A Step-by-step Guide to Creating an Online Express Entry Profile

Online Express Entry profiles allow the Canadian government to assess whether a skilled immigration applicant is eligible to immigrate to Canada through a variety of programs (such as the Federal Skilled Worker and the Canadian Experience Class programs for example). Based on the information provided on the official IRCC website, we put together a simple, step-by-step guide to get your Express Entry profile setup.

Step 1: Look Into a Language Test

All the skilled immigration programs that are part of the Express Entry system require applicants to take a language test in at least one of Canada’s two official languages, English or French.

You can learn more about language test requirements based on program of interest by following this link.

Step 2: Get Your Foreign Education Credentials Assessed (if necessary)

Applicants who were educated outside of Canada should have their degree assessed in order to ensure that their foreign education is equivalent to a similar Canadian education (depending on the requirements of the program they’re applying to).

For example, obtaining a credential assessment is mandatory for anyone who wants to immigrate to Canada under the Federal Skilled Worker Program. However, the assessment isn’t mandatory if the applicant is applying under the Federal Skilled Trade Program or the Canadian Experience Class.

While a credential assessment is not mandatory for all Express Entry programs, a successful assessment can increase an applicant’s chances of success regardless of the Express Entry program under which he or she applies.

Step 3: Determine Your National Occupation Classification (NOC)

All Express Entry applicants must be able to show that their work experience locally or from abroad meets the definition of an occupation that is included in Canada’s National Occupation Classification database.

Note: Applicants with the following types of work experience may apply for immigration under the Express Entry System.

• Skill Type 0 (Management Jobs)
• Skill Level A (Professional Jobs)
• Skill Level B (Technical Jobs and Skilled Trades)

Step 4: Determine Your Eligibility for Express Entry Immigration

The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s website contains an online tool that can help applicants determine whether or not they are eligible to use the Express Entry system. This tool is used prior to an Express Entry profile being created.

Note: In order to use the tool, applicants must:

• Already have taken a language test
• Identify the National Occupation Classification (NOC) skill type or level under which they will be applying

Step 5: Build your Express Entry profile

If the online tool determines that you are eligible to apply for Express Entry immigration, you will be able to begin building your Express Entry profile.

The following types of information are typically provided by applicants when creating Express Entry profiles:

• Identity and age
• Contact information
• A detailed account of their educational history
• A detailed account of their work experience
• Language proficiency
• Factors that facilitate their adaptability to life in Canada
• Family composition
• Information on their spouse or common-law partner (if applicable)

Typically, in order to successfully complete a profile, applicants would need:

• Their passport or travel document
• The title and code of the occupation that best describes their work experience as stated in the National Occupation Classification Database
• Language test results
• Foreign Educational Credential assessment result (if necessary)
• A copy of a written job offer from a Canadian employer (if the applicant has been offered a job).
• Proof of provincial nomination for permanent residence (if the candidate has received a provincial nomination).
• Personal reference code from IRCC’s online eligibility verification tool (see step 4 above). All applicants will receive a reference code upon the successful use of the online tool.

Are you eligible to immigrate to Canada under one of the three main Express Entry programs? FIND OUT NOW

Step 6: Submit Your Profile

Once you are done with your profile and have submitted, you will receive an Express Entry profile number.

If your profile fulfills the Express Entry requirements as well as the criteria for one of the three Express Entry Immigration programs Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Federal Skilled Trades (FST)or Canadian Experience Class (CEC) you will be placed into the Express Entry candidate pool.

Important Note: Entering into the pool DOES NOT mean that you will automatically be invited to apply for permanent residence. Once applicants enter the pool, they will be assessed a score using the Comprehensive Ranking System. Only if the score meets the lowest score (and additional requirements) that are set by the IRCC during a periodic draw, will an applicant be invited to apply for permanent residence.

Step 7: Next Steps

Registration for the Canadian Job Bank is not required for Express Entry candidates. The Job Bank is Canada’s national employment service. Candidates can explore Canadian employment opportunities through it.

An Express Entry profile remains valid for one year. However, an Express Entry profile could become invalid before one year passes if:

• The applicant no longer meets relevant Express Entry or skilled immigration program criteria
• The applicant has received an invitation to apply for permanent residence.

Note: Applicants who decline an invitation to apply for permanent residence will see their profiles become valid again

An Express Entry profile should remain valid even if a candidate updates the information on the profile.

If one year passes without a candidate receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residence, their profile will automatically become invalid and removed from the pool.

Now that you know how to create an Express Entry profile, you are much closer to realizing your goals of immigrating. Feel free to contacts us if you have any questions and check out the Canadian government’s website for more details on Express Entry process, timelines and definitions.

Interested in Canadian employment opportunities? Check out the Employment section in the VisaWire app! It has various relevant resources including job boards and guides for finding employment in Canadian tech startups and other industries.

P.S. It is important to note that VisaWire is not an immigration lawyer or consultant. While we have gathered all of the information from the official government website, we highly recommend that you read up on Express Entry and your programs of interest directly on the IRCC website and seek the advice of an immigration professional if necessary.

P.P.S. If you are interested in assistance with your Express Entry profiles along with any immigration advice, we highly recommend you check out our partners Canada Abroad and DF Immigration! They have helped thousands of candidates fulfill their Canadian immigration goals over the past few years and can help you get started as well.