Express Entry Canada 2024 - Eligibility & Process

Express Entry Canada 2024: The fastest way to relocate

As a skilled worker if you wish to relocate to Canada and provide your family with the good education and healthcare then you should consider the Canada PR visa. It provides the applicant with the right to live in the country for five years and a free education and healthcare. This is also the gateway for Canadian citizenship in the future. As an applicant if you want to apply for the Canada PR Visa then the two most popular ways are –

• Express Entry Program
• Provincial Nominee Program

The Canada PR Express entry program is the federal system of selection of applicant as per which the applicant who is selected has the right to live and work anywhere in Canada where Provincial nomination is the right of the province to select the applicant who meet the demand of its region. The applicant selected can stay in that province only which has given him the nomination.

What is Canada Immigration Express Entry?

“The Canada immigration express entry program is the fastest and safest way for immigration of a skilled worker in Canada.” It is a point-based selection system in which the candidates who wish to immigrate to Canada create an express entry profile with all their personal details and information, based on the age, language, education, work experience, adaptability and language skills the points of each applicant is calculated with the help of the (Comprehensive Ranking System) CRS score calculator. Then these points are evaluated against each other. Then from the express entry pool of applicants an express entry draw is selected which invites the highest scoring applicants for immigration to Canada for a PR visa. It is only when the ITA ( Invitation to apply) is received by the applicant that one is eligible for the visa.

There are sub streams of the Express entry program –

• Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
• Federal Skilled Trades(FST)
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

FSWP - Federal Skilled Workers can enter the Express Entry pool without Canadian work experience. The selection of the applicant is based on securing a 67 points out of 100 in the Express entry Pool and those who meet this minimum points threshold are selected the points are calculated based on work experience, language proficiency, and education.

FSTP – To be selected through the FSTP the candidates need at least two years of full-time skilled trade work experience (or equivalent part-time) within the last five years. This experience must be gained after receiving certification to practice the trade in their home country.

CEC – This is not a Category for fresh applicants. The candidates need a minimum of 12 months full-time (or equivalent part-time) skilled work experience in Canada to be eligible under this stream and the work experience should be acquired within the last three years. Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is unavailable to foreign nationals without recent Canadian work experience. This ensures applicants possess relevant, local job experience for eligibility.

The Canadian governments sets a target of Immigrants each year to meet the shortage of the labour market. Canada plans to invite 1.5 million immigrants by 2026 and most of the immigrations are through the economic immigration channel especially the express entry program. Thus, it is the up teem time for the skilled workers to apply.

What is the CRS Score Calculator for Express Entry?

The CRS Score Calculator is a tool used by Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The use of this tool is to evaluate and rank applicants’ profiles in the Express Entry pool. The score of every applicant is calculated based on factors of age, language, education, work experience and adaptability and it awards up to 600 core points and up to 600 additional points there is a maximum score of 1,200. Your ranking depends on your total CRS score.

The Points are calculated as follows:

Let us look at these selection factors in detail –

• Age – The applicants who are between 18 to 35 years are given maximum points
• Education - Higher the level of education as per Canadian standards Higher are the points given. An ECA evaluation helps in determining if the education is as per Canadian standards or not.
• Work Experience – The applicants should have at least one year of work experience to be considered eligible.
• Language – The test can be taken in either English Language or French Language; the applicant needs to achieve the CLB 7 in any language, which is equivalent to 6 Bands in IELTS.
• Adaptability - You can score ten points if you have a family in Canada who can support you when you move to Canada.

Skill Transferability – The ability of the applicant is calculated concerning language competency, work experience, and education. A combination of skills can help get a reward of 100 Points.

Additional Bonus Points There are bonus points up to 600, which can be attained for language skills, education, arranged employment, or Provincial Nomination by the applicant. These bonus points can be a strong reason for an applicant to be selected for the PR visa. A lot of applicants are able to make the cut for the express entry when they make use of these additional points criterion and improve their CRS score.

The Bonus points score table is as follows:

In the Human Core Capital, the candidate is marked out of 500 when the candidate is applying as a single applicant, but when the applicant is applying as a married person, then the points are marked out of 460, and 40 points are allotted to the markings of the spouse. In which the spouse's education, work experience, and language proficiency are accessed. The bonus points are allotted to those who have Canadian Study or work experience or have qualified through the Provincial Nomination Program (PNP)

Meeting the language points score requirement:

Language score required for the First language ( Max 24 points )

How to meet the Canada express entry eligibility?

