This page provides general information only. Immigration regulations, eligibility criteria and processing times are set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and may change. Always verify current requirements at canada.ca.
Updated 28 October 2026.
What Is Canada Express Entry?
Express Entry is Canada’s online system for managing applications for permanent residence under three federal economic programs. It is not a visa. Candidates create an online profile, are scored out of 1,200 using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), and enter a pool. IRCC then holds rounds of invitations, inviting the highest-ranking candidates, or the highest-ranking candidates in a category, to apply.
An invitation lets you submit a full application, and IRCC decides whether permanent residence is granted. No consultant can influence the rounds.
Express Entry Programs and Eligibility
| Program | Work experience | Language | Education and other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker (FSWP) | At least 1 year continuous full-time skilled work (TEER 0–3) in the last 10 years, in or outside Canada | At least CLB 7 | Assessed education credential for foreign study; 67 out of 100 on the selection grid; proof of funds unless you have a valid job offer and can work in Canada |
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | At least 12 months skilled Canadian work in the last 3 years, while authorised to work | CLB 7 for TEER 0 and 1; CLB 5 for TEER 2 and 3 | No education or proof-of-funds requirement; suits temporary workers and graduates with Canadian experience |
| Federal Skilled Trades (FSTP) | At least 2 years in a skilled trade in the last 5 years | CLB 5 speaking and listening; CLB 4 reading and writing | Valid job offer of at least a year or a certificate of qualification; proof of funds usually applies |
Provincial Nominee Program (separate pathway, linked to Express Entry)
- •Provinces and territories nominate people who meet local labour needs.
- •Some streams are linked to Express Entry; a nomination through one adds 600 CRS points.
- •Requirements and intake vary by province, so check each province's rules.
Understanding TEER Categories
TEER stands for Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities. It is part of Canada’s National Occupational Classification. Match your actual duties to a NOC code, not just your job title.
| TEER | Typical occupations | Express Entry? |
|---|---|---|
| TEER 0 | Management occupations | Yes |
| TEER 1 | Occupations that usually need a university degree | Yes |
| TEER 2 | Occupations that usually need a college diploma or an apprenticeship of two or more years, or have supervisory duties | Yes |
| TEER 3 | Occupations that usually need a shorter college diploma or apprenticeship, or more than six months of on-the-job training | Yes |
| TEER 4 | Occupations that usually need a high-school diploma or several weeks of training | No |
| TEER 5 | Occupations that need a short work demonstration and no formal education | No |
Only TEER 0 to 3 experience counts for the FSWP and CEC.
How the Express Entry Process Works
A general overview. Your sequence may vary, and none of the timelines are guaranteed.
Step 1 — Profile assessment
Evaluate your qualifications against the criteria and estimate your CRS score.
Step 2 — Language testing
Take IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General, TEF Canada or TCF Canada. Results are valid for two years.
Step 3 — Educational Credential Assessment
If you studied outside Canada, obtain an ECA from an IRCC-designated organisation. It is generally valid for five years.
Step 4 — Create your Express Entry profile
Submit your profile to the pool for ranking. It stays valid for 12 months.
Step 5 — Wait in the pool and improve your profile
Your profile is ranked alongside others. You can update your language scores, education, work experience or nomination status.
Step 6 — Invitation to Apply (ITA)
If you are selected in a round, you receive an ITA and have 60 days to submit a complete application.
Step 7 — Submit your application
Upload documents, pay the fees, and provide a medical exam, police certificates and biometrics.
Step 8 — Final decision
IRCC reviews the application and decides. Processing times vary and are not guaranteed.
Step 9 — Confirmation of PR and landing
If approved, you receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence and must land in Canada before it expires.
