Permanent residence: express entry
If you are a skilled immigrant who wants to build a new life and settle in Canada permanently, while taking part in the Canadian economy, then the Express Entry system might be the right choice for you.
Express Entry is an electronic system that allows Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to manage applications for Permanent Residence in certain federal economic immigration categories, namely:
- Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC)
- Provinces and Territories also recruit candidates from the Express Entry system for a portion of the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) to meet their local labour needs.
Immigration Levels Plan
Federal Skilled Worker Class, Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades Class have traditionally been the most popular categories under the Canadian Economic Immigrant Category.
IRCC plans to admit through these three categories
in 2023
between 67,750 to 88,000
permanent residents
in 2024
between 89,500 to 115,750
permanent residents
in 2025
between 93,500 and 121,000
permanent residents
time
Most Express Entry applications are being processed
within 6 months or less after receiving your complete application.
What is a skilled work experience?
National Occupational Classification (NOC) is a system of classifying all jobs in Canada.
All jobs are classified into TEER levels from 0 to 5. TEER stands for Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities.
Your experience is considered skilled if you have worked in one of these
National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER categories: 0, 1, 2, 3.
TEER categories:
TEER 0
Management jobs
TEER 1
Jobs that usually require university education
TEER 2
Jobs that usually require college education OR ≥ 2 year apprenticeships OR supervisory positions
TEER 3
Jobs that usually require college education OR < 2 year apprenticeships OR > 6 months on-the-job training
TEER 4
Jobs that usually require high school education OR several weeks on-the-job training
TEER 5
Jobs with no education requirement, short on-the-job demonstration training
Federal Skilled Worker Class
Through this class, Canada admits skilled immigrants with the experience needed to contribute to the Canadian economy. The selection is based on a points system that evaluates applicant’s education, work experience, official languages proficiency, age, pre-arranged employment in Canada and adaptability.
To determine whether applicant meets the FSWC criteria, we should evaluate their application against the following criteria:
1
Minimum criteria based on age, education, skilled work experience, English and/or French language knowledge, adaptability, valid job offer.
2
Selection factors (points system)
3
Settlement Funds Requirement
The minimum criteria for the skilled work experience is at least 1 year of continuous full-time work (or 1560 hours total) in the previous 10 years at 1 job, or at more than 1 job, or an equal amount in part-time work.
The minimum requirement for the language ability in English or French is to get a minimum score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in all four language test abilities: listening, reading, writing and speaking.
For this category you must prove that you have enough funds for you and your family to settle in Canada.
Canadian Experience Class
This immigration category is the fastest way to immigrate for candidates with Canadian work experience and for international Students with Canadian work experience.
Program requirements:
- Have at least 12 months of full-time (or an equal amount in part-time) skilled work experience in Canada in the three years before applying
- Gain your experience in Canada with the proper authorization (e.g., with a work permit)
- Meet the minimum required language levels needed for their job for each language ability (speaking, reading, writing and listening):
- Canadian Language Benchmark 7 for TEER 0 or TEER 1 jobs or
- Canadian Language Benchmark 5 for TEER 2 or TEER 3 jobs
- Plan to live outside the province of Quebec
There is no minimum education requirement in the Canadian Experience Class.
Self-employment and work experience gained while being a full-time student
(for example, on a co-op work term) does not count under this program.
Federal Skilled Trades Class
This program is for skilled workers who want to become permanent residents based on being qualified in a skilled trade.
The following National Occupational Classification (NOC) jobs are falling under this category:
- Major Group 72, technical trades and transportation officers and controllers excluding Sub-Major Group 726, transportation officers and controllers
- Major Group 73, general trades
- Major Group 82, supervisors in natural resources, agriculture and related production
- Major Group 83, occupations in natural resources and related production
- Major Group 92, processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors, and utilities operators and controllers
- Major Group 93, central control and process operators and aircraft assembly assemblers and inspectors, excluding Sub-Major Group 932, aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors
- Minor Group 6320, cooks, butchers and bakers
- Unit Group 62200, chefs
FSTC applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Must meet the minimum language proficiency threshold in the four language abilities: CLB 5 for Speaking and Listening, and CLB 4 for Reading and Writing
- At least 24 months of work experience (after qualification/certification in the country where the work was performed, where applicable) in one of the skilled trade occupations mentioned above in the last five years
- Qualifications that satisfy employment requirements as described by the NOC, except for certification and licensing requirements, which are difficult to obtain outside Canada
- Offers of employment from up to two employers in Canada of at least one year duration (accompanied by an LMIA) OR a Certificate of Qualification from a provincial or territorial body
- Be qualified to meet the requirements of the trade in Canada, as defined by the NOC
- Have sufficient settlement funds
You may be eligible for more than one program through Express Entry, and can be invited to apply (get an ITA) for one program based on this order:
1
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
2
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and then
3
Federal skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
Mainstream Canadian Immigration Services Inc. will help you evaluate your eligibility for Express Entry programs, make a strategy for increasing your chances to receive Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Permanent Residence, and will make sure that the strongest possible application is submitted.
The material and information contained on this website is meant for general information purposes only and should not be interpreted as legal advice. You should not rely upon the information or material on this website to make any legal, business or any other decision. Our business is not responsible for any claims, costs, or damages that arise from the use of this website content.
Marharyta Skotnytska is a member in good standing and licensee with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). CICC is the national regulatory body designated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to regulate the immigration and citizenship consulting professions. Verify immigration consultant’s status with CICC here
