Immigration Canada (IRCC) introduced Express Entry Program in January 2015 and since then it has become the main driver of economic immigration to Canada. It is completely an electronic process used to manage applications that is designed specifically for selecting skilled and qualified candidates for Canada immigration.
If you want to immigrate to Canada under a federal economic immigration program, the Express Entry program can help get you into the country—and working—in about 6-8 months or less.
Express Entry is a competitive immigration system, ranking all eligible candidates against one another and then inviting the candidates who are most likely to succeed economically – not simply those first in line – are able to immigrate to Canada. Candidates are ranked against each other according to a points-based system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). They are ranked against one another based on their age, education, language proficiency, work experience, and other factors. The highest ranked candidates will be considered for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.
Applicants must first meet the eligibility for one of the following programs in order to apply for Express Entry:
Express Entry is not an immigration program but, rather, it is an online application system created to manage applications for permanent residence through one of above-mentioned programs. As such, candidates must meet the eligibility requirements of one of these programs to be eligible for Express Entry.
If you do not meet the requirements of the Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Tradesperson, Canadian Experience Class or the Provincial Nominee programs, you will not be eligible to use the Express Entry system.