How the CRS Evaluates Candidates
The Comprehensive Ranking System is scored out of 1,200. The table shows the main factors for a single applicant. Scores differ when you have a partner, and IRCC’s official CRS tool gives your exact result.
| Factor | Maximum points (single) | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 110 | Points peak between 20 and 29, decrease each year after 29, and reach zero at 45; 18 and 19 are slightly lower |
| Education | 150 | From secondary school (30) through a bachelor's degree (120) and master's (135) up to a doctoral degree (150) |
| First official language | 136 | Up to 34 points for each of four abilities at CLB 10 or higher |
| Second official language | 24 | English and French both count |
| Canadian work experience | 80 | From 40 points for one year to 80 points for five or more years |
| Skill transferability | 100 | Combinations of education, language, foreign and Canadian work experience |
| Spouse or partner factors | 40 | Partner's education, language and Canadian work experience (replaces some core points) |
| Additional points | 600 | A provincial nomination (600), Canadian study (15 or 30), French-language ability (25 or 50) and a sibling in Canada (15) |
Point values are for a single applicant under the CRS grid as published before 3 November 2026. Confirm current values on canada.ca.
New from 3 November 2026 (announced 16 October 2026)
- •Canadian work experience in a high-wage occupation: reported at 20, 40 or 70 points for at least 12 months, depending on whether the occupation's wage is at least 1.3, 1.5 or 2 times the Canada-wide median.
- •A qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation: reported at 50, 70 or 100 points on the same tiers, with no LMIA required.
- •Invitations pause for up to two weeks while scores are recalculated.
- •Job-offer points were removed from the CRS in March 2025, so this is a partial return, limited to IRCC's high-wage occupations.
Point values and the high-wage occupation list are as reported at announcement. Confirm both on canada.ca.
Express Entry Categories in 2026
On 18 February 2026, IRCC confirmed ten category-based selection categories. Cut-offs in category rounds are different from general rounds, so check IRCC’s published results.
| Category | Status | Main requirement |
|---|---|---|
| French-language proficiency | Renewed | NCLC 7 in all four language abilities |
| Healthcare and social services | Renewed | Work experience in a listed occupation, reported at 12 months in the last 3 years |
| STEM occupations | Renewed | Work experience in a listed occupation, reported at 12 months in the last 3 years |
| Trades | Renewed | Work experience in a listed occupation, reported at 12 months in the last 3 years |
| Education | Renewed | Work experience in a listed occupation, reported at 12 months in the last 3 years |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | New | Canadian work experience as a physician |
| Researchers with Canadian work experience | New | Canadian work experience in a listed research occupation |
| Senior managers with Canadian work experience | New | Canadian work experience in a listed senior manager occupation |
| Transport occupations | New | Work experience in a listed transport occupation, in Canada or abroad |
| Skilled military recruits | New | A job offer to join the Canadian Armed Forces |
Occupation lists and experience periods change. See IRCC’s category pages for the current lists.
Preparing a Strong, Accurate Profile
- •Match your duties to the right NOC code, using the lead statement and main duties, not only your job title.
- •Keep your language test valid and book it early; results last two years.
- •Start your ECA early, because it can take weeks.
- •Collect employment letters showing your title, dates, hours, salary and duties.
- •Make sure names and dates match across your passport, certificates and letters.
- •Do not claim points you cannot document: misrepresentation can lead to a five-year ban.
- •Have police certificates and medical results ready, because you have only 60 days after an invitation.
How Professional Guidance Can Help
We do not influence invitations or approvals. Those decisions are made only by IRCC.
Typical Government Costs for Express Entry (2026)
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Principal applicant processing fee | About CAD 990 | From 30 April 2026; a spouse pays the same. |
| Right of Permanent Residence Fee | CAD 600 | Principal applicant and spouse; refunded if the application is refused. |
| Dependent child | About CAD 270 | No Right of Permanent Residence Fee for children. |
| Biometrics | Varies | Per person; confirm the current fee. |
| Language test, ECA, medical exam, police certificates | Varies | Paid to the providers. |
Fees are set by the Government of Canada and change from time to time. Confirm current amounts on canada.ca before applying.
Canada Express Entry — Frequently Asked Questions
Disclaimer: Visatrix Global Services provides consultation, planning and administrative support services. We are not a government authority and do not issue visas, permits, permanent residence approvals or citizenship certificates. Decisions are made solely by the relevant government authorities.
Visatrix Global Services – FZCO is an independent advisory firm licensed in the UAE. We are not affiliated with IRCC or the Government of Canada, and we do not guarantee invitations, CRS outcomes, approval or processing times. Government fees are paid directly to IRCC; payments to Visatrix are for advisory services only.
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