Express Entry Canada 2024 – Eligibility, Cost, Steps

Are you searching information for Express Entry Canada? then you are at the right article. The shortest route to immigration to Canada is through Express Entry. However, this does not imply that everyone can use this expedited route to immigrate to Canada.

Families and individuals from all over the world can immigrate to Canada through the Express Entry immigration screening process in a matter of months. 

Since its launch in 2015, Express Entry has grown to be one of the most well-liked immigration programs worldwide and the primary force behind skilled worker immigration to Canada. Additionally, there are various scholarships for international students in Canada following which they can apply for Express Entry Canada slots. 

In this blog, we have covered all the details about Express Entry Canada. If your family is eligible, this information will assist you in determining if Express Entry Canada is the best option for you to settle in Canada.

What is Express Entry Canada?

Express Entry is an application management system that is primarily used for immigrants, refugees, and citizens in Canada to manage and process the numerous permanent residency applications received through three of Canada’s federal economic immigration programs introduced for skilled workers which include the Federal Skilled Worker program, the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trade program. 

It is a competitive immigration system, comparing all eligible candidates against one another and then inviting the top-ranked individuals to apply for Canadian permanent resident status. 

This method is one of the key drivers of economic immigration to Canada. Based on a variety of criteria, including age, education, work experience, and language competency, candidates are ranked against one another.

Families and individuals who want to relocate to Canada can become new permanent residents via Express Entry in a matter of months.

Eligibility for Express entry:

To apply under the Express Entry program, you must get at least 67 points out of 100. A points-based system is used in the Canada Express Entry application process to categorize applicants who want to settle in Canada. The candidates receive points according to a Comprehensive Ranking System, or CRS. Candidates receive points according to their qualifications, work history, employment status in Canada, and nomination by a province or territory.

The likelihood of receiving an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence in Canada increases with the number of points. Every Express Entry draw has a minimum cutoff score that is determined by the Express Entry points system. Certain criteria are:

1. Age: 

Applicants can score maximum points if they are aged between 18-35 years. Those above this age group will score lesser points.

2. Education: 

Your minimum educational requirement must match Canada’s higher secondary education level. More points are awarded for higher educational qualifications.

3. Employment history: 

You must have worked for a minimum of a year to receive the required number of points. You will receive more points if you have worked for a longer period.

4. Language proficiency: 

To be eligible to apply and receive the required minimum points, you must have at least 6 bands on your IELTS exam, which is equal to a CLB 7. More points are awarded for higher scores.

5. Adaptability: 

If you have close relatives or family who now reside in Canada and can help you once you relocate, you can receive 10 points on the adaptability element. If your legal partner or spouse is prepared to go to Canada with you, you can also earn points in that regard.

6. Arranged employment: 

You are eligible for ten points if you have a legitimate job offer from a Canadian employer.

Programs under express entry:

Candidates can apply for a few different programs through the Express Entry system. The first is for people with expertise and talents in a particular field and is called the Federal Skilled Worker Program. For people with prior expertise in a skilled profession, there is the second option, the Federal Skilled Trades Program. The Canadian Experience Class is the last option; it is intended for people who have already obtained work experience in Canada.

1. Federal Skilled Worker Program:

The Federal Skilled Worker Program is intended for individuals who possess expertise and experience in a particular field. Applicants must have at least one year of work experience in a high-demand occupation to be considered. Furthermore, they must possess the necessary language skills and educational background.

2. Federal Skilled Trades Program:

For those with prior expertise in a skilled craft, there is the Federal Skilled Trades Program. A certificate of qualification from a Canadian provincial, territorial, or federal government, or at least two years of work experience in a skilled trade, is required for eligibility. They also need to possess the necessary linguistic skills.

3. Canadian Experience Class:

For people who have already worked in Canada, there is a class called Canadian Experience. A minimum of one year of work experience in a skilled occupation in Canada is required for eligibility. Furthermore, they must possess the necessary language skills and educational background.

Steps to apply to Express Entry Canada:

1. Determine the eligibility for Express Entry:

The applicants should be eligible under one of the following federal economic immigration programs.

• Federal skilled worker program which is meant for foreign workers
• Canadian experience class which targets Canadian workers
• Federal skilled trades program meant for trade workers

While there is some alignment between the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) and the Express Entry program, eligibility for one of the three federal programs is still a requirement for candidates to be considered for admission into the pool.

