In 2025, Canada plans to admit over a hundred thousand new permanent residents through the Express Entry system.
If you’re seeking to settle in Canada as a permanent resident, Express Entry may be one of the quickest ways for you to receive permanent residency.
This article will cover
- How you can obtain permanent residence through the Express Entry system;
- What you need to be eligible as an Express Entry candidate;
- How to be considered as an Express Entry candidate;
- How the Canadian federal government invites candidates to apply for permanent residency through Express Entry;
- How you can increase your chances of success in achieving Canadian permanent residency through Express Entry;
- The amount of settlement funds you’re required to have per family member; and
- What constitutes a valid job offer under the Express Entry System.
We’ll also touch briefly on your options if you wish to settle in Quebec, and on other pathways to permanent residency if you don’t qualify for Express Entry.
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How can I obtain permanent residency through Express Entry?
You cannot apply directly for permanent residence through Express Entry. Instead, you must first receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from the Canadian federal government.
Getting permanent residency through Express Entry looks like this:
- Be eligible to enter the Express Entry pool.
- Create an Expression of Interest (EOI) in the Express Entry system.
- Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) through the Express Entry system.
- Apply to the federal government for permanent residency.
What is needed to be eligible for Express Entry?
To enter the Express Entry pool, you must be eligible for at least one of the three federal immigration programs managed through Express Entry, all of which require skilled work experience:
| Program | Whom it’s for |
|---|---|
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | Foreign nationals with Canadian work experience. |
| Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) | Foreign nationals without Canadian work experience. |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) | Foreign tradespeople without Canadian work experience. |
In addition to meeting the program criteria, you must also have an intention to reside in a province or territory other than Quebec.
For a summary comparison of the requirements for each of these programs, see the following table:
| Eligibility Criteria | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) | Federal Skilled trades Program (FSTP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language proficiency | CLB 7 (all abilities) for TEER 0 or 1 occupations
CLB 5 (all abilities) for TEER 2 or 3 occupations |
CLB 7 – all abilities | CLB 5 for listening and speaking
CLB 4 for reading and writing |
| Education | N/A | Canadian secondary education or equivalent in foreign education | N/A |
| Work experience | One year in Canada within the last three years | One year of continuous work experience within the last 10 years | Two years within the last five years |
| Type/level of work experience | Any skilled occupation | Any skilled occupation | Select trades occupations |
| Additional program-specific requirements | Canadian work experience | Score at least 67/100 points on the skilled worker selection grid | Certificate of qualification
OR A valid job offer |
| Settlement funds required? | No | Yes* | Yes* |
*You can be exempt from the settlement funds requirement if you have a valid job offer and are legally authorized to work in Canada.
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Summary of requirements specific to CEC
Unlike the FSTP and FSWP, the CEC has no education requirement and does not require settlement funds.
Also, the minimum of one year of work experience does not have to be continuous.
Summary of requirements specific to FSWP
Unlike the CEC, FSWP does not require Canadian work experience, and can include work experience over the past 10 years.
To qualify for the FSWP, you must score at least 67/100 points on the FSWP grid. You can score points for
- Age;
- Education;
- Language proficiency; and
- Work experience.
You can also score points for arranged employment, and for a number of “adaptability” factors.
The one year minimum of work experience for FSWP must be continuous, unlike for CEC.
Summary of requirements specific to FSTP
The FSTP requires that you have either
- A certificate of qualification in your skilled trade; OR
- A valid job offer from up to two employers.
A few skilled trades in Canada are federally regulated, but most skilled trades in Canada are regulated at the provincial or territorial level.
You can find information on how to obtain certificates of qualification on the official website of the province or territory in which you wish to settle.
Unlike FSWP, the FSTP does not have any education requirements.
