Permanent Residence

Immigrate through Express Entry

Express Entry is the federal online system that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses to manage applications for permanent residence under three economic programs. It is the umbrella that ranks skilled-worker candidates in a single pool and invites the strongest profiles to apply — a leading pathway for skilled professionals who want to build their future in Canada.

01 What is Express Entry

Express Entry is an online application-management system used by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to select skilled workers for permanent residence. Rather than a first-come, first-served queue, it works as a pool: eligible candidates create a profile, receive a score, and are ranked against everyone else in the pool. IRCC then invites the highest-ranking candidates to apply in regular rounds of invitations.

Think of Express Entry as the umbrella system that sits above three federal economic programs and connects to enhanced provincial nominations. Your place in the pool is decided by the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), and your background determines which program(s) you qualify under.

Express Entry manages applications for skilled workers who plan to settle outside Quebec. Quebec selects its own skilled workers through separate programs, so Express Entry does not apply to candidates destined for Quebec.

02 The Three Programs & the PNP Link

Express Entry manages applications for three federal economic programs. To enter the pool, you must be eligible for at least one of them:

Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

For skilled workers with eligible foreign (or Canadian) work experience who meet language, education, and selection-factor requirements.

Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

For skilled workers who already have eligible skilled work experience gained in Canada and meet the required language levels.

Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

For skilled workers qualified in an eligible skilled trade, with the required work experience and language levels.

Express Entry also links to the enhanced Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). If a province or territory nominates you through its Express Entry-aligned stream, the nomination adds a substantial number of additional CRS points (see Section 04), which in practice secures an invitation in a future round.

03 Eligibility & Who Qualifies

Each of the three programs has its own minimum requirements, but most skilled-worker candidates should generally be prepared to show that they:

have eligible skilled work experience in an occupation under the National Occupational Classification (NOC), measured in TEER categories
meet the minimum official-language level (Canadian Language Benchmark, CLB) required for their program, in English or French
have the required education — a Canadian credential, or a foreign credential verified by an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
can show enough settlement funds where the program requires it (see Section 07)
are admissible to Canada (criminality and medical requirements, with police certificates or a medical exam if requested)
plan to live in a province or territory other than Quebec

The minimum language levels and work-experience rules differ by program (for example, the required CLB and the type of experience are not the same for FSWP, CEC, and FSTP). Eligibility is assessed automatically from your profile, and you cannot choose which program invites you — IRCC sorts profiles in a set order. Confirm the exact criteria for your situation with a licensed consultant or on the official IRCC page.

04 The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is the points-based tool IRCC uses to rank every profile in the pool. Each candidate receives a score out of a maximum of 1,200 points, built from four groups of factors:

Core / Human Capital

Age, level of education, official-language ability, and Canadian work experience. This is the foundation of your score.

Spouse / Partner

Points for an accompanying spouse or common-law partner's language ability, education, and Canadian work experience.

Skill Transferability

Bonus points for strong combinations — for example, high language scores paired with education or work experience.

Additional Points

Extra points for a provincial nomination, strong French-language ability, Canadian study, or a sibling in Canada.

As of June 2026, an enhanced provincial or territorial nomination adds 600 additional CRS points — effectively guaranteeing an invitation in a later round. Other additional factors are smaller (for example, up to 50 points for strong French, up to 30 for Canadian post-secondary study, and 15 for an eligible sibling in Canada). Note that job-offer points were removed from the CRS as of March 25, 2025. Point values are set by IRCC and can change — confirm the current breakdown on the official IRCC CRS page before relying on any figure.

05 Rounds of Invitations & Category-Based Selection

IRCC invites candidates from the pool in rounds of invitations held throughout the year. In each round, IRCC sets the number of invitations and identifies the highest-ranking eligible candidates, who then receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA). Rounds come in a few types:

General rounds — open to the top-ranking candidates eligible for any of the three programs.
Program-specific rounds — limited to candidates eligible for one particular program.
Category-based rounds — IRCC invites top-ranking candidates who also meet a category set by the Minister to address a specific economic goal (for example, a targeted occupation group or French-language ability).

The CRS cut-off score varies from round to round depending on who is in the pool and the round type — there is no fixed pass mark. We don't publish a target score here because it changes with every draw. For each round's date, type, number of invitations, and cut-off, always check the official IRCC "Rounds of invitations" page.

