How Express Entry Immigration Works
The Federal Express Entry (EE) Immigration program is a convenient way to immigrate to Canada due to its shorter processing time and the simplicity of application materials, making it a popular choice among applicants. The Federal Express Entry system has its own scoring system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Points are awarded based on factors such as educational background, work experience, language proficiency, and age, and applying with a spouse can also affect your score. To obtain permanent residency through EE, you must first undergo the CRS system scoring and then wait for an invitation.
The EE scoring system, known as the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), has a maximum score of 1,200 points and primarily covers four areas: core factors (age, education, language, and Canadian work experience), spouse/partner factors (education, language, and Canadian work experience), adaptability (education, work experience, and Canadian credentials), job offers, and provincial nominations. Generally, the higher your score, the greater your likelihood of receiving an invitation.
Express Entry candidates are scored based on the following 4 categories:
A. Core/human capital
1. Age
| Age | With a PARTNER (Maximum 100 points) | SINGLE (Maximum 110 points) |
|---|---|---|
| 17 years of age or less | 0 | 0 |
| 18 years of age | 90 | 99 |
| 19 years of age | 95 | 105 |
| 20 to 29 years of age | 100 | 110 |
| 30 years of age | 95 | 105 |
| 31 years of age | 90 | 99 |
| 32 years of age | 85 | 94 |
| 33 years of age | 80 | 88 |
| 34 years of age | 75 | 83 |
| 35 years of age | 70 | 77 |
| 36 years of age | 65 | 72 |
| 37 years of age | 60 | 66 |
| 38 years of age | 55 | 61 |
| 39 years of age | 50 | 55 |
| 40 years of age | 45 | 50 |
| 41 years of age | 35 | 39 |
| 42 years of age | 25 | 28 |
| 43 years of age | 15 | 17 |
| 44 years of age | 5 | 6 |
| 45 years of age or more | 0 | 0 |
2. Education
| Education level | With a PARTNER (Maximum 140 points) | SINGLE (Maximum 150 points) |
|---|---|---|
| Less than secondary school (high school) | 0 | 0 |
| Secondary diploma (high school graduation) | 28 | 30 |
| One-year degree, diploma or certificate from a university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute | 84 | 90 |
| Two-year program at a university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute | 91 | 98 |
| Bachelor’s degree OR a three or more year program at a university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute | 112 | 120 |
| Two or more certificates, diplomas, or degrees. One must be for a program of three or more years | 119 | 128 |
| Master’s degree, OR professional degree needed to practice in a licensed profession (For “professional degree,” the degree program must have been in: medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, optometry, law, chiropractic medicine, or pharmacy.) | 126 | 135 |
| Doctoral level university degree (Ph.D.) | 140 | 150 |
3. English and French Test Score, here we assume English as first official language
| English (CLB) level per ability | With a partner (Maximum 128 points) | SINGLE (Maximum 136 points) |
|---|---|---|
| Less than CLB 4 | 0 | 0 |
| CLB 4 or 5 | 6 | 6 |
| CLB 6 | 8 | 9 |
| CLB 7 | 16 | 17 |
| CLB 8 | 22 | 23 |
| CLB 9 | 29 | 31 |
| CLB 10 or more | 32 | 34 |
French language score ( if you have taken French language test)
| French (CLB) level per ability | With a partner (Maximum 22 points) | SINGLE (Maximum 24 points) |
|---|---|---|
| CLB 4 or less | 0 | 0 |
| CLB 5 or 6 | 1 | 1 |
| CLB 7 or 8 | 3 | 3 |
| CLB 9 or more | 6 | 6 |
4. Canadian Work Experience
| Canadian work experience | With a partner (Maximum 70 points) | SINGLE (Maximum 80 points) |
|---|---|---|
| None or less than a year | 0 | 0 |
| 1 year | 35 | 40 |
| 2 years | 46 | 53 |
| 3 years | 56 | 64 |
| 4 years | 63 | 72 |
| 5 years or more | 70 | 80 |
B. Spouse or common-law partner factors (if applicable)
| partner’s level of education | Maximum 10 points | |
|---|---|---|
| Less than secondary school (high school) | 0 | |
| Secondary school (high school graduation) | 2 | |
| One-year program at a university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute | 6 | |
| Two-year program at a university, college, trade or technical in school, or other institute | 7 | |
| Bachelor’s degree OR a three or more year program at a university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute | 8 | |
| Two or more certificates, diplomas, or degrees. One must be for a program of three or more years | 9 | |
| Master’s degree, or professional degree needed to practice in a licensed profession (For “professional degree”, the degree program must have been in: medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, optometry, law, chiropractic medicine, or pharmacy.), Doctoral degree (PhD) | 10 | |
partner’s level of education
| Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level per ability (reading, writing, speaking and listening ) | Maximum 20 points for section Maximum 5 points per ability | |
|---|---|---|
| CLB 4 or less | 0 | |
| CLB 5 or 6 | 1 | |
| CLB 7 or 8 | 3 | |
| CLB 9 or more | 5 |
| Spouse’s Canadian work experience | Maximum 10 points | |
|---|---|---|
| None or less than a year | 0 | |
| 1 year | 5 | |
| 2 years | 7 | |
| 3 years | 8 | |
| 4 years | 9 | |
| 5 years or more | 10 |
C. Skill transferability factors (Maximum 100 points)
1. Education & Language
| CLB 7 & CLB 8 | CLB 9 & clb 10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary school (high school) credential or less | 0 | 0 |
| Post-secondary program credential of one year or longer | 13 | 25 |
– Two or more post-secondary credentials (one credential must be at least three years) – Bachelor or Master or Doctoral Degree – An entry-to-practice professional degree for National Occupational Classification Skill Level A for which licensing by a provincial regulatory body is required | 25 | 50 |
