If you are planning to immigrate to Canada, you must know the term “Express Entry”. Express Entry is one of the most common Canadian immigration pathways. It allows more than 110,000 skilled workers to settle in and make their dreams come true in any part of Canada. Most usually seek help from immigration consultants to understand the system and get through it easily. This article uncovers all essential information related to Express Entry so you know what to expect.
What is the Express Entry System?
Express Entry is an online system brought forth by the Canadian Government to welcome skilled workers into the country. This online system organizes and processes skilled workers’ applications and lets them immigrate and even acquire PR if eligible.
What are the Eligibility Requirements for Express Entry?
Skilled workers are the best candidates to apply for the Express Entry system. However, you can go ahead with the application if you have a legit university degree, skilled work experience and fluency in English or French.
Express Entry consists of three economic programs such as:
- Federal skilled worker program or FSWP
- Federal skilled trades program or FSTP
- Canadian Experience Class or CEC
You need to choose any one program in the Express Entry depending on what suits you the best and meets its eligibility criteria as well. Let’s discuss what each program means and its requirements.
Canadian Experience Class
Are you looking for permanent residence here after acquiring Canadian work experience recently? This is the right pathway for you. It ranks eligible candidates through the Comprehensive Ranking System or CRS. You will receive invitations to apply if your CRS scores are impressive and make it easier for you to apply for permanent residence.
Who is eligible?
The most important criterion is to have a skilled work experience in Canada for at least 12 months (full-time) or an equivalent amount of part-time. You should have acquired the work experience within three years from the date you submitted the application.
Federal Skilled Trades Program or FSTP
The FSTP sends invitations to promising candidates. They use the CRS ranking system to choose the candidates.
Who is eligible?
You should have at least two years of work experience (full-time) or the equivalent of that part-time in a legit skilled trade. The experience should be garnered within five years after you have submitted the application. Also, you should have the certificate to practise your trade in your residential country.
Federal Skilled Worker Program or FSWP
This is the ideal immigration pathway for you if you have foreign work experience but no connections to Canada. You can still immigrate to Alberta, Edmonton or any other part of Canada.
Who is eligible?
There are four main aspects of eligibility in this case, such as:
- Work experience- You should have acquired a minimum of 12 months of work experience (skilled and full-time) within 10 years of filling out the application.
- Education- A Canadian high school diploma or its equivalent is required.
- Language proficiency- You should achieve at least the minimum Canadian Language Benchmark or CLB on an English or French test.
- Financial support- You should show that you have enough funds to support yourself and your family in Canada.
You can apply for the Federal Skilled Worker Program in the Express Entry profile if you can meet all the above-mentioned criteria. However, specific criminal offences and medical conditions can act as obstacles to Canadian immigration.
How much does it cost?
A single applicant has to pay around $2,300 CAD to immigrate through Express Entry. The typical breakdown of overall costs includes:
- Language tests- $300
- Government fees- $1325 for an adult and $225 for a child
- Educational Credential Assessment or ECA- $200
- Biometrics- $85 for each person
- Police clearance certificates- $100 for each country
- Medical exam fees- $450 for each adult and $250 for each child
You don’t have to pay government fees when you submit the profile initially. But, you will have to pay the fees if you receive an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence. You may also have to pay provincial immigration fees if you apply through a PNP.
How long does Express Entry Take to Process Applications?
The time that Express Entry takes to process applications vary. Typically, it is supposed to take no more than six months from the time you have submitted the Express Entry profile.
Many people wonder what happens to the profile if they do not receive the invitations within six months. Well, in that case, your profile remains active in the Express Entry pool for 12 months. If you have yet to receive the invitation in 12 months, you can resubmit your profile and try again.
Once you receive the ITA, you must provide the entire filled-up application form and documents. The IRCC starts processing your application if all the information provided by you is accurate.
