What is Express Entry?
Express Entry is Canada's online immigration management system, launched in January 2015 by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It is the federal government's primary mechanism for selecting skilled workers for permanent residence.
Rather than processing applications on a first-come, first-served basis, Express Entry uses a competitive ranking system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Eligible candidates create online profiles and are placed into a pool, where they are scored and ranked. Every two weeks (approximately), IRCC holds a draw and invites the highest-scoring candidates to apply for permanent residence.
The result: Express Entry is one of the fastest permanent residence pathways in the world — with a target processing time of six months from the time you submit your complete application.
Express Entry manages three federal programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) — for professionals with skilled foreign work experience
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) — for certified tradespeople
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC) — for workers already in Canada
The Three Express Entry Programs
You must be eligible for at least one of the three programs below to enter the Express Entry pool. Your profile will automatically be matched to all programs you qualify for, which can improve your CRS score.
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
For internationally trained professionals with skilled work experience outside Canada.
- NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation
- Minimum 1 year continuous paid work in the past 10 years
- CLB 7 language minimum across all four abilities
- Education credential assessment (ECA) for foreign degrees
- Must score at least 67 points on the FSWP selection grid
Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
For certified tradespeople — no university degree required.
- 2 years of work experience in a qualifying trade within the past 5 years
- Valid job offer (1 year) OR provincial/territorial certificate of qualification
- CLB 4 for reading and writing; CLB 5 for listening and speaking
- Must intend to live outside Quebec
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
For temporary workers already living and working in Canada.
- Minimum 1 year of full-time skilled work in Canada within the last 3 years
- Must be NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3
- CLB 7 for NOC TEER 0/1; CLB 5 for TEER 2/3
- No settlement funds required
- No job offer or ECA required
How CRS Scoring Works
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) awards candidates up to 1,200 points across four sections:
- Core Human Capital Factors (max 500 pts without spouse): age (110), education (150), first official language (160), Canadian work experience (80)
- Spouse or Common-Law Partner Factors: education, language, and Canadian work experience of your partner
- Skills Transferability (max 100 pts): combinations of education, language, and work experience that demonstrate adaptability
- Additional Points (max 600 pts): provincial nomination, arranged employment, Canadian study, French language proficiency, sibling in Canada
The single most impactful factor in Express Entry is a provincial nomination — it adds a flat 600 CRS points, virtually guaranteeing an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in any subsequent draw. If your general CRS score is below recent cutoffs, exploring Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) is the most effective strategy.
Category-Based Selection — A Strategic Opportunity
Since 2023, IRCC has held targeted Express Entry draws for specific occupational categories: healthcare workers, STEM professionals, skilled trades, French-language proficiency, and agriculture/agri-food. These draws often have significantly lower CRS cutoffs than general draws — sometimes 80–120 points lower. If your profile fits a category, you may receive an ITA even with a score that wouldn't qualify in a general draw. This is one of the most important strategic considerations in Express Entry today.
How to Apply Through Express Entry
Determine Eligibility
Check that you meet the minimum requirements for at least one of the three Express Entry programs: FSWP, FSTP, or CEC. Review NOC codes, language minimums, work experience requirements, and the FSWP 67-point grid if applicable.
Take Approved Language Tests
Book and complete an approved language test. For English: IELTS General Training or CELPIP-General. For French: TEF Canada or TCF Canada. Results are valid for 2 years and must not be expired at time of application. Submit your application as soon as results are in.
Obtain an ECA (if Required)
If your education was completed outside Canada and you are applying under FSWP, you need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from a designated organization (e.g., WES, ICAS, IQAS). An ECA confirms your foreign credential is equivalent to a Canadian standard.
Create Your Express Entry Profile
Log into IRCC's online portal and submit your Express Entry profile. You will enter details about your education, work history, language scores, and other factors. Your CRS score is calculated automatically and you are placed in the pool.
Await an Invitation to Apply (ITA)
Draws occur approximately every two weeks. If your CRS score meets or exceeds the draw cutoff, you will receive an ITA. Cutoffs vary by draw type — general draws, CEC-specific draws, and category-based draws all have different thresholds. Track draw history to understand trends.
Submit Your PR Application (60-Day Window)
Once you receive your ITA, you have exactly 60 days to submit a complete permanent residence application with all supporting documents. This includes police certificates, medical exam results, employment reference letters, proof of funds (if required), and more. There are no extensions — preparation is critical.
Government Application Fees
The following fees are paid to IRCC when you submit your permanent residence application. These are government fees and do not include professional consulting fees.
| Fee Item | Amount (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Application Processing Fee (Principal Applicant) | $850 |
| Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) | $515 |
| Processing Fee per Spouse or Partner | $850 |
| RPRF for Spouse or Partner | $515 |
| Per Dependent Child | $230 |
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A job offer is not required to enter the Express Entry pool under FSWP or CEC. However, having a valid job offer from a Canadian employer does add CRS points: 200 points for a senior manager or executive position (NOC TEER 0, specific NOC codes), and 50 points for other NOC TEER 0 or 1 positions. FSTP requires either a 1-year job offer or a provincial trade certificate.
Your Express Entry profile is valid for 12 months from the date you submit it. If you do not receive an Invitation to Apply within those 12 months, your profile will expire and you will need to create a new one. You may update your profile at any time if your circumstances change (e.g., new language test results, new job offer, new educational credential).
CRS cutoffs vary by draw type and change with each draw. General draws (open to FSWP, FSTP, and CEC) have historically ranged from approximately 470 to 540 points. Canadian Experience Class draws often have lower cutoffs. Category-based draws (healthcare, trades, French language, etc.) can be significantly lower — sometimes below 400 points. Check our Draw History page for the most recent results.
Yes — and you should actively try to improve your score. Effective strategies include: retaking language tests to achieve higher CLB scores (the single biggest lever for most candidates), obtaining a job offer from a Canadian employer, applying to Provincial Nominee Programs (a nomination adds 600 points), gaining more Canadian work experience, completing Canadian education, or having your spouse's strong language/education factored in.
Express Entry is the federal system managed by IRCC. Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are provincial programs where individual provinces select candidates based on their own criteria. Many PNPs are "enhanced" or "aligned" with Express Entry — meaning a provincial nomination through these streams adds 600 CRS points to your Express Entry profile, effectively guaranteeing an ITA. You can also apply to non-aligned PNP streams outside of Express Entry, though processing times are longer. The two systems are complementary, not competing.