The Canadian government has set a limit on how many permanent resident applications they will accept each year. If you don’t make it out of this pool, then you have to wait until next year. This page talks about the EE requirements, process, cost, and how we can help you.
The Canada Express Entry process follows a points-based system called a Comprehensive Ranking System or CRS. Points are allotted to applicants based on skills, experience, employment history, and provincial/territorial nomination.
What is the Canada Express Entry System?
Express Entry is a point-based Canada immigration regulatory system developed by the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in 2015. With this system, the Canadian government can manage skilled worker applications wanting to immigrate to Canada as permanent residents.
Applicants with the highest points receive an Invitation To Apply (ITA) for PR in Canada.
There are three significant immigration programs under Express Entry –
- The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
What is the Eligibility Criteria for Canada Express Entry?
The eligibility criteria for the express Entry are:
- A test proving adequate knowledge of English or French
- Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) positive report
- A score of at least 67 points to qualify for some programs
- Good medical health
- Ability to clear the debt
- No age barrier, but no point are awarded for over 47 years
Eligibility criteria for Express Entry differ according to the selected program.
Related Faqs
The minimum points to qualify for Express Entry in Canada differ according to the programs. For Federal Skilled Trades Class or Canadian Experience Class, no minimum points are required.
To immigrate to Canada under the Federal Skilled Worker Class, you need to score 67 out of 100 points in order to qualify for a Canada PR visa under the Express Entry System. These points are calculated on various factors which include your age, work experience, education, language skills, adaptability, etc.
Canada Express Entry Eligibility | 67 points on 6 factors
|
Factor |
Maximum Points Available |
|
Language skills - in English & French |
28 |
|
Education |
25 |
|
Work experience |
15 |
|
Age |
12 |
|
Arranged employment (job offer in Canada) |
10 |
|
Adaptability |
10 |
|
TOTAL POINTS AVAILABLE |
100 |
The requirements to apply for a visa for Canada are:
- You should qualify for at least one visa program under Express Entry
- You should have at least 2 years of experience
- You should score at least 6 bands in the language test (IELTS exam).
- You should meet all the health requirements of Canada.
- You should have sufficient funds in your accounts to manage your stay in Canada.
The points calculated for the Express Entry applicants are decided by the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The score an applicant gets depends on four major factors.
The major factors are -
- Human capital/core factors
- Common-law partner or spouse factors
- Skill transferability factors
- Additional Points
You do not need a job offer for Express Entry. There are several programs that you can apply that do not require jobs. But, it is vital to check out the eligibility criteria of the program before applying.
Job offers considered valid as per IRCC
The job offers that are considered valid as per IRCC must be –
- For at least twelve months (a year).
- Backed up by a good Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or excluded from requiring one.
- Full-time work and constant.
- From the NOC (National Occupational Classification) B, 0, or A.
Job offers that do not require Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
The job offers that do not require Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) are –
- Global trade agreements (NAFTA)
- Canadian interests
- Agreements between provincial and federal governments
Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is point-based. It assigns points to applicants after assessing various factors. The factors and sub-factors are explained below.
There are a total of 1200 points. You must remember –
- Core or Human Capital factor + Spouse or common-law partner factors = Maximum 500 points
- Core or Human Capital factor + Spouse or common-law partner factors + Transferability factors = Maximum 600 points
- Core or Human Capital factor + Spouse or common-law partner factors + Transferability factors + Additional factors = Maximum 1200 points
|
Factors |
Points with Common-Law Partner or Spouse |
Points without Common-Law Partner or Spouse |
|
Level of Education |
140 |
150 |
|
Canadian Work Experience |
70 |
80 |
|
Age |
100 |
150 |
|
Official Language Proficiency |
150 |
160 |
|
Educational Levels |
Points with Common-Law Partner or Spouse |
Points without Common-Law Partner or Spouse |
|
Below High-School |
0 |
0 |
|
Secondary School |
28 (+2 given to spouse) |
30 |
|
One Year Post-Secondary Course |
84 (+6 given to spouse) |
90 |
|
Two years of post-secondary course |
91 (+7 given to spouse) |
98 |
|
Three or More Years Post-Secondary Course |
112 (+8 given to spouse) |
120 |
|
Two or More Post-Secondary Courses (at least one is finished after three or more years post-secondary course) |
119 (+9 given to spouse) |
128 |
|
Master’s Program |
126 (+10 given to spouse) |
135 |
|
Ph.D. Program |
140 (+10 given to spouse) |
150 |
|
Time |
Points with Common-Law Partner or Spouse |
Points without Common-Law Partner or Spouse |
|
Below One Year |
0 |
0 |
|
One Year |
35 (+5 given to spouse) |
40 |
|
Two Years |
46 (+7 given to spouse) |
53 |
|
Three Years |
56 (+8 given to spouse) |
64 |
|
Four Years |
63 (+9 given to spouse) |
72 |
|
Five or Above Years |
70 (+10 given to spouse) |
80 |
|
Age (Years) |
Points with Common-Law Partner or Spouse |
Points without Common-Law Partner or Spouse |
|
Below 18 |
0 |
0 |
|
18 |
90 |
99 |
|
19 |
95 |
105 |
|
20-29 |
100 |
110 |
|
30 |
95 |
105 |
|
31 |
90 |
99 |
|
32 |
85 |
94 |
|
33 |
80 |
88 |
|
34 |
75 |
83 |
|
35 |
70 |
77 |
|
36 |
65 |
72 |
|
37 |
60 |
66 |
|
38 |
55 |
61 |
|
39 |
50 |
55 |
|
40 |
45 |
50 |
|
41 |
35 |
39 |
|
42 |
25 |
28 |
|
43 |
15 |
17 |
|
44 |
5 |
6 |
|
45 or Above |
0 |
0 |
Canada has two official languages. They are English and French. You can earn points based on the Canadian Language Benchmark Levels (CLBs).
