaging around 6 months.
The following programs are processed by Express entry:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program(FSW):
The FSWP is Canada’s primary economic immigration pathway. The minimum requirements include at least one year of continuous full-time or equivalent paid work experience in the past 10 years in a skilled occupation under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level 0, A, or B; validated intermediate or better language ability in English or French; for candidates educated outside of Canada, an educational credential (certificate, diploma, or degree) and an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report. In addition to meeting the FSWP’s minimum work, language ability, and education requirements, candidates must also obtain at least 67 points under its points grid.
- Canadian Experience Class(CEC):
The CEC provides international students and foreign workers who have Canadian experience with the opportunity to obtain permanent residence. Candidates must have obtained at least one year of skilled, professional, or technical work experience in Canada within 3 years of the application date and also meet language proficiency criteria.
- Federal Skilled Trades Class(FSTC):
The FSTP is available to candidates who want to become permanent residents on the basis of qualifying for a skilled trade. Eligibility criteria include having a minimum of 2 years of full-time work experience in a skilled trade within the 5-year period of submitting an application; meet the job requirements of the skilled trade; have a full-time job offer in Canada for a period of at least 1 year or possess a certificate of qualification in the skilled trade that has been provided by an official Canadian authority; and meet language proficiency criteria.
- Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP):
All candidates who meet the eligibility requirements to apply with be placed into a pool and are ranked using a Comprehensive Ranking System. Periodically, a certain number of the highest ranked applicants will be invited to apply for Permanent Residence. Once a candidate receives an Invitation to Apply (ITA), they have 90 days to submit an application for permanent residence with ALL necessary accompanying documents. All required documents must be submitted within this timeline, otherwise they will be refused. After completing the process, successful candidates and their dependants (spouse and children) can land in Canada as Permanent Residents.