For your skilled work experience to be eligible for the FSTP, it must fall under at least one of the following NOC categories:
| Eligible skilled work | NOC group |
|---|---|
| Technical trades and transportation officers and controllers | Major groups 72* |
| General trades | Major group 73 |
| Supervisors in natural resources, agriculture and related production | Major group 82 |
| Occupations in natural resources and related production | Major group 83 |
| Processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors and utilities operators and controllers | Major group 92 |
| Central control and process operators and aircraft assembly assemblers and inspectors | Major group 93* |
| Cooks, butchers and bakers | Minor group 6320 |
| Chefs | Unit group 62200 |
*Sub-major groups 726 and sub-major group 932 are excluded.
Work experience requirements applicable to all programs
You are not allowed to count the following kinds of work experience:
- Unpaid work experience, including unpaid internships.
- Self-employment.
- Work experience gained as a student, including work experience gained on co-op placements.*
*For the FSWP, you may be able to count work experience gained while studying towards the minimum requirements (the work experience must be continuous).
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How to enter the pool to be considered as a candidate
To enter the Express Entry pool, you must
- Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI); and
- Upload the required documents.
What does submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) entail?
To be considered as a candidate for permanent residency, you must submit an online Expression of Interest (EOI) on IRCC’s website.
In your EOI, you’ll include information about yourself and your spouse (if applicable), such as your age, education, and work experience.
Which documents are required to be uploaded?
As part of your EOI in Express Entry, you’ll need to upload
- Language test results; and
- Educational credential assessments (ECAs), if applicable.
Note: Even if you’re exempt from the settlement funds requirement, you must upload a letter explaining that you either:
- Have been invited to apply under the CEC; OR
- Have a valid job offer and are authorized to work in Canada.
Language proficiency tests
You’ll need language proficiency tests from a testing provider approved by the Canadian federal government.
The approved language tests are as follows:
- The Canadian English Language Proficiency Index (CELPIP).
- The International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
- The Pearson Test of English (PTE) Core.
- The Test d’Évaluation de Français pour le Canada (TEF) .
- The Test de Connaissance du Français (TCF).
When you take a language test, your testing provider will score you across four language abilities:
- Listening;
- Speaking;
- Reading; and
- Writing.
For immigration purposes, the scores you achieve on your language test will be converted into the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB)/Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 10-point scale, based on the government’s language test equivalency grid.
Your tests must be less than two years old at the time you apply for permanent residency.
If your tests expire before you apply, you’ll have to retake them.
Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
In order to count your foreign educational credentials towards your eligibility and your ranking points in Express Entry, you will require an educational credential assessment (ECA) for each foreign credential.
You must get your ECA through a provider approved by the Canadian federal government,* such as
- Comparative Education Service (CES);
- International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS);
- World Education Services (WES);
- International Qualifications Assessment Services (IQAS); or
- International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES).
An ECA identifies the Canadian equivalent of a foreign credential.
ECAs expire in five years.
*If you are an architect, doctor, or pharmacist, you may need to get your ECA from the appropriate Canadian professional body.
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How does the government select candidates to invite to apply?
Periodically, the Canadian federal government conducts Express Entry draws to invite candidates to apply for permanent residence.
In each Express Entry draw, the government sends invitations to apply (ITAs) to the top-ranking candidates in the Express Entry pool meeting the eligibility criteria for that draw.
Canada held 54 draws in 2024, with a total of 98,803 ITAs being issued to foreign nationals.
Types of Express Entry draws
There are three types of Express Entry draws.
Each type of draw pulls from a different set of candidates in the pool.
To be eligible for a draw, you must meet the requirements of that particular draw.
- General draws: Includes all eligible candidates with valid profiles in the Express Entry pool.
- Program-specific draws: Includes candidates for a select federal economic program (for example, CEC).
- Category-based draws: Includes only candidates meeting the criteria for a federally-established category.
The current federally-established categories include French-language proficiency, and select occupations in the following fields, linked to labour-market shortages in Canada:
- Healthcare.
- Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
- Trades.
- Transport.
- Agriculture and agri-food.
For 2025, the Canadian federal government has identified healthcare, trades, and French language proficiency as priority categories.
