Everything You Need to Know About Express Entry and Immigrating to Canada

You intend to relocate to Canada You have heard all about the natural beauty, friendly people, and high standard of living, and now you’re ready to find out how to make it happen. The first step is understanding Canada’s Express Entry system. Express Entry is the application system that manages immigration to Canada for skilled workers. Through Express Entry, Citizenship and Immigration Canada selects the strongest candidates from a pool of applicants to apply for Canadian permanent residence. If you meet the eligibility criteria, Express Entry can be a straightforward process to get your PR and start embracing the maple leaf lifestyle. This article will walk you through everything you need to know about Express Entry, from making sure you’re eligible to applying to what happens after you get selected. By the time you finish reading, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying poutine, hockey, and “oot and aboot” speak in your new home and native land.

What Is or How Does Canada Express Entry Work?

Express Entry is Canada main way to apply as a skilled immigrant. I am online system that allows you to submit an application for permanent residence. The government then ranks candidates based on factors like work experience, language skills, and education. The highest-ranked candidates get an invitation to apply for permanent residence.

So how does Express Entry work? First, you need to see if you eligible. The main requirements are having at least 1 year of skilled work experience, a post-secondary degree or diploma, and strong English or French language skills. If you meet the criteria, create an online profile to enter the Express Entry pool.

Your profile is scored based on the Comprehensive Ranking System, which considers your age, education, work experience, language skills, and other factors. The government then holds regular draws from the pool and issues invitations to apply for permanent residence to the top-ranked candidates.

If you receive an invitation, you have 60 days to submit an electronic application for permanent residence. The government aims to process most applications in 6 months or less. Once approved, just pack your bags our on your way to living and working in Canada permanently!

The Express Entry system is a fast and efficient way for skilled workers to get their foot in the Canadian door. While the process may seem complicated, the key is just making sure you understand the criteria, fill out all forms accurately, and get help if you need it. With the right preparation, you’ll be enjoying all that Canada has to offer before you know it.

 

 

Express Entry Requirements: Am I Eligible?

You must fulfil the prerequisites in order to be eligible for Express Entry.

First, you must be 18 years or older. Express Entry is designed for skilled workers, not dependents.

You also need at least a year of skilled work experience. This could be as a manager, professional, or tradesperson. Recent grads can use co-op work terms or internships.

To prove your work experience, get reference letters from former employers. These letters should detail your job duties, work duration, and skills.

You need a language test to prove English or French proficiency. For English, take the IELTS or CELPIP. Aim for CLB 7 or higher.

Finally, you need an educational credential assessment (ECA) to prove your foreign degree, diploma or certificate is equal to a Canadian one. Use an agency like WES or ICES.

• Meet the minimum entry criteria
• Be a skilled worker with experience
• Get reference letters from employers
• Pass an English or French language test
• Get an educational credential assessment

If you meet these basic Express Entry requirements, you got a shot at Canadian permanent residence. But aim higher – more points mean a better chance of getting picked from the pool. Maximize your points by being young, bilingual, and having a job offer or strong education.

With some work, you be well on your way to calling the Great White North home! Express Entry can make the immigration process smoother sailing. Bon voyage!

Key Steps to Apply for Canada Express Entry

To apply for permanent residency in Canada through Express Entry, you need to follow a few key steps:

Create an Express Entry profile

The first thing you  do is create an online Express Entry profile. Here you provide information about your skills, work experience, language abilities, education, and other details that will help determine your eligibility and ranking. Make sure all the information you provide is accurate and up-to-date.

Take a language test

Unless English or French is your native language, you need to take a language test to prove your proficiency. The two most common tests for Express Entry are the IELTS and the CELPIP. You need to meet a minimum score for speaking, listening, reading, and writing to qualify for permanent residency. Study hard to achieve the best scores you can.

Get your education assessed

If you have a foreign degree, diploma or certificate, you need to have it evaluated to determine the Canadian equivalent. Use a designated assessment organization like WES or ICES to have your education credentials assessed.

Look for a job offer (if needed)

While not always required, having a valid job offer from a Canadian employer can boost your Express Entry ranking and chances of getting an Invitation to Apply. Work with employers, recruitment firms, and job sites like Indeed and LinkedIn to find work opportunities that match your experience.