For 2026, IRCC announced the categories it would prioritize through category-based rounds. As of June 2026, the published categories are:

French-language proficiency
Healthcare and social services occupations
Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) occupations
Trade occupations
Education occupations
Transport occupations
Physicians with Canadian work experience
Senior managers with Canadian work experience
Researchers with Canadian work experience
Skilled military recruits

Categories, eligible occupations, and the required work experience are reviewed and reset by IRCC each year and can change mid-year. Being in a priority category does not guarantee an invitation, and candidates outside these categories remain eligible through general rounds. Confirm the current categories and exact occupation lists on the official IRCC category-based selection page before applying.

06 The Express Entry Process

At a high level, the Express Entry journey moves through these stages:

Check Your Eligibility

Confirm you meet the minimum requirements for at least one of the three programs, including work experience, language, and education.

Gather Supporting Results

Take an approved language test and, if your education was completed abroad, obtain an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) before you build your profile.

Create Your Profile & Enter the Pool

Submit an Express Entry profile online. IRCC determines which program(s) you qualify for and calculates your CRS score, placing you in the pool.

Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA)

If your CRS score is at or above the cut-off in a round you're eligible for, you receive an ITA. You can also pursue a provincial nomination to strengthen your position.

Submit Your PR Application

After an ITA, you have a set window to submit a complete permanent-residence application with all documents, pay the fees, and give biometrics.

Receive a Decision

IRCC reviews the application and makes a decision. If approved, you complete the final steps to confirm your permanent residence.

07 Documents & Proof You'll Need

Requirements depend on your program and personal situation, but most Express Entry candidates should be ready to provide:

Language test results — an approved English or French test (for example, IELTS General Training or CELPIP for English; TEF Canada or TCF Canada for French)
Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) — to show that education completed outside Canada is equal to a Canadian credential
Proof of work experience — reference letters and records confirming your eligible NOC occupation and hours
Passport or travel document
Proof of funds — where the program requires it (see the note below)
Provincial nomination — if you have one, and police certificates and a medical exam if requested

Proof of funds (settlement funds) is required for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and Federal Skilled Trades Program. Canadian Experience Class candidates — and those already authorized to work in Canada with a valid job offer — are generally exempt. The required amount rises with family size; as of the IRCC figures in effect in June 2026 (updated July 7, 2025), a single applicant needs about CAD $15,263, rising to roughly CAD $28,362 for a family of four, with more for larger families. These amounts are updated by IRCC each year — confirm the current figure for your family size on the official IRCC proof-of-funds page before applying.

Government processing fees apply to your application and accompanying family members and are set by IRCC. Fees and processing times change over time, so confirm the current amounts on the official IRCC page before you pay.

08 Frequently Asked Questions

What CRS score do I need to get an invitation?+

There is no fixed pass mark. The cut-off changes with every round of invitations, depending on how many people are in the pool, their scores, and the type of round (general, program-specific, or category-based). The best approach is to maximize your own score and check the official IRCC "Rounds of invitations" page for recent results.

Do I need a job offer to apply through Express Entry?+

No. A job offer is not required to enter the pool or receive an invitation. As of March 25, 2025, a job offer no longer adds CRS points. Many candidates are invited based on their core human-capital factors, a provincial nomination, or category-based selection.

How does a provincial nomination affect my chances?+

An enhanced nomination from a province or territory through its Express Entry-aligned stream adds 600 additional CRS points. In practice, this raises your total score so high that you can expect an invitation in a future round. Nomination criteria are set by each province and change over time.

Can I apply through Express Entry if I want to settle in Quebec?+

No. Express Entry is for skilled workers settling in a province or territory other than Quebec. Quebec selects its own skilled workers through separate provincial programs, so candidates destined for Quebec apply through those streams instead.

How much money do I need to show as proof of funds?+

It depends on your program and family size. Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades candidates must show settlement funds, while Canadian Experience Class candidates (and those authorized to work in Canada with a valid job offer) are generally exempt. The required amounts are updated by IRCC each year — confirm the current figure for your family size on the official IRCC proof-of-funds page.

How long does the Express Entry process take?+

Timelines vary. After you receive an invitation and submit a complete application, IRCC aims to process many Express Entry permanent-residence applications within a published service standard, but actual times depend on your case and current volumes. Check the official IRCC processing-times tool for the most current estimate.

Talk to a Licensed Expert

Ready to enter the Express Entry pool?

Our licensed consultants (RCICs regulated by the CICC) can help you assess your CRS score, choose the right program, and prepare a strong, well-documented application.

Book a Consultation Free Assessment

This page is general information, not legal advice, and does not guarantee any outcome. Immigration rules, fees, CRS point values, and category-based draw categories change — verify the current details on the official IRCC pages at canada.ca. BroadGate's advisors are licensed/regulated immigration consultants (RCICs regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants, CICC).