CRS factors and ranking
To receive an invitation to apply in an Express Entry draw, your profile must meet the cut-off score for that draw.
When you create your EOI, the government assigns a score to your profile using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
You can score up to 1,200 points across three factors:
| Factor | Maximum Points |
|---|---|
| Core human capital + spousal factors (if applicable) | 500 |
| Skill transferability factors | 100 |
| Additional factors | 600 |
You can calculate your CRS score using CanadaVisa’s CRS calculator.
Core human capital factors
Under this section, you score CRS points based on the following:
- Age;
- Education;
- Language proficiency; and
- Canadian work experience.
You can score a maximum of 500 points for core human capital as a sole candidate.
If you are applying with a spouse or common-law partner, you can score up to 460 points for core human capital and up to 40 points based on your spouse’s
- Education;
- Language proficiency; and
- Canadian work experience.
Skill transferability
You can score points for performing well in multiple areas under skill transferability.
Each of the skill transferability factors can score a maximum of 50 points.
You can only earn up to 100 points for skill transferability even if you fall under more than two categories.
Factors include the following:
- Education;
- Foreign work experience; and
- Certificate of qualification.
Education
| Factor combination | Maximum Points |
|---|---|
| Post-secondary degree with Canadian work experience | 50 points |
| Post-secondary degree with official languages proficiency (CLB 7+) | 50 points |
Foreign work experience
| Factor combination | Maximum points |
|---|---|
| Foreign work experience and Canadian work experience | 50 points |
| Foreign work experience and official languages proficiency (CLB 7+) | 50 points |
Certificate of Qualification
| Factor combination | Maximum points |
| Certificate of qualification and official languages proficiency (CLB 7+) | 50 points |
Additional Factors
You can score up to 600 CRS points for additional factors, including the following:
- French language proficiency;
- Post-secondary education in Canada;
- Arranged employment;
- Having a brother or sister living in Canada, as a Canadian citizen or permanent resident; and
- Having received a provincial or territorial nomination.
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How to increase your chances of receiving an ITA
Increasing your CRS score can increase your chances of being chosen from the Express Entry pool to receive an ITA.
Here are the factors you can pursue and the corresponding maximum number of points you can get for each factor.
| Factor | Maximum CRS points |
| Language proficiency | 260 (160 + 50 + 50) |
| Canadian work experience | 130 (80 + 50) |
| Provincial of territorial nomination | 600 |
| Valid job offer | 200 |
Improve your language proficiency
You will be scored on your primary and secondary language proficiency. Your primary language can be English or French.
Achieving a CLB that exceeds the minimum primary language proficiency requirements for your chosen Express Entry program can increase your CRS score, improving your chances of receiving an ITA.
For example, if, as a sole candidate, you were to score CLB 7 across all abilities in your primary official language, you’d earn 68 points, whereas with CLB 10 across all abilities, you’d earn 136 points.
You can also score up to 50 points under a skill transferability factor with strong language skills, and up to 50 additional points for French proficiency.
Increasing your language tests scores can be one of the simplest ways to boost your CRS score significantly.
You can retake language tests as many times as you wish.
Increase your work experience
The CRS allows you to earn points for both Canadian and foreign work experience, with Canadian work experience giving more points than foreign.
You must have gained any Canadian work experience while legally authorized to work in Canada, for example on a temporary work permits or post-graduation work permits.
You can gain up to 80 CRS points for Canadian work experience under core human capital.
For the skill transferability factors, you can gain up to 50 points for a combination of Canadian work experience and a post-secondary degree, and up to 50 points for a combination of foreign work experience plus either strong official language proficiency, or Canadian work experience.
Obtain a provincial or territorial nomination
Receiving a provincial or territorial nomination will award you an additional 600 CRS points, making it almost certain that you will receive an ITA in the next draw for which you meet the eligibility criteria.
How you can go about obtaining a provincial nomination varies depending on the PNP program. You may wish to research PNPs to ensure you’re considered as a candidate for nomination for any stream(s) for which you may be eligible.
