Overview

Express Entry is an electronic system used to manage the applications of skilled workers who wish to become permanent residents of Canada.

Once an interested candidate submits an online profile, the federal government determines if the candidate is eligible for a program managed by Express Entry. Eligible candidates are accepted into the Express Entry pool and are ranked according to the point based score. The score is calculated based on a candidate’s age, education, work experience, language skills, as well as other factors.

How does Express Entry work?

Express Entry is very simple and contains two major stages. In the first major stage, candidates who are eligible for Express Entry indicate to the Canadian government their expression of interest in obtaining Canadian permanent resident status. In the second major stage, the Canadian government holds rounds of invitations (also known as "draws") in which it invites the highest-scoring candidates to immigrate to Canada.

Express Entry has three different draw types:

1. General rounds of invitation: IRCC invites those with the highest-ranking scores to apply for permanent residence.
2. Program-specific rounds of invitation: IRCC invites those with the highest-ranking scores who are eligible for a specific Express Entry program.
3. Category-based rounds of invitation: IRCC invites those with the highest-ranking scores who are eligible for specific categories designated by IRCC aimed to promote certain economic goals.