Express Entry

Overview

Express Entry manages applications for three federal programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. Candidates are ranked with the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), and the highest-ranked receive invitations to apply.

Who may qualify

• Skilled workers with foreign work experience
• Workers with skilled Canadian work experience
• Qualified tradespeople
• Candidates with approved language test results

The process

1. 1Check eligibility and get your language test and education assessment
2. 2Create your Express Entry profile
3. 3Receive a CRS score and wait for a draw
4. 4Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA)
5. 5Submit your complete PR application

Timeline: IRCC aims to process most complete applications within about 6 months after submission

The three programs inside Express Entry

Express Entry is IRCC's online system for managing three federal economic immigration programs. You must qualify for at least one of them before you can enter the pool.

• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW): at least one year of continuous, full-time (or equivalent) skilled work experience in the last 10 years, language results of at least CLB 7 in all four abilities, and a score of at least 67 out of 100 on the FSW selection grid. Proof of settlement funds is required unless you have a valid job offer or are authorized to work in Canada.
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC): at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada in the last three years, gained with authorization. Language minimums are CLB 7 for TEER 0 and 1 jobs and CLB 5 for TEER 2 and 3 jobs. No proof of funds is required.
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST): at least two years of trade experience in the last five years, a full-time job offer of at least one year or a Canadian certificate of qualification, and language results of CLB 5 for speaking and listening and CLB 4 for reading and writing.

How the Comprehensive Ranking System works

Eligible candidates receive a CRS score out of 1,200. Points come from core human capital factors (age, education, official-language ability and Canadian work experience), spouse or partner factors, skill transferability combinations, and additional points such as a provincial nomination (600 points), French-language ability, a sibling in Canada, or Canadian post-secondary education.

Since March 25, 2025, a job offer no longer adds CRS points. Canadian work experience still counts, and a job offer may still matter for FSW eligibility and settlement funds.

Draws: general, program-specific and category-based

IRCC invites candidates through rounds of invitations. Some draws are open to all programs, some target one program such as CEC or the Provincial Nominee Program, and category-based draws invite candidates with strong French-language ability or experience in occupations IRCC has prioritized for that year. The cut-off score depends on the draw type, so a score that is too low for a general draw may be competitive for a category draw.

We track every draw against official Canada.ca results and use them to plan realistic strategies, not to promise invitations.

After the Invitation to Apply

Once invited, you have 60 days to submit a complete electronic application for permanent residence. Every claim made in your profile must be backed by documents — reference letters, language results, educational credential assessments (ECAs) for foreign education, police certificates, medical exams and proof of funds where required. Misrepresentation, even unintentional, can lead to refusal and a five-year ban.

IRCC's service standard for most complete Express Entry applications is about six months, but actual times are published on the official processing-times tool and change regularly.

Ways to improve your CRS score

The most common improvements are retaking an English test to reach CLB 9 or higher, adding French test results, completing an additional year of skilled work, obtaining an ECA for a spouse's education, or pursuing a provincial nomination. Each has a cost and timeline, so we model which options are worth it for your profile before you spend money on them.

Government fees

Government fees in effect since April 30, 2026, in Canadian dollars. Language tests, ECAs, medicals and police certificates are paid separately to those providers.

Processing times: IRCC aims to process most complete Express Entry applications in about 6 months. Check the official processing-times tool for the current figure.

Document checklist

• Valid passport
• Approved language test results (IELTS General, CELPIP General, PTE Core, TEF Canada or TCF Canada)
• Educational credential assessment for education completed outside Canada
• Reference letters for every period of claimed work experience
• Proof of settlement funds (FSW and FST, unless exempt)
• Police certificates from each country lived in for six months or more since age 18
• Immigration medical exam results
• Provincial nomination certificate (if applicable)
• Marriage or common-law evidence and documents for accompanying family

Common refusal reasons

• Reference letters that do not match the claimed NOC duties
• CRS points claimed that cannot be proven with documents
• Insufficient or improperly documented proof of funds
• Undeclared family members or previous refusals
• Expired language results or ECA at the time of the ITA
• Missing police certificates

Frequently asked questions