Canada Express Entry Program is one of the fastest and easiest methods to immigrate to Canada as a foreigner. Even if you don’t have a work permit, you can move to Canada to work through this program. Amazing right?
In this article, you will discover all you need to know about the Express Entry Programs in Canada, the requirements, how to apply, and lots more. So, read through to the end.
Canada Express Entry Programs
Every year, Canada issues visas to eligible foreigners who wish to work, study or carry out business activities in the country. Tourists are also issued temporary visas to visit the country for a limited time.
So far, a large number of individuals have applied for work permits, study permits, and other types of visas to enable them to enter the country legally. But there is another method by which you can move to Canada to work legally. As you read on, you would discover this method.
What is Canada Express Entry Program?
The Express Entry Program is an online system used by the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to collect applications from foreigners who wish to immigrate based on specific skills they possess. There’s no doubt that Canadian employees are in need of skilled workers in different trades and some citizens of the country may not be qualified to meet up with this need.
Express Entry program has been set up by the Government of Canada to allow foreigners with these needed skills to move to Canada to work while their green cards are being processed. Simply put, if you have a skill that is in high demand in Canada, you can move to the country to work through this program.
Types of Canada Express Entry Programs
There are different types of Express entry programs offered by the Government of Canada. This is because there are different levels of skilled workers and foreigners can apply for any of the programs that suit them. The types of Express Entry Programs in Canada include:
Canadian Experience Class
This Express entry program is for skilled workers who have Canadian work experience and are seeking to become permanent residents. This work experience should be paid work and this includes paid wages or earned commissions. You should note that volunteer work and unpaid internships in Canada won’t be counted as a Canadian work experience.
Federal Skilled Workers Program
This type of Express entry program is organized for skilled workers who have foreign work experience and want to settle down in Canada permanently. If you want to apply for this program, you should plan to live outside the province of Quebec and the province chooses its own skilled workers.
Federal Skilled Trades Program
The last Express entry program is the Federal skilled trades program. this express entry program is open to foreigners who are qualified in a skilled trade and want to move to Canada permanently.
These are the three express entry programs organized for skilled workers and the Canadian government. The requirements needed to apply for these programs are quite different and would be discussed in the next section of this article.
Canada Express Entry Requirements
To apply for any of the express entry programs, you need to meet certain requirements. The requirements you must meet would depend on the program you are applying for. To make it easier for you, the requirements have been broken down.
Canadian Experience Class Requirements
To apply for this program, you must have basic skills such as writing, reading, listening, and speaking. You also need at least a year of skilled working experience in Canada and this must be a paid job, not volunteer work or unpaid IT programs.
The work experience should be within the last three years before you apply. Also, you should have been under temporary resident status with legal authorization to work while working in Canada.
Federal Skilled Workers Program Requirements
To apply for this Express entry program, you need a skilled work experience in a Managerial job, Professional job, technical job, or skilled trade. Your skilled work experience should also be within the last 10 years and should be in the same type of job.
You are also required to take an approved language test to access your reading, writing, speaking, and listening abilities. The test must be a valid one.
Federal Skilled Trades Requirements
There are no special educational requirements for this type of express entry program. To apply for this express entry program, you should have at least 2 years of full-time work experience in a trade and this should be within 5 years before you apply.
Your work experience must be paid work and must meet the National Occupational Classification (NOC) standards for skilled trades. In addition to this, you should have a job offer for full-time employment or a certificate of qualification issued by any Canadian authority.
These are some of the requirements needed for the Canadian Express entry programs. During the application process online, you would get to discover all.
Canada Express Entry Application
Having known much about Express entry in Canada, you may be interested in applying. You can only apply when you have received an invitation to apply from the Canadian Government. There are some processes you must pass through before you can get the invitation to apply. They include:
- Taking an eligibility test on the IRCC webpage. You can enter the URL onlineservices-servicesenligne.cic.gc.ca to visit this page and click on “Find if you can come to Canada”.
- After checking your eligibility, you will be ranked in the Express Entry pool using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). If your score is above the CRS minimum points, you would be invited to apply. You can check your CRS with the CRS tool here.
- Prepare the necessary documents and lastly,
- Fill out your express entire profile online.
Invitations for application would be sent to foreigners with the highest scores and this is valid for only 60 days. If you have received your invitation already, congratulations you can go ahead to apply the guideline in this article.
How to Apply for Express Entry into Canada
When you meet the requirements for any of the express entry programs, you would be sent an invitation letter to apply. Follow the steps below to apply online:
- Visit the Application page at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/apply-permanent-residence.
- On the opened page click on “Sign In to your account”.
- Choose any of the Sign-In options to access your IRCC account or click on “Register to create an account if you don’t have one.
- When you log in to your account, fill out all the forms correctly.
- Scan the required documents and upload them on your Express Entry profile.
- After uploading the documents, proceed to pay your fees with the instructions on your screen.
- You can choose to go through the application form again and after this, submit the complete application.
This is how to apply for the express entry program online. After you have completed the online application process, you can always log in to your account on the express entry portal to get information on your application status, submit your biometrics, set up an interview, and lots more.
Express Entry Sign Up
When you apply for the express entry program above, you would be required to register for an account if you don’t have one. So to sign up for an express entry account, you need to apply for the program with the steps above.
Express Entry Login
After you have finished the application process online, you can always log in to your Express entry account to check your application status. Logging in to your account is very important as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will give you updates on your biometrics and other documents you need to submit.
How to Login to your Express Entry Account
To access your account on the platform, follow the steps below:
- Open a web browser on your internet-connected device.
- Enter the URL canada.ca
- On the opened page, click on the Menu button at the top of your display screen.
- Click on “Immigration” under “Citizenship and Immigration”.
- Choose “Sign-in or create an account”.
- You can choose to sign in with “GCKey”, or “Sign-In Partner”.
Follow the rest instructions on your screen to sign in to your Express entry account.
Is the Canada Express Entry Program Still Open?
The express entry program is open all year round to interested candidates. You should note that the express entry is not the same as the permanent residency but is a system that manages the application for the permanent residency through the three programs provided.
Can I Apply for the Express Entry without a Work Experience?
To apply for any of the express entry programs, you need to have a least a year of working experience. Also, the job must be under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) job groups.
What are the Documents Required for the Express Entry Application?
The general documents needed for the Canada express entry application include:
- A passport or travel document.
- Proof of work experience.
- Proof of funds.
- Language test results.
- A written job offer from an employer in Canada (This is optional).
- Police certificates.
- Medical reports.
- Birth certificate, marriage certificate adoption certificate, and divorce certificate (If any).
These are some of the documents you should prepare when you want to apply for the express entry program. You may be required to upload more documents after the application.
How Much Does the Canada Express Entry Application Cost?
If you are applying for just yourself, the application costs $1,365. When you include your spouse, you pay double the fees. Including a dependent child would cost $230. This fee covers the visa processing, your biometrics, and right of permanent residence. You should also know that this fee is subject to change with time.
READ ALSO: