Move to Canada - Express Entry

Planning on moving to Canada? 

First introduced in January 2015, the quickest way to move to Canada is through Express Entry Program, Canada’s application management system to check eligibility of individuals who are planning to settle in Canada. A Do-It-Yourself way of moving to Canada without having to pay huge amount of processing fees to an agency to check your eligibility. 

Canada Express Entry Programs:

1. The Federal Skills Worker Class (FSWC) – For professionals and skilled workers around the world who want to immigrate to Canada permanently. *Candidates can apply with their spouse/partner and dependent children.
2. The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) – For individuals who have worked in Canada for at least one year to immigrate permanently.
3. Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC)  – FSTC, formerly known as the Federal Skilled Trades Program) is the only federal economic immigration program that singles out workers in trades occupations.

This guide will give you information of the following basic steps to participate in the program: 

1. Know how CRS scoring works.
2. Check your possible CRS score using the CRS calculator.
3. Review the Rounds of Invitations. 
4. Create an Express Entry Profile.
5. Invitation to Apply (ITA).
6. Submission of application together with the required documents.

STEP 1: Know how CRS scoring works. 
Under Canada Express Entry, a point-based system (known as CRS or Comprehensive Ranking System) will review the information you enter and converts it into points. 

Individuals who participated in the program will receive a comprehensive ranking system (CRS) score. The total score you will receive will be calculated using the information you enter in the system. Those who ranked higher, are more likely to receive an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residency.

To understand more how you will be scored, it is best to review the Express Entry CRS point grid. It will give you the detailed breakdown of the items in the scoring. Check the link below. 

Express Entry CRS Point Grid 

Now that you have checked the CRS point-grid, you will understand that there are many factors to influence your CRS score which are not limited to the following: 

1. Language Proficiency
2. Age
3. Skills
4. Level of Work Experience
5. Education Attainment

As I have mentioned earlier, participants will be ranked according to their total CRS score. If your total score is high, then more likely you will receive an invitation to apply for permanent residency. 

What is considered a good CRS score to receive an invitation to apply for permanent residency? 

To give you an idea, there was a year that a CRS score of around 430 received an invitation to apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residency. However, the CRS score of the lowest ranked candidate to receive an ITA under Provincial Nominee Program on September 1, 2021 invitation rounds is 764. 

It depends on the minimum CRS score or points cut-offs or the number of invitations that can be issued by the Canadian government on a specified time. 

STEP 2: Check your possible CRS score using the CRS calculator.

Use the CRS score calculator if:

• you’re eligible for at least 1 Express Entry program and you have not filled out an Express Entry profile but you’d like to see what your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score might be if you do, or 
• you were invited to apply for permanent residence, and want to see if a change to your profile may affect your CRS score.

Check the link below: 

Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) Calculator

STEP 3: Review the Rounds of Invitations. 

Now that you have checked your possible CRS score, it is best to know the scores of the lowest ranked candidates in the previous rounds of invitations. This will help you check whether your possible CRS score can be selected to receive an invitation to apply for permanent residency. 

Check the link below and look for the CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate invited and check also the previous rounds.

Express Entry Rounds of Invitation

If you think that your possible CRS score is low, review the Express Entry CRS-Point Grid and check which item you can fix to increase your score. A CRS score of 600 can be a good score. 

STEP 4: Create Express Entry Profile.

Now that you have checked your possible CRS score and you have studied the Rounds of Invitations, if you are satisfied with your possible CRS score and you are now ready to apply, you can start creating your Express Entry Profile. Profile creation should be submitted in the official website of the Government of Canada (www.canada.ca). Click the link below to create an express entry profile. 

Create an Express Entry Profile

STEP 5:  Invitation to Apply (ITA)

After you have created an Express Entry Profile, you will need to wait for an Invitation to Apply (ITA). You can monitor the invitations being sent out by checking the rounds of invitations in your Express Entry account or using the link provided earlier. 

STEP 6: Submission of application together with the required documents.

Once you receive your Invitation to Apply (ITA), you will need to submit your documents / application. You can check your account for further instructions to complete your application. 

Note:  Invited Express Entry applicants now have 60 days to submit their complete application. Candidates who receive an invitation to apply on or after June 29, 2021 must submit their application within 60 days.

Additional Info:

To know the classification of your occupation under National Occupation Classification (NOC), you can check the link below: 

National Occupation Classification (NOC) Checker

Related links:

https://www.canada.ca/en.html

>> Increase your CRS score by receiving qualifying employment letter from a Canadian Company.