Express Entry is an online system that the Canadian Immigration Department use to screen applications for permanent residence from skilled workers in Canada or overseas.
Candidates are assessed based on six selection factors:
- Education
- Language abilities in English and/or French, Canada’s two official languages
- Work experience in Canada and/or abroad
- Age
- Arranged employment in Canada when applicable, and
- Adaptability (previous education, work, or siblings in Canada).
A minimum language and work experience requirement is needed in order to enter the express entry pool. Candidates have to have the Following:
- A minimum of one year of qualified work experience, and
- The equivalent of a minimum of level 7 in the Canadian Language Benchmark in Either French or English supported by official results from IELTS, CELPIP or TEF, and
- An Educational Credential Assessment Report from a recognized agency evaluating their foreign education.
To enter the Express Entry Pool, candidates have to express their interest in coming to Canada as a skilled worker by creating an Express Entry profile and providing information about their skills, work experience, language ability, education and any other details. Each candidate will be given a score and ranked accordingly in the pool.
Top ranking candidates are regularly invited from the Express Entry pool to apply for permanent residence.
For potential skilled foreign workers, Express Entry will result in fast processing times of six months or less.