Express Entry is an electronic management application system for immigration to Canada. It is not an immigration program. Rather, it facilitates the selection and processing of Canada’s economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Class (formerly the Federal Skilled Worker Program), the Federal Skilled Trades Class (formerly the Federal Skilled Trades Program), the Canadian Experience Class, and a portion of the Provincial Nominee Programs. Applicants make an "expression of interest" (EOI) in immigrating to Canada and, if they are eligible for at least one of the aforementioned programs, they then enter the Express Entry pool. The federal government and provincial governments, as well as Canadian employers, are then able to select candidates from this pool who will then receive an Invitation To Apply (ITA) for immigration to Canada under one of the programs. Express Entry moves Canada from a first come, first served (or supply-driven) system to an invitation to apply (or demand-driven) system. Modelled on similar systems in use in Australia and New Zealand, Express Entry aims to fast track the processing of skilled immigrants deemed most likely to succeed in Canada.

Express Entry came into operation on January 1, 2015.

The Express Entry system applies to the following Canadian economic immigration programs: The Federal Skilled Worker Class, The Federal Skilled Trades Class, The Canadian Experience Class, and a portion of the Provincial Nominee Programs. Provinces and territories are able to recruit candidates from the Express Entry system for a portion of the Provincial Nominee Programs in order to meet local labour market needs.

No. Express Entry does not change Canadian immigration program requirement. Express Entry is not an immigration program. Rather, it is a management and selection system for existing immigration programs.

Potential candidates make an expression of interest (EOI) in coming to Canada by creating an Express Entry profile and providing information about their skills, work experience, language ability, education, and other personal information. This profile is self-declared; that is to say that the material provided by the potential candidate is based on his or her own assessment of his or her personal information.

Potential candidates who create an Express Entry profile and are eligible for one of Canada’s economic immigration programs enter the Express Entry pool. These programs are the Federal Skilled Worker Class, the Federal Skilled Trades Class, the Canadian Experience Class, and a portion of the Provincial Nominee Programs. The federal government and provincial governments, as well as Canadian employers, are able to select candidates from this pool. Candidates who are selected then receive an ‘Invitation to Apply’ (ITA) for immigration to Canada under one of the programs.

Yes, all candidates need to take a language test in order to determine their language abilities. There are a set number of points available for language ability for each of the economic immigration programs that come under Express Entry, and ability must be proven by candidates taking a standardized language test approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC, formerly known as CIC). The most popular are IELTS, CELPIP for English and TEF or TCF Canada for French. As part of their Express Entry profile, candidates must submit valid language test results obtained in the past two years. Once a candidate enters the Express Entry pool, he or she can earn extra points and increase his or her rank by taking another language test and obtaining better results. As of June 6, 2017, additional points are also available to candidates who prove French language ability in addition to English language ability. Candidates can practice IELTS before taking the test.

Candidates know their points total (or score), but do not know their rank within the pool. They do, however, know the minimum score that was required for the most recent draw from the Express Entry pool. Therefore, they have a target that they can aim to meet and surpass in order to increase their chances of being invited to apply for permanent residence. Once an applicant has submitted an application after being invited to apply for permanent residence, how long will the entire process take? Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC, formerly known as CIC) aims to process the majority of complete applications received within six months from the date of submission.

If after 12 months a candidate has not received an Invitation To Apply (ITA) for permanent residence from the federal government, a Canadian province, or a Canadian employer, but wishes to remain in the Express Entry pool, he or she can create a new Express Entry profile. If he or she is still eligible for one of the economic immigration programs, he or she will re-enter the Express Entry pool.

A successful applicant can bring his or her spouse (i.e. husband or wife) or common-law partner, as well as dependent children, to Canada. In the case of married couples and common-law partners, only one of the partners needs to receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence. The spouse or common-law partner of the principal applicant, as well as any children under the age of 19 (at the time the application is received), also receive a permanent resident visa. A spouse must submit language test results and security background checks. A spouse and all dependent children, as well as the principal applicant, must pass a medical examination. Note: The government of Canada has announced that as of October 24, 2017, the maximum age of dependent children who may be included on an application will increase to under 22 years of age (at the time the application is received).

Candidates are not required to hire an immigration representative in order to participate in Express Entry. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC, formerly known as CIC) has determined, however, that authorized immigration representatives may assist candidates during all stages of the Express Entry immigration process. With over 35 years of success, lawyer David Cohen and his professional team at Campbell Cohen can help candidates immigrate to Canada by: Helping to prepare an accurate application going into the pool, lessening the risk of misrepresentation and the associated penalties; Providing job alerts related to the candidate’s occupation and promoting the candidate to Canadian employers. This increases his or her chances of landing a skilled job and being invited to apply for permanent residency; and Reviewing all supporting documents, submitting an application within the time frame set by the government of Canada, and tracking it all the way while communicating with the government on the candidate’s behalf. Potential candidates can fill out an online assessment form today and maximize their chances of success in immigrating to Canada under the Express Entry immigration selection system.