There are the candidates who possess skills, training, or language proficiencies relevant to these categories are eligible for Express Entry. The primary advantage of the Canada Express Entry immigration program is its transparency The criteria include proficiency in an official language, relevant work experience in key sectors, and educational qualifications.

The eligibility requirements for the same are –

• The applicants are expected to meet the minimum comprehensive ranking system (CRS) Score requirement as decided in the express entry draw. If they fall short, they have the opportunity to improve their score by enhancing language test results, gaining additional work experience, or through additional education qualifications in Canada.
• The applicants should have strong language proficiency in English or French language which is a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of 7. Check IELTS Score required in details.
• Factors such as job offers or having siblings in Canada contribute additional points.
• Applicants with a skilled occupation and at least one year of relevant experience.
• An Education Credential Assessment (ECA) is must which will determine that you are qualified for the job role that you are applying in.

What is the procedure for Express Entry in Canada?

The correct procedure for Express Entry in Canada is following the application steps in a well-structured manner to avoid any hassle at the time of selection of the candidature. For this you can also take the help of a reliable immigration consultancy.

The procedural steps that can be followed are -

Step 1 - Complete your Educational Credentials Assessment (ECA) if you completed your education outside Canada. This assessment verifies that your educational qualifications are equivalent to those recognized within the Canadian system.

Step 2 - Get a language proficiency tests. For English you can take IELTS and get minimum score of 6 bands or other tests like CELPIP, TOEFL or PTE where the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) is 7. [Use CLB to IELTS Converter] The test should be not less than two years old at the time of your application. If apart from English you also know the French language then it can be an advantage and you can take the Test de Evaluation de Francians (TEF) to demonstrate your French language skills.

Step 3 - Create your Express Entry profile. This online profile should include information about your age, education, work experience, and language skills and once these criterion are assessed then you will receive a score. If you meet the required points in the express entry draw then your profile will be entered into the Express Entry pool.

Step 4 – Once you have been selected and you receive an Invitation to apply ( ITA) then you can apply for the Canada PR visa with the documents required for PR which need to be submitted in 60 days time from the period of getting the ITA. Your documents will checked for discrepancy and if everything is well then you will get your PR visa and you can start packing for your next step in life.

Draws from the Express Entry Pool

2024 Draws

2023 Draws

2022 Draws

2021 Draws

What is the category based selection for the express entry program?

In May 2023 in order to meet the labour market shortage the Canadian government started the category based draws to meet the shortage of skilled workers in certain occupations which were not being meet by the local population. These occupations were selected after careful surveys and analysis –

Through a category-based Express Entry selection process the Canada targets specific skills, language proficiencies, or training backgrounds.

The new system emphasizes six key categories crucial for enhancing Canada’s economic landscape:

• French-language proficiency
• Healthcare occupations
• STEM occupations
• Trade occupations
• Transport occupations
• Agriculture and agri-food occupations

These categories are subject to annual review and may evolve based on parliamentary reports. IRCC will report on the previous years categories chosen and also the rationale behind their selection.

What is the eligibility criterion for the category based selection?

To qualify for an invitation through a category-based round, candidates must meet all requirements specified for that round. Additionally, there are specific eligibility conditions tailored to each targeted category. These requirements include -

• Demonstrated French-language proficiency
• Accumulated work experience in relevant NOC (National Occupational Classification) codes within the past three years, ranging from 6 months to support occupation-specific requirements.

What is the cost of the Express Entry Program?

The cost of an express entry can vary depending on various factors such as currency rate and other factors but the general cost for the applicants are as follows:

• Primary applicant fee – CAD 1595 per person
• Dependent fee – CAD 260
• Language tests fee: CAD 300
• Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) fee: CAD 260
• Biometrics: CAD 85/person
• Medical examination fees: CAD 250/adult & CAD 100/child
• Police clearance certificates: CAD 100

By understanding these costs, you can better prepare for your immigration journey. It's important to plan your finances accordingly and ensure you have the necessary funds to cover these expenses.

Why Choose Us?

By choosing Abroad Pathway Immigration consultant as your immigration consultant for Canada PR Visa, you will have the advantage of having your immigration application processed by professionals who have intimate knowledge of provincial and federal immigration requirements. They will be able to guide you through all stages of the process and ensure that your application receives the attention it deserves.!

We have helped dozens of professionals and students from across the country make their immigration dreams come true and thrive by providing the best advice to our clients.

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