Express Entry Canada: Who Is Eligible?

While most immigration processes take a significant amount of time before you are able to gain citizenship status, Express Entry expedites the immigration process to Canada for certain individuals looking to become skilled workers in the country (among other available programs). That said, not everyone can apply. There are specific criteria you must meet before you can be considered for the program. If you are interested in applying for Express Entry, let’s take a closer look at the eligibility requirements and how you can begin.

Express Entry Eligibility Requirements

There are three programs for those interested in gaining citizenship via Express Entry: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class. To better understand whether or not you are eligible for the Express Entry program, here is a breakdown of each program’s eligibility requirements.

The Federal Skilled Worker Program

The Federal Skilled Worker Program is an immigration program designed for skilled workers with foreign work experience who are looking to enter the country. Those who believe that this program is for them must have:

Skilled work experience in a managerial job group, a professional job group, or a technical trade or skilled trade. You must be able to provide proof that you performed all the duties listed in the occupational description set forth by the National Occupation Classification (NOC).
Skilled work experience in the same type of job you are listing in your immigration application. You also must have gained this experience within the last ten years, have been paid for this work, and have at least one year of continuous work (whether full-time, part-time, or holding multiple full-time positions).
The ability to take English or French exams (and pass with a score of seven or more).
Proof of education in the form of a completed credential as well as an Educational Credential Assessment.
Proof of income.
Admissibility.

The Federal Skilled Trades Program

Eligible candidates for the Federal Skilled Trades Program must meet the following criteria in order to be considered for Canadian permanent residence:

Meet the minimum score for Benchmark 4 and Benchmark 5 of the language skills tests.
At least two years of full-time work experience within the five years before you begin the application process.
A valid job offer of full-time employment for at least year (you can instead use a certificate of qualification issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial, or federal authority).
Fall under one of the NOC skilled trade group classifications and demonstrate that you have the skills listed in the occupational description.
Proof of income.
Admissibility.

The Canadian Experience Class

Finally, we have individuals who have Canadian work experience and are looking to become a full-time resident. Those who pursue this program will have to:

Meet the minimum language level of Benchmark 7 for NOC 0 or A jobs or Benchmark 5 for NOC B jobs.
Have at least one year of skilled work experience in the three years prior to filing.
Have gained work experience while a temporary resident with an authorization to work in Canada (you must also be able to prove that you have met the duties listed in the occupational description of your NOC job group).
Be admissible to Canada.

Will I be approved if I meet these requirements?

It’s important to note that eligibility does not result in automatic acceptance. Express Entry is actually an online immigrant application system that begins with you filling out an Express Entry profile. This profile is then given a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and placed into a pool of candidates. The higher your score, the more likely it is that you will be selected. If your profile is selected, you will receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence.

As you can see from the brief description above, Express Entry can be a rather involved process. To improve your chances of receiving the highest possible score and being selected from the pool sooner, consider turning to an organization like Green Light Canada. Green Light Canada helps you simplify the immigration process and improve your chances of selection by compiling necessary documents and setting up an immigration file, getting you an invitation to work, representing you throughout the process, and providing you with the full support you need to succeed. With an organization like Green Light Canada on your side, getting through the Express Entry program makes these much more streamlined.

Express Entry is an excellent program to use if you are a skilled worker looking to become a permanent resident in a short amount of time. That said, there are very strict guidelines to enter these programs. If you believe you are the right fit for an Express Entry program, use the guide above to learn more about which options are available to you, what you must have in order to apply, and how you can streamline the application process today.

Courtney P.

I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!