The language is assigned a score based on various categories.
The categories are-
- Writing
- Listening
- Speaking
- Reading
First Language (French or English)
You can score a maximum of 34 points in each category without a spouse. Candidates with a spouse can earn a maximum of 37 points for every category.
|
Canadian Language Benchmark Levels (CLB) |
Points with Common-Law Partner or Spouse |
Points without Common-Law Partner or Spouse |
|
3 or less |
0 |
0 |
|
4 |
6 (+0 given to spouse) |
6 |
|
5 |
6 (+1 given to spouse) |
6 |
|
6 |
8 (+1 given to spouse) |
9 |
|
7 |
16 (+3 given to spouse) |
17 |
|
8 |
22 (+3 given to spouse) |
23 |
|
9 |
29 (+5 given to spouse) |
31 |
|
10 or More |
32 (+5 given to spouse) |
34 |
Second Language (French or English)
You can score an overall of 24 points without a spouse. Candidates with a spouse can earn an overall of 22 points for every category.
For Each Category, the Maximum Score is 6
|
Canadian Language Benchmark Levels (CLB) |
Points with Common-Law Partner or Spouse |
Points without Common-Law Partner or Spouse |
|
4 or less |
0 |
0 |
|
5 or 6 |
1 |
1 |
|
7 or 8 |
3 |
3 |
|
9 or More |
6 |
6 |
|
Factors |
Points |
|
Educational Level |
10 |
|
Canadian Work Experience |
10 |
|
Official Language Proficiency |
20 |
|
Factors |
Points |
Total Points Per Factor |
|
|
Non-Canadian Work Experience |
CLB 7 or more and Non-Canadian work experience |
50 |
50 (maximum) |
|
Non-Canadian work experience and Canadian work experience |
50 |
||
|
Educational Level |
Vital language skill and post-secondary degree |
50 |
50 (maximum) |
|
Canadian work experience and post-secondary degree |
50 |
||
|
Certificate of Qualification |
Vital language skill and Certificate of qualification |
50 |
50 (maximum) |
There are five possible combinations. But, the maximum score that you can earn from this section is 100.
|
Factors |
Points |
|
Sibling in Canada |
15 |
|
CLB 7 or More (for French) and CLB 4 or Less (for English) |
15 |
|
Finished One Year or Two Educational Courses in Canada |
15 |
|
CLB 7 or More (for French) and CLB 5 or More (for English) |
30 |
|
Finished Master’s Degree or Doctorate or Entry to Practice Professional Degree in Canada |
30 |
|
Job Offer from NOC A, 0 or B |
50 |
|
Job Offer from NOC Group 00 (Senior Management Position) |
200 |
|
Provincial Nomination (by Provincial Nominee Program) |
600 |
What Documents are Required for the Canada Express Entry Visa?
The documents required for the Express entry depend on two stages:
- Profile submission
- Permanent residency application submission
For profile submission you’d need:
- Passport
- Report of Educational Credential Assessment
- Results of the language test
- Employment offer (if received)
- Provincial nomination ((if accepted)
For permanent residence application submission, you need:
- Proof of funds
- Police clearance certificate
- Medical examination report
Proof of funds
Proof of funds is the way the immigrants show that they have enough finance for immigration to Canada. The programs that require the showing of proof of funds are –
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Experience Class (CEC) program.