Wait for an Invitation to Apply

Once you submitted your Express Entry profile, the only thing left to do is wait. The highest-ranking candidates based on the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System will receive an Invitation to Apply for permanent residency. This can take 6-18 months or more, so be patient. When you receive an invitation, you submit the necessary paperwork to complete your application.

With some preparation and patience, you can successfully navigate the key steps to immigrate to Canada through the Express Entry system. Stay determine it will be worth it!

Express Entry Points System: Improve Your CRS Score

To improve your CRS score and chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence, focus on the factors within your control.

Maximize your core/human capital factors

The core/human capital factors assess your age, level of education, official language proficiency, and Canadian work experience. Make sure your language test scores accurately reflect your ability. If they are on the lower end, consider re-taking the test to achieve a higher score. The same goes for your educational credentials – if you have multiple degrees or diplomas, enter the one that will give you the most points.

 

Gain valuable Canadian experience

If you have a job offer from a Canadian employer or already have Canadian work experience, that can significantly boost your CRS score. Even one year of skilled work experience can gain you up to 80 points. The more experience you have, the more points you get. Consider looking for ways to gain full-time (at least 30 hours/week) Canadian work experience in your field.

Improve your spouse’s language ability and education

If you have a spouse or common-law partner, their scores are also assessed and added to your profile. Encourage your spouse to pursue higher education, learn one of Canada official languages, and gain Canadian work experience. The more points they have, the higher your joint CRS score will be.

Consider provincial nomination

Some provinces have their own Express Entry streams that can nominate you for permanent residence. Provincial nomination adds 600 points to your CRS score. Do some research on the different provincial nominee programs (PNPs) to find one you may be eligible for. Each has its own criteria, but most consider factors like job offer, work experience, language ability, and education.

With some strategic planning, you can implement small changes that collectively make a big difference in your Express Entry CRS score. Continuously monitor the minimum scores of recent ITAs to make sure you stay competitive. Even seemingly minor improvements to your core factors or spouse credentials can help you reach that qualifying threshold and get selected to apply for Canadian PR.

Latest Express Entry Draws and Invitations to Apply (ITAs)

The latest Express Entry draws and invitations to apply (ITAs) show the current trends in Canada immigration system. Understanding the recent draws will help you determine if you are eligible to immigrate to Canada through Express Entry and increase your chances of receiving an ITA.

Recent Express Entry Draws

The Government of Canada holds Express Entry draws roughly every two weeks where they issue ITAs to the highest-ranking candidates in the Express Entry pool. The number of ITAs and cut-off scores for each draw depend on Canada immigration targets and the scores of candidates in the pool.

In 2021, most Express Entry draws issued between 3,000 to 5,000 ITAs to candidates with scores around 470 to 720 CRS points. The cut-off scores and number of ITAs for each draw can fluctuate, but generally, candidates with scores above 470 have a good chance of receiving an ITA. The most recent draws in early 2022 show this trend is continuing.

• Draw #183 (January 19, 2022): 3,750 ITAs issued, cut-off score of 468 points
• Draw #182 (January 5, 2022): 5,000 ITAs issued, cut-off score of 469 points

What Do the Latest Trends Mean for You?

The latest Express Entry draws and ITAs are promising for candidates aiming to immigrate to Canada in 2022. With cut-off scores around 470 points for most draws, candidates who achieve a score in this range or higher in the Express Entry pool have a strong likelihood of being selected to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

Of course, there is always a chance the number of ITAs or cut-off scores could decrease in future draws. The best way to maximize your odds of being invited to apply is to improve your CRS score as much as possible through things like job offers, provincial nominations, and language test scores before entering the Express Entry pool.

Staying up-to-date with the latest Express Entry draw results and immigration trends will help ensure you time your profile submission and application for the best chance of success. With some work and perseverance, an ITA and new life in Canada could be within your reach!

Conclusion

That covers the basics of Express Entry and immigrating to Canada. Now that you have a solid understanding of the process, it’s time to start gathering your documents and building your profile. While the application process can seem daunting, take it step by step. Focus on one task at a time, ask others for help if you need it, and try not to feel overwhelmed. Before you know it, you’ll be submitting your profile and well on your way to calling the Great White North your new home sweet home. Canada has so much to offer, from stunning natural landscapes to vibrant, diverse cities. An exciting new chapter of your life awaits all you have to do is take that first step. You’ve got this! Now go out there and make your Canadian dream come true