Get a valid job offer
If you receive a valid job offer from a Canadian employer, you can boost your CRS score by 50 or 200 points, increasing the likelihood that you’ll receive an ITA. Note, however, that you can only claim CRS points for a valid job offer until Spring of 2025.
The Canadian federal government has established very specific criteria for what constitutes a valid job offer, which includes the job offer being supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or being LMIA-exempt.
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What happens after you receive an ITA?
Once you receive an ITA through Express Entry, you can apply for permanent residence.
There are several steps you need to take after receiving an ITA from the federal government. You can expect the following:
Step 1: Accept or decline the ITA—you have 60 days to submit an application after receiving an ITA.
Step 2: Gather any supporting documentation not already provided, including (but not limited to) police certificates, proof of funds, medical examination results, and biometrics.
Step 3: Complete your online application on the permanent residence portal by filling out all necessary sections and upload your documents.
Step 4: Pay the fees associated with your application, including the Application Processing Fee (APF) and the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF).
Step 5: Submit the application and complete biometrics if requested. After submitting your application, you can expect to receive an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR).
Step 6: Wait for your application to be processed. The current processing time for permanent residence applications submitted through Express Entry is six months. During this time, Immigration Canada may request additional documents.
Step 7: Once your application has been approved, you will be mailed a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and a permanent resident visa (if applicable).
Step 8: You can land in Canada before the expiry date on your COPR, and will officially receive permanent residence upon landing.
What is the NOC and what are NOC TEERs?
The Canadian federal government will assess your work experience on the basis of the National Occupation Classification (NOC). Your job will be categorized based on your Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) under the NOC.
To be eligible for Express Entry, you must have experience in an occupation under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3. There are a total of six TEER categories labeled 0 to 5.
| TEER category | Occupation types | Examples of qualifying occupations |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Management positions | -Construction manager -Restaurant manager -Marketing manager |
| 1 | Jobs requiring a university degree | -Doctor -Professor -Scientist |
| 2 | Jobs requiring a college diploma or two+ years of apprenticeship training or supervisory occupations | -Plumber -Chef -Electrician |
| 3 | Jobs requiring a college diploma or apprenticeship training of less than two years or six+ months of on-the-job training | -Real estate agent -bailiff -Administrative assistant |
| 4 | Jobs requiring a high school diploma or several weeks of on-the-job training | -Data entry clerk -Bartender -Industrial butcher |
| 5 | Jobs requiring no formal education or short-term on-the-job training | -Cashier -Door-to-door sales -Meat packager |
You will also need to identify a NOC code for the primary occupation in your Express Entry profile.
It’s important that you search based on job duties performed in your primary occupation rather than job title. Your work experience should:
- Include all the duties in the lead statement associated with your NOC code; and
- Include the majority of the duties/responsibilities associated with your NOC code.
If your work experience falls under more than one NOC code, pick the one that is most closely aligned. You must also ensure the NOC code you choose is not listed as an exclusion.
What is the required amount of settlement funds?
The FSWP and the FSTP both require proof of settlement funds for you and your family, regardless of whether they’re accompanying you to Canada or not. The CEC doesn’t.
The amount you’re required to have for the FSWP and FSTP will depend on the size of your family.
You must account for the following individuals:
- Yourself;
- Your spouse or common-law partner;
- Your dependent children; and
- Your spouse or common-law partner’s dependent children.
| Number of family members | Required funds for FSWP and FSTP |
| 1 | $14,690 |
| 2 | $18,288 |
| 3 | $22,483 |
| 4 | $27,297 |
| 5 | $30,690 |
| 6 | $34,917 |
| 7 | $38,875 |
| Each additional family member above seven | $3,958 |
For immigration purposes, dependent children are
- Under the age of 22; and
- Not married or in a common-law relationship.