Showing proof of funds for Express Entry
You need to show proof of funds for Express Entry as per your family members.
|
IRCC Express Entry Proof of Funds Requirement in 2023 |
||
|
Number of family members |
Funds required in Canadian dollars (CAD) |
Approximate in Indian Rupees (INR) As per 1 CAD = 60.05 INR |
|
1 |
CAD 13,757 |
8,26,242 |
|
2 |
CAD 17,127 |
10,28,643 |
|
3 |
CAD 21,055 |
12,64,575 |
|
4 |
CAD 25,564 |
15,35,388 |
|
5 |
CAD 28,994 |
17,41,395 |
|
6 |
CAD 32,700 |
19,63,953 |
|
7 |
CAD 36,407 |
21,86,594 |
|
For each additional family member |
CAD 3,706 |
2,22,581 |
If proof of funds is not required, you must write a letter. The letter must state the reason for not showing it.
The reasons can be -
- You have got a valid job offer.
- You are invited to apply under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Accepted proof of funds
Things that are accepted as proof of funds are –
- Money in a joint account (if your spouse is accompanying you)
- Cash
- Bonds
- Treasury bills
- Debentures
- Money orders
- Banker’s drafts
- Traveler’s cheque
- Official letters from any financial institutions.
These letters must have:
- The letterhead of the specific financial institution
- Your name
- Their contact details
- The list of any outstanding debts like loans
- All account numbers (if more than one)
- The date of the opening of each account
- The present balance in the accounts
- The average balance calculated for the last six months
Not counted as proof of funds
Things that cannot be counted as proof of funds are –
- Valuation of real properties
- Borrowed money
How to Apply for the Canada PR Express Entry Visa?
You can apply to Canada PR express entry by following the steps given below:
- Check if you are eligible for the program
- Collect all the required documents
- Create your Express Entry profile
- Submit the profile
- The candidates are selected based on their CRS scores
- The applicant with the highest score gets an Invitation to Apply (ITA)
- After the ITA, candidates have to apply within 60 days for permanent residence
- If selected, you have to submit additional documents
- After verification, you can get PR in Canada
Check Out the Latest Canada Express Entry Draw here.
What are the costs for Canada Express Entry in 2023?
The fees that you have to submit depends on your application. You have the option to pay the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) either - (1) at the time of your Canada PR application submission, or (2) when Canadian permanent residence is granted to you.
Canadian Permanent Residence in 2023 - Economic Immigration - Fees List
The fees for all permanent residence applications have been increased by IRCC on April 30, 2022.
Applicable to -
- Express Entry
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP)
- Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
- Quebec-selected skilled workers
- Agri-Food Pilot (AFP)
|
For |
Fee in Canadian Dollars (CAD) |
Fee in Indian Rupees (INR) ( **Approx. 1 CAD - INR 60.7) |
|
|
Main Applicant |
Application processing fee |
CAD 850 |
INR 51,596 |
|
Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) |
CAD 515 |
INR 31,261 |
|
|
Spouse/partner |
Application processing fee |
CAD 850 |
INR 51,596 |
|
RPRF |
CAD 515 |
INR 31,261 |
|
|
Dependent child |
CAD 230 (per child) |
INR 13,961 (per child) |
|
Note. RPRF is to be paid when your Canada PR application is approved. You can submit your Canada PR application without the same. However, to prevent processing delays, it is recommended to pay the fee along with your application.
RPRF is refunded if you withdraw your PR application or get a refusal by IRCC.
You can’t become a permanent resident of Canada without paying the RPRF.
Other Costs to Consider:
- Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for Immigration: CAD 240 (for ECA by WES). This will be INR 14,676 approximately.
- Language tests - IELTS or CELPIP for English: INR 15,500 for IELTS; INR 10,845 for CELPIP General.
- Provincial nomination, if applicable: between CAD 250 or INR 15,291 approx. (New Brunswick) and CAD 1,500 or INR 91,732 approx. (Ontario).
Other miscellaneous expenses: certificates, notaries, translations, courier deliveries, affidavits, biometrics, etc.
Overall cost breakdown in each step:
An Education Credential Assessment (ECA) for foreign degrees
- ECA by WES: $240+$10 ($10 Courier charges approx)
- ECA by WES: $240+$85 for Fast Express courier charges. ($85 for Fast Express Courier charges)
- Fees for IELTS: INR 15,500.
Once you have your ECA Report and IELTS Test Form Report (TRF), you can move to the next step in your Canada PR by Express Entry process.
(Free of Cost)
Application fees for a Canada PR visa:
- Single applicant fee: (1) Application processing fee - CAD 850 or INR 51,596 approx., plus (2) Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) - CAD 515 or INR 31,261.