Each linked Express Entry program has different qualifying standards, but all applicants must meet a minimum requirement of one year of specialized work experience and a specified level of proficiency on an authorized English or French language test. Additionally, Canada checks all candidates for Express Entry for medical conditions and criminal histories that would prevent them from entering the country.

2. Create an express entry profile:

Those who meet the requirements must submit a profile to the candidate pool. An Expression of Interest (EOI) is made through the Express Entry profile. Candidates who meet the eligibility requirements will immediately be compared against the other candidates in the pool and given a score based on their profile.

Based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), Express Entry has a ranking score of 1,200 points. By making changes to their CRS score, candidates can raise their ranking. A candidate’s chances of receiving an Express Entry Invitation to Apply (ITA) increase with their CRS score.

A cut-off point for Express Entry draws is the CRS score. Its purpose is to forecast the probability of economic success for an applicant using Express Entry in Canada. It rates candidates according to a variety of criteria, including their educational background, professional experience, language proficiency, and whether or not they have previously obtained a qualified job offer or provincial nomination in Canada.

A few other criteria, such as having a legitimate work offer from a Canadian business or receiving a provincial nomination, may also earn candidates extra points.

3. Improve the CRS score:

Applicants can raise their score and profile in the Express Entry pool if they haven’t been chosen yet. They can accomplish this by sending in fresh, current data. Increased language proficiency scores, evaluations of educational background, adding more international or Canadian work experience, getting a qualified job offer, or getting nominated by a province are a few examples. 

4. Get an invitation to apply:

Express Entry lotteries are regularly held by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)—typically every two weeks. Candidates for Express Entry who meet a particular rank are asked to apply for permanent residence in Canada during these drawings. A candidate’s profile will expire after 12 months if they are not invited, at which time they can submit a new one.

5. Submit your application for permanent residence:

You will have sixty days from the date you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) to complete your application for permanent residency. You must submit this application with a lot of personal information and supporting paperwork. The application is submitted electronically in its entirety.

You must wait to hear back from the application committee before receiving a final decision. Six months or less is the average processing time for 80 percent of Express Entry applications. You will be given the go-ahead to activate your permanent resident status in Canada if your application is accepted. 

Time duration to immigrate to Canada through Express Entry:

The goal of Canada’s Express Entry system is to grant quick access to permanent residence. The entire procedure may take six months or less for eligible Express Entry applicants who enter the pool, receive an invitation to apply (ITA), and promptly submit a complete application for immigration to Canada for permanent status. 

Nevertheless, you should be aware that the following factors could cause this period to pass before you become a permanent resident:

1. Certain applicants receive an invitation shortly after joining the Express Entry pool, while other candidates may not receive an invitation at all or only receive one month later, based on their CRS score and the CRS cut-off thresholds in Express Entry drawings.
2. After receiving an invitation, some candidates might be prepared to file for immigration to Canada right away, while others would require more time than the 60 days allowed.
3. Although the IRCC tries to handle applications for permanent residency within six months, decisions on some applications may take longer, and other applications may not be processed in that amount of time.

How much does Express Entry cost?

The cost of immigration to Canada through Express Entry is roughly around $2,300 CAD per applicant and about $4,500 CAD for a couple. The breakdown of costs includes:

• Language tests: The average cost is around $300
• Educational: Credential Assessment: The average cost is around $200
• Biometrics: Around $85 per person
• Government fees: It is about $1,325 per adult and $225 per child
• Medical examination fees: The average cost is about $450 per adult and $250 per child
• Police clearance certificates: The average cost is around $100 per country

You do not need to pay any government fees to submit your first Express Entry profile. Only when you are invited to apply for permanent residency in Canada are the payments demanded. 

You should also be informed that you will have to provide proof of having enough money to sustain your resettlement in Canada unless you are applying under the Canadian Experience Class program or have a legitimate planned employment offer. You must have access to these settlement monies to be granted a visa for permanent residence; nonetheless, they are not payments paid to the government. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion:

For applicants seeking to enter the nation with a permanent resident visa, Canada Immigration via Express Entry is the most popular route. Applications from skilled workers seeking to become permanent residents of Canada are managed using the online application management system called Express Entry. 

Eligible applicants are evaluated using a point system that takes into account the details listed in their profile, including nomination, work status, abilities, and experience.

Approximately every two weeks, the Canadian government runs an Express Entry draw. There is a CRS cut-off score for each draw that indicates the applicant with the lowest CRS score who is asked to apply for permanent residence.