What is the Canada Express Entry System?
Canada Express Entry is a comprehensive immigration system introduced by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in 2015. It is a point-based program designed to manage and streamline the applications of skilled workers who wish to immigrate to Canada as permanent residents.
Under Express Entry, applicants are evaluated based on various factors such as age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and adaptability. These factors are used to assign them a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. The higher the CRS score, the better the chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency in Canada.
Express Entry comprises three main immigration programs:
Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP): This program is for individuals with specific skilled trades experience who want to become permanent residents of Canada.
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP): This program is intended for skilled workers with foreign work experience, education, and language proficiency, who can contribute to the Canadian economy.
Canadian Experience Class (CEC): This program is designed for individuals who have gained skilled work experience in Canada and wish to obtain permanent residency.
Through Express Entry, applicants can create an online profile and enter a candidate pool, where they are ranked based on their CRS scores. Regular draws are conducted by IRCC to issue ITAs to candidates with the highest scores. Successful applicants can then submit their complete application for permanent residency.
Express Entry has significantly streamlined the immigration process and has become the primary pathway for skilled professionals to immigrate to Canada.
What is the Eligibility Criteria for Canada Express Entry?
The eligibility criteria for Canada Express Entry are as follows:
Language Proficiency: Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in either English or French by taking an approved language test (such as IELTS for English or TEF for French) and obtaining the required minimum scores.
Education: Applicants must have their education credentials assessed by an authorized organization to obtain an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report. This report verifies the equivalence of their foreign education to Canadian standards.
Skilled Work Experience: Applicants must have at least one year of continuous full-time or equivalent part-time work experience in a skilled occupation within the last ten years. The work experience must be classified under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system and meet the requirements of the selected program.
Points System: Applicants are assigned points based on various factors such as age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and adaptability. To be eligible for some programs, applicants must score a minimum of 67 points out of 100 on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
Medical and Security Clearance: Applicants must undergo medical examinations to ensure they meet the health requirements set by the Canadian government. Additionally, they must also provide police clearance certificates to demonstrate good character and no criminal history.
Proof of Funds: Applicants must show that they have sufficient funds to support themselves and their family members upon arrival in Canada. This requirement ensures that applicants can meet their initial settlement needs without relying on government assistance.
What Documents are Required for the Canada Express Entry Visa?
The required documents for Canada Express Entry visa application can be divided into two stages: Profile Submission & Permanent Residency Application Aubmission. Here are the documents typically required for each stage:
Stage 1: Profile Submission
- Passport: A valid passport or travel document is required to establish your identity.
Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) Report: This report verifies the equivalence of your foreign education to Canadian standards and is obtained through an authorized organization.
Language Test Results: Results of an approved language test (such as IELTS for English or TEF for French) are needed to demonstrate your proficiency in English or French.
Employment Offer (if applicable): If you have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer, you may need to provide the employment offer letter as part of your profile submission.
Provincial Nomination (if applicable): If you have received a nomination from a Canadian province or territory, you will need to provide the provincial nomination certificate or letter.
Stage 2: Permanent Residence Application Submission
Medical Examination Report: Applicants are required to undergo a medical examination by an approved panel physician to ensure they meet the health requirements set by the Canadian government.
Police Clearance Certificate: Applicants must provide police clearance certificates from all countries where they have resided for a certain period. This is to demonstrate good character and no criminal history.
Proof of Funds: Applicants need to provide proof of sufficient funds to support themselves and their family members in Canada. The specific amount required depends on the family size. This requirement can be waived if you have a valid job offer or are already working in Canada.
To meet the proof of funds requirement for Express Entry, you must show that you have sufficient funds to support yourself and your family members (if applicable) when immigrating to Canada. The required funds vary based on the number of family members.
- 1 Family Member: CAD 13,757 (Approx. 1,358,136 NPR)
- 2 Family Members: CAD 17,127 (Approx. 1,692,249 NPR)
- 3 Family Members: CAD 21,055 (Approx. 2,080,426 NPR)
- 4 Family Members: CAD 25,564 (Approx. 2,527,285 NPR)
- 5 Family Members: CAD 28,994 (Approx. 2,861,237 NPR)
- 6 Family Members: CAD 32,700 (Approx. 3,229,491 NPR)
- 7 Family Members: CAD 36,407 (Approx. 3,598,745 NPR)
- For Each Additional Family Member: CAD 3,706 (Approx. 366,024 NPR)
If you are not required to provide proof of funds for your Express Entry application, you must write a letter explaining the reason for not showing it. Here are some acceptable reasons:
Valid Job Offer: If you have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer, you can state that as the reason for not providing proof of funds.
Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Invitation: If you have been invited to apply under the Canadian Experience Class program, you can mention that as the reason.
Accepted forms of proof of funds include:
Money in a Joint Account: If your spouse is accompanying you, funds in a joint account can be considered as proof of funds.
Cash: Cash on hand can be accepted as proof of funds.
Bonds, Treasury Bills, Debentures: These financial instruments are considered acceptable forms of proof of funds.
Money Orders and Banker’s Drafts: These can be used as proof of funds.
Traveler’s Cheques: Traveler’s cheques can be considered as proof of funds.
Official Letters from Financial Institutions: Official letters from financial institutions can be accepted as proof of funds. These letters should include the letterhead of the specific institution, your name, their contact details, the list of any outstanding debts or loans, all account numbers (if applicable), the date of account opening, the present balance, and the average balance calculated for the last six months.
Items that cannot be counted as proof of funds include:
Valuation of Real Properties: The value of real estate or properties you own cannot be considered as proof of funds.
Borrowed Money: Any funds obtained through loans or borrowed money cannot be counted as proof of funds.
How to Apply for the Canada PR Express Entry Visa?
To apply for the Canada PR Express Entry Visa, you can follow these steps:
Check Eligibility: Determine if you meet the eligibility criteria for one of the programs under Express Entry, which include the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), or Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
Gather Required Documents: Collect all the necessary documents, such as passports, language test results, educational credentials assessment (ECA) report, proof of funds, and other supporting documents specific to your situation.
Create Express Entry Profile: Create an online profile on the official IRCC website and provide accurate information regarding your skills, work experience, education, language proficiency, and other relevant details. This profile will be used to calculate your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.
Submit Profile: Once your profile is complete, submit it into the Express Entry pool. You will be assigned a CRS score based on factors like age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and adaptability.
CRS Score Selection: Regular draws are conducted by IRCC to select candidates with the highest CRS scores. If you meet the cutoff score in a draw, you will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.
Apply for Permanent Residence: Upon receiving an ITA, you have 60 days to submit a complete electronic Application for Permanent Residence (eAPR) with all the required documents, including police clearance certificates and medical examination reports.
Document Verification: IRCC will review your application and conduct checks to verify the authenticity of the documents provided. They may also request additional information or documents during this process.
Decision on Permanent Residence: If your application is approved, you will receive confirmation of permanent residence (COPR). You may then travel to Canada and become a permanent resident.
What is the Processing Time for Canada Express Entry Visa?
The processing time for a Canada Express Entry visa can vary depending on various factors, including the specific program you apply under, the completeness of your application, the volume of applications received, and the processing times at the time of submission.
Generally, once your application is received, it can take approximately 6 months for it to be processed. However, it’s important to note that this is an average processing time and individual cases may vary as some applications may be processed faster, while others may take longer.