Children over the age of 22 can also qualify as dependent children, provided that
- They’ve been financially dependent on their parents since before age 22; and
- They remain financially dependent on their parents due to a mental or physical condition.
What is a valid job offer?
To count as a valid job offer for Express Entry, your job offer must be
- Full-time (at least 30 hours per week or 1,560 hours per year) or combination of part-time;
- Continuous;
- Not seasonal;
- In a skilled occupation; and
- For at least one in duration year after your permanent residency visa has been issued.
You must also fall into one of the following three situations to have a valid job offer:
- Situation 1 – New LMIA-supported job offer:
- You have a new job offer supported by an LMIA.
- Situation 2 – Working on an LMIA-supported work permit
- You’re working for an employer listed on your work permit;
- Your authorized to work in Canada on the day you apply for a permanent residency visa, and on the day the visa is issued.
- Your current employer has given you a full-time job offer for at least a year if you get permanent residency.
- Situation 3 – Working in an LMIA-exempt job for at least one year:
- You’re working for an employer listed on your work permit;
- You have at least one year of full-time work experience for that employer; and
- Your current employer has given you a full-time job offer for at least a year if you get permanent residency.
For the FWSP, your job offer must be made by one employer. For the FSTP, your job offer can have been made by up to two employers.
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What if I want to settle in Quebec?
If you wish to settle in the province of Quebec, you are not eligible for Express Entry.
To settle in Quebec, you first need to obtain a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) from the Quebec government.
Quebec’s Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) runs several programs under which foreign nationals can apply for CSQs.
Current programs include the following:
| Program | Whom it’s for |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker Program Selection Program (PSTQ) | Skilled workers. |
| Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) | -Temporary foreign workers in Quebec. -Graduates from Quebec post-secondary institutions. |
| Quebec Investor Program | Foreign nationals with at least a $2 million net worth who are willing to invest in Quebec’s economy. |
| Quebec Entrepreneur Program | Foreign nationals wanting to create a new business or buy and run an existing business in Quebec. |
| Quebec Self-Employed Worker Program | Self-employed foreign nationals with experience in cultural or athletic activities . |
What if I don’t qualify for Express Entry?
If you don’t qualify for Express Entry, there are alternative pathways you can pursue. These include base Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), and federal immigration pilots.
Base PNPs
Aside from receiving an ITA through Express Entry, it’s also possible for you to apply for PR by having obtained a certificate of nomination from a province or territory.
With a certificate of nomination in hand, you can apply directly to the federal government for PR.
To be considered for nomination as a PNP candidate, you must
- Demonstrate an intent to reside in that province or territory;
- Be eligible for the PNP stream; and
- Follow the province or territory’s instructions for how to be considered.
There are over 80 PNP streams, with requirements varying considerably.
To determine which streams you might be eligible for, you can do your own research, or consult with an experienced immigration representative.
All provinces and territories have PNPs, except Quebec and Nunavut.
The Atlantic Immigration Program
The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is for foreign skilled workers and international graduates with a valid job offer from a designated employer in one of Canada’s Atlantic provinces.
Canada’s Atlantic provinces are
- New Brunswick;
- Newfoundland and Labrador;
- Nova Scotia; and
- Prince Edward Island (PEI).
AIP nominees can be eligible to receive a two-year work permit.
With support from your employer and the province, you can apply to the federal government for PR under the AIP.
Pilots
You can also obtain permanent residency through federal immigration pilot programs.
As of the time of writing, these are the current active federal immigration pilots:
- The Francophone Community Immigration Pilot: For workers who are proficient in French with a certificate of recommendation and a valid job offer from a Canadian employer in a designated Francophone community outside Quebec.
- The Agri-Food Pilot: For experienced, non-seasonal workers in specific occupations in select agriculture and food sectors with a valid job offer from a Canadian employer.
- The Rural Community Immigration Pilot: For skilled workers and international graduates with a valid job offer from an employer in one of Canada’s designated rural communities.
If you are eligible for one of these pilot programs, you can apply directly to the federal government for PR.
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