Express Entry

Canada Express Entry

Express Entry is an immigration system for Canada designed to select skilled workers for immigration into Canada. The skilled workers are of high demand in Canada. They should be willing to stay in Canada as permanent residents. Their skills are very important in growing the economy of Canada.

The application process for an Express Entry is pure electronic. The skilled worker has to show whether they are Federal Skilled Worker, Quebec Skilled Worker or Provincial Nominated Program (PNP).

Federal Skilled Worker is for individuals with skilled work experience who choose to work in any other province in Canada except the province of Quebec. Quebec has its own different criteria for selecting and nominating its skilled workers.

Quebec Skilled Worker is for skilled applicants who want to settle in this province. They should apply through this program.

An express entry profile is created securely in an online form. Here, you provide your details regarding your job skills, language ability, work experience and other required details. The process entirely involves Canadian federal government, Provincial government and Canadian employers. Once you fill your express entry profile, you have sixty (60) days to complete your application. During this period, if you are eligible, you will be accepted into a pool of candidates. The candidates are ranked by Comprehensive Ranking System, CRS. This system ranks candidates based on the points they earn from the details they provided. These points are arrived from the skills, education, your experience and much more details. The highest ranking candidate from this system is asked to apply for permanent residence. One can also get points for Canadian degrees, certificates and even a valid job offer in the country.

Canada Provincial Nomination Programs (PNP)

Provinces and territories in Canada can nominate immigrants through the Provincial Nomination Program (PNP). The program targets groups who meet certain criteria especially those with skills, education and work experience that is required in the Province or territory. It is required that the nominee has skills, work experience and education contributing to economic growth of that province or territory and willing to live there. Each province or territory has its own program that target certain groups and criteria for their Provincial Nomination Program called “streams”. Streams may be designed to target students, business people, business people, skilled or semi-skilled workers.

Nomination Criteria and Procedures

If you are nominated in the non-Express Entry stream

  • you will apply through the paper based process
  • if the province/territory finds you eligible and nominates you, and you will have to send an application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

If you are nominated in the Express Entry Stream

  • you must meet all the eligibility requirements as well as the minimum criteria for Express Entry

Application and Nomination Processes

When applying for Canadian immigration, you are required to create an online account as well as Express Entry Profile where you fill your personal, educational, work experience and other details. After creating your profile, you will be asked about the provinces you are interested to live in. You are automatically put in Candidates pool where you are ranked based on your points by a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRM). Points are attained from your personal, educational, skills, Canadian Degrees and Certificates and many other considerations. You should also submit a Provincial Nomination Program application to be nominated. You may also be asked to do so. Top ranking candidate is considered for nomination.

Before applying for nomination, there are things you must consider. Firstly, you must be ready to live in the province or territory you are willing to be nominated by. From your details, they will review your application and determine whether you are really willing to live there. They also have to verify if you meet the minimum criteria for Express Entry. They, also, will review the application based on immigration needs.

The Province of Alberta

Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) is an economic program that is used by Alberta government and Canada government Canada through the department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Nominated individuals together with their spouses/common law and dependent children can apply for permanent residence through IRCC. The application can be done on your own or with your employer. However, you must maintain a valid work permit throughout the assessment process. Applicants under the Strategic Recruitment Stream Engineering Occupations category are exempted from this requirement. At the time of assessment, you can also prove you implied status based on either;

  • a positive Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or
  • a LMIA exemption as determined by IRCC

    Exemption of LMIA ar

  • e not eligible under AINP. The AINP will not consider the following exemptions
      • international students studying in Canada including student doing internships or co-op work placements
      • religious and charity workers
      • people in need of support while in Canada such as refugees etc.

    Strategic Recruitment Stream Engineering Occupations

    For one to apply under this stream, he or she must meet the following criteria:-

      • You must be currently living in the Province of Alberta
      • You mus be able and willing to permanently live in Alberta
      • You must be currently working or have worked for at least 2 years in Alberta either directly or under contract with for an Alberta employer
      • You must provide proof of having education/training as an Engineer, designer or drafter