2. Education & Canadian work experience
WITH 1 YEAR CANADIAN WORK EXPERIENCE | 2 YEAR AND MORE CANADIAN WORK EXPERIENCE | |
| One Post-secondary program of one year or longer | 13 | 25 |
– Two or more post-secondary credentials (one credential must be at least three years) – Bachelor or Master or Doctoral Degree – An entry-to-practice professional degree for National Occupational Classification Skill Level A for which licensing by a provincial regulatory body is required | 25 | 50 |
3. Foreign work experience & Language
| CLB 7 & CLB 8 | CLB 9 & clb 10 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 or 2 years of foreign work experience | 13 | 25 |
| 3 years or more of foreign work experience | 25 | 50 |
4. Foreign work experience & Canadian work experience
| with 1 year Canadian work experience | with 2 years or more Canadian work experience | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 or 2 years of foreign work experience | 13 | 25 |
| 3 years or more of foreign work experience | 25 | 50 |
5. Cerfiticate of qualification (Trade jobs) & Language (CLB 5 – CLB10)
| point with CLB 5 & CLB 6 | point with CLB7 | |
|---|---|---|
| With a certificate of qualification | 25 | 50 |
D. Additional points (Maximum 600 points)
| Additional ITEMS | points |
|---|---|
| Brother or sister living in Canada who is a citizen or permanent resident of Canada | 15 |
| Scored NCLC 7 or higher on all four French language skills and scored CLB 4 or lower in English (or didn’t take an English test) | 25 |
| Scored NCLC 7 or higher on all four French language skills and scored CLB 5 or higher on all four English skills | 50 |
| Post-secondary education in Canada – credential of one or two years | 15 |
| Post-secondary education in Canada – credential three years or longer | 30 |
| Arranged employment – NOC TEER 0 Major group 00 | 200 |
| Arranged employment – NOC TEER 1, 2 or 3, or any TEER 0 other than Major group 00 | 50 |
| Provincial or territorial nomination | 600 |
Latest Updates on EE Draws
The frequency of Express Entry (EE) draws is approximately once every two weeks. The most recent draw occurred on October 10th, with a minimum CRS score of 500 points, and a total of 3,725 individuals were invited.
No Program Specified
Number of invitations issued: 3,725*
Rank required to be invited to apply: 3,725 or above
Date and time of round: October 10, 2023 at 15:49:55 UTC
CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited: 500
In conclusion, the key to a successful Express Entry Immigration application lies in boosting your CRS score. By excelling in language proficiency, optimizing your educational credentials, leveraging provincial nomination programs, and securing an LMIA job offer, you can significantly enhance your chances of obtaining permanent residency in Canada.
Language Proficiency Bonus
In the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) used for EE, language proficiency plays a significant role. Achieving a high score in your first language, typically English, at the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 9 can substantially boost your CRS language score. To reach this level, you’ll need to score 8 in listening, 7 in speaking, 7 in reading, and 7 in writing on the IELTS examination. The benefits extend to skill transferability points, further enhancing your overall score.
Canadian Educational Credentials Bonus
Education matters when it comes to your EE score. The higher your educational level, the more points you can earn. To gain extra points, consider enrolling in a one-year qualifying program while working in Canada, in addition to your undergraduate degree. This approach maximizes your skill transferability points and bolsters your overall score.
Provincial Nomination Bonus
Provincial nomination programs offer a promising path to Canadian immigration. To participate, you’ll need to establish an EE profile and provide a profile number. Successful nominees through these programs receive an additional 600 points, significantly increasing their chances of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residency.
LMIA Job Offer from Employment and Social Development Canada Bonus
The Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a crucial document in Canadian immigration. It is an assessment conducted by employers and submitted to the Department of Employment and Social Development Canada. An LMIA job offer can add between 50 to 200 points to your EE score. If you have LMIA support, you’ll gain these additional points, significantly improving your prospects.
Seeking Expert Guidance
Navigating the Canadian immigration system can be complex. To ensure that you make the right decisions and maximize your chances of success, it’s advisable to seek the guidance of licensed immigration consultants. By scanning the QR code below, you can get in touch with these experts for a one-on-one consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum CRS score required for Express Entry Immigration?
- The minimum CRS score required varies in each EE draw. However, the score threshold usually hovers around 480 points or higher.
How do I achieve a CLB 9 language proficiency in English?
- To reach CLB 9, you need to score 8 in listening, 7 in speaking, 7 in reading, and 7 in writing on the IELTS examination.
What are skill transferability points?
- Skill transferability points are additional points awarded in the EE system, based on factors such as language proficiency and educational credentials.
Can I apply for provincial nomination programs without an Express Entry profile?
- Most provincial nomination programs require applicants to have an active EE profile and provide their profile number.
How can licensed immigration consultants help me with my Express Entry application?
- Licensed immigration consultants can provide expert guidance and advice to maximize your chances of success in the Canadian immigration process