Express Entry to Canada: Everything you need to know

Introduction

Express Entry is one of the pathways for immigrants with the right skills to settle down in Canada as permanent residents. This program helps the IRCC identify the right immigrants who can contribute to the country’s economic growth.

Express Entry to Canada is very popular because it is one of the quickest ways to immigrate to the country as permanent residents.

What is the Canada Express Entry System?

The Canada Express Entry System is an immigration system that chooses from a pool of skilled worker applications and picks individuals to immigrate to the country with their skills. Three programs are covered under this system.

Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) is for individuals with specific foreign work experience.
Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is for individuals in a skilled trade.
Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is for individuals with Canadian work experience.

When you apply for Express Entry to Canada, it is essential that you check the detailed eligibility requirements, documents, and other factors clearly and then pick the right program that gives you a better chance to immigrate successfully.

An immigration consulting firm like Bunchberry can increase your odds of successfully immigrating by identifying the program that may work to the best of your advantage and helping with the documentation process.

Eligibility Criteria – Canada Express Entry 2022

The IRCC conducted the first draw of 2022 in January and invited 392 people who had applied under the Express Entry to Canada programs to apply for Permanent Residence. This first draw only chose Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cutoff of 808. Now, the eligibility criteria each time can change, and so can the required CRS score.

However, below is a general list of eligibility criteria you need to satisfy to apply for any of the programs under the Express Entry category.

Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

Work Experience	Language	Education
Professional work experience in any one or more of these job groups. Managerial Jobs (Type 0)Professional Jobs (Level A)Skilled trades or Technical jobs (Level B) You must have skilled work experience within the last ten years in the same type of job you use for your immigration application.	Minimum scores in either of the below language tests. Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 – EnglishNiveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) 7 – French	A degree completion certificateAn educational credential assessment (ECA) report (to prove that your degree matches that of an equivalent Canadian degree)

Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

Work Experience	Language	Education
Skilled work experience in any one or more of these job groups. Industrial, electrical, and construction trades (Major Group 72)Maintenance and equipment operation trades (Major Group 73)Supervisors and technical jobs in natural resources, agriculture, and related production (Major Group 82)Processing, manufacturing, and utility supervisors and central control operators (Major Group 92)Chefs and cooks (Minor Group 632)Butchers and bakers (Minor Group 633) At least two years of full-time experience (or equivalent part-time work experience) in the relevant field Relevant work experience within five years of applying for this program	Minimum scores in either of the below language tests. Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 – English speaking and listeningCanadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 – English reading and writingNiveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) 5 – French speaking and listeningNiveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) 4 – French reading and writing	There are no educational requirements for the FSTP program.A degree, certificate, or diploma will increase your CRS score.

Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Work Experience	Language	Education
Skilled work experience in any one or more of these job groups. Managerial Jobs (skill level 0)Professional Jobs (skill type A)Skilled trades or Technical jobs (skill type B) You must have at least one year of full-time work experience or equivalent part-time work experience Must have gained Canadian work experience while on temporary resident status	You must score minimum levels in either of the below language tests. Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 – English for skill level 0 or skill type ACanadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 – English for skill type BNiveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) 7 – French for skill level 0 or skill type ANiveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) 5 – French for skill type B	There are no educational requirements for the CEC program.A degree, certificate, or diploma will increase your CRS score.

Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)

A comprehensive Ranking System is one of the critical factors that will decide whether or not your application for the Express Entry to Canada gets a successful invitation.

The CRS score is how the IRCC ranks people in the Express Entry pool. The higher the rank, the better are your chances of getting an invitation to submit.

The maximum score is 1200, and the eligibility score will change every time the lot is drawn. Do note that the IRCC does not release details like the eligibility score, number of invitations, and date of draw beforehand.

Therefore, your best bet would be to aim for the highest possible CRS score and wait.

What are the Documents Required for the Canada Express Entry Visa?

There may be several documents to be submitted during the application process. The document requirement may change every time there is a draw for the Express Entry to Canada. Some standard documents to be submitted are:

Your passport or a travel document
Scores and results of language tests
Canadian Educational proof or an educational credential assessment report
Provincial Nomination
Proof of employment offer letter from a Canadian employer
Proof of funds
Police certificates, medical test results, biometric reports
Digital photos

Canada PR Express Entry Visa Application Process

Start by checking your eligibility for the PR Express Entry to Canada.
Check the documents needed and start collecting them.
Get the language tests completed and collect the results.
Visit the IRCC website and create a profile under the Express Entry category.
Finish the application and submit it.
If you are chosen based on your scores and application, you will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
Once you have an ITA, you can apply for a PR status within 60 days.

Many people apply for PR status using Express Entry every year, and you will need the right strategy to improve your CRS score and create a compelling profile. If you think you may need some assistance getting this right, then Bunchberry can help. Get in touch with us to know more.

How Much Will You Need to Spend For Express Entry 2022?

According to IRCC, below is the current fee to process your Express Entry to Canada application.

Fee list	Cost in Canadian Dollars
Application Processing Fee	825
Permanent Residence Fee	500
Dependent Child Fee (per child)	225
Language Tests (average per person)	300
Educational Credential Assessments (average per person)	300

Processing Time for Canada Express Entry Visa?

Thanks to the pandemic, processing times may vary depending on where you are from. Generally, it takes about six months to process an application.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a quick program to get a PR status in Canada, then the Express Entry to Canada option is something you should seriously consider. Though you can resubmit your application after 12 months if it does not get selected, the fact that the submission process is quite expensive has to be considered. Therefore, it is wiser to get the details right and submit an attractive form to the IRCC.