- Couple Applicant Fee: If applying with RPRF - CAD 1,365X2 = CAD 2,730 or INR 1,67,001 approx. If applying without RPRF - CAD 850X2 = CAD 1,700 or INR 103,990 approx.
- Including a dependent child: CAD 230 or INR 14,071 for each child.
Other fees included in this step:
- Medical exam: INR 3,000 (varies depending on your source city)
- Police certificate: INR 500 (varies depending on your source city)
- Biometric Fee CAD 85 for a single applicant
- Biometric Fee CAD 170 for two or more applicants
- Passport Cost may vary between Rs. 1000 to Rs. 2500. If you already have a valid passport, this cost is removed.
- If you apply via a Provincial Nominee Program, you will have to bear extra processing charges from the same.
List of Canadian Provinces & Their Unique Charges
|
Name of Province |
Fees Charged Extra |
|
Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP) |
CAD 1500 |
|
Saskatchewan Immigration Nominee Program (SINP) |
CAD 350 |
|
Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) |
CAD 500 |
|
British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) |
CAD 1150 |
|
Quebec Skilled Workers Program (QSWP) (Only for Province of Quebec) |
Primary applicant: CAD 785 Spouse or Partner: CAD 168 Dependent Child: CAD 168
|
Other charges to consider:
- Traveling Tickets – The air ticket cost can vary from Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 1,00,000.
- Visa Consultation fee, according to the consultant you choose
- Proof of funds
Money required as proof of funds for family members
The money required as proof of funds for family members depends on the number of members. The table below lists the minimum amount that you must show for immigrating to Canada.
IRCC Express Entry Proof of Funds Requirement in 2023
|
Number of family members |
Funds required in Canadian dollars (CAD) |
Approximate in Indian Rupees (INR) ( **Approx. 1 CAD - INR 60.7) |
|
1 |
CAD 13,310 |
INR 8,07,931 |
|
2 |
CAD 16,570 |
INR 10,05,810 |
|
3 |
CAD 20,371 |
INR 12,36,539 |
|
4 |
CAD 24,733 |
INR 15,01,317 |
|
5 |
CAD 28,052 |
INR 17,02,787 |
|
6 |
CAD 31,638 |
INR 19,20,467 |
|
7 |
CAD 35,224 |
INR 21,38,136 |
|
For each additional family member |
CAD 3,586 |
INR 2,17,674 |
What is the Processing Time for Canada Express Entry Visa?
It usually takes around 6 months to process the application once it is received. It is important for the applicant to provide all the necessary documents before the processing window opens.
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Other Important FAQs
The Express Entry is handled by the Canadian government. The office that oversees the Express Entry is the Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Yes, CIC (Citizenship and Immigration Canada) and IRCC (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada) are the same. The CIC was renamed as IRCC in 2015.
The Canada express entry draw is the method of choosing applicants. In this process, the pool of candidates eligible for invitation to apply is selected based on the announced CRS score. It is done every two weeks, and the highest-scoring candidates are sent to the ITA. They can then apply for a Permanent Residence visa. Canada Express Entry helps immigrants gain permanent residency. You can choose from the various programs available.
The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Points grid is different from CRS. The immigrants filling under the FSWP must score at least 67 out of 100. Only if they score 67 points, are they eligible to apply for the FSWP. The points grid considers six factors. The factors are –
|
Factor |
Maximum Points Available |
|
Language skills - in English & French |
28 |
|
Education |
25 |
|
Work experience |
15 |
|
Age |
12 |
|
Arranged employment (job offer in Canada) |
10 |
|
Adaptability |
10 |
|
TOTAL POINTS AVAILABLE |
100 |
- Visitor Visa
- Work Permit
- Express Entry
- Business Investor Program
- Study Visa
- Provincial Nominee Program
- The Express Entry is an immigration system developed by the IRCC.
- There are three immigration programs under Express Entry.
- The IRCC handles the Express Entry.
- There are several documents that you need to create a profile in Canada Express Entry.
- A job offer is not needed to Express Entry.
- Some job offers do not require the Labour Market Impact Assessment.
- Proof of funds shows that you can live in Canada without any financial issues.
- Work experience is necessary for Canada Express Entry.
- The spouse of an applicant can also become a permanent resident in Canada.
- Several factors determine the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.
- The FSW points grid is a system that scores applicants under the Federal Skilled Worker Program
The necessity of the Educational Credentials Assessment (ECA) express entry system depends on the program.
The program which requires ECA is –
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
The programs which do not need ECA are –
- Canadian Experience Class
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
Yes, work experience is necessary for Canada express entry. But, the amount of time required depends on the different programs.
The spouse of an applicant can apply for permanent residency. But, for this, the applicant has to claim him/her on the application.