Canada Express Entry - Pathway to Permanent Residency

Canada Express Entry is one of the fastest and most reliable ways for skilled professionals to migrate to Canada. Designed to select candidates with high potential, it offers opportunities to live, work, and eventually gain Canadian citizenship. Here’s why many applicants choose Express Entry:

• Best pathway for Canada PR
• High probability of getting selected
• High probabilities of selection
• Quick processing time
• Issued 28,411 ITAs in 2026 so far
• Opportunity to gain Canadian citizenship

Canada Express Entry, Your Easiest Pathway to Canada Immigration

Canada attributes many of its economic and social progress and prosperity to its immigrants. Canada immigration is the most popular immigration program in the world and is the pathway to settling in Canada with a Canada PR Visa.

The Express Entry program, launched in 2015, is an IRCC-run online system that assembles, manages, and processes skilled worker applications. The Express Entry program is a points-based system that assigns points to eligible candidates based on five primary factors. Among Canada's immigration pathways, the most prominent ones are Canada Express Entry and Canada PNP. While Canada Express Entry invites and gives opportunities to potential immigrants to settle anywhere in Canada at a federal level, Canada PNP seeks those interested in settling down in a particular province/territory of Canada.

Canada Express Entry is also the most sought-after and easiest route to permanent residence in Canada. The processing time of a Canada PR Visa application through Canada Express Entry is under 6 months You only have to match the criteria to be eligible for Canadian permanent residency and if your application is submitted flawlessly and convincingly, your application can be approved in such a short period.

Candidates with a high CRS score have a better chance of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canada PR. Most candidates pick the Express Entry program for Canada Immigration as it offers flexibility and more probability of getting selected. Processing the Express Entry applications takes around 6-12 months, with a validity duration of 12 months. 

Register your EOI (Expression of Interest) with Y-Axis, the top immigration consultants in Australia.

Important Announcement

Express Entry Draw will hold more category-based draw in 2024 

Canada’s immigration system supports category-based draws to invite candidates with skills for occupations facing a labor shortage. Categories implemented so far focus on selecting candidates with work experience in occupations facing existing and long-term shortages:

• Health care occupations
• Science, technology, engineering, and Maths (STEM) occupations
• Trade occupations
• Education occupations
• Agriculture and agri-food occupations

Introduction of Category-Based Rounds of Invitations

IRCC has announced the priority-based categories for Express Entry on 27 February,2025.These categories will be prioritized for ITAs through the category-based draw within the Express Entry, which are:

• French-language proficiency
• Healthcare and Social services occupations
• STEM
• Trades occupations
• Agriculture and Agri-Food occupations
• Education occupations

*For more information, also read –  IRCC announces 6 new categories for Express Entry candidates. Register your EOI now!

Know your eligibility for Canada immigration. Use the Canada points calculator.

Why Settle in Canada?

Here are some reasons to settle in Canada: 

• Canada is one of the happiest countries in the world. Canadians are known to be polite and friendly, too.
• Permanent residents and Canadian citizens can apply for public health insurance, and you can get healthcare services and insurance for free because they're provided by the government and financed by tax money.
• Even if you don't have a government healthcare card, you will get free emergency medical services in all Canadian provinces and territories.
• Canada's natural resources are abundant. About 7% of the world's renewable natural resources are held by Canada.
• Cultural diversity is a defining feature of Canada, attributable to Canada's immigration.

How to Get a Canada PR Visa Through Canada Express Entry?

Express Entry is an online system dedicated to managing applications for Canada immigration that come from skilled workers overseas. The following are the 3 immigration programs that are managed through Canada Express Entry:

• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

Canadian Experience Class

It’s meant for skilled workers who have experience working in Canada. When applying for a Canada PR visa, such experience must not be less than 3 years.

Federal Skilled Worker Program

This program is meant for skilled workers who possess work experience in foreign countries. There are educational criteria to be met to be eligible to apply under this program besides matching expectations in several other factors.

Federal Skilled Trades Program

This program is meant for skilled workers who are qualified in a skilled trade. It’s required that they must have a valid job offer or a certificate proving the qualification. 

It's meant for skilled workers who have experience working in Canada. When applying for a Canada PR visa, such experience must be at least three years.

The fundamental factors of the EE program are as follows:

• An immigration pathway is available throughout the year with no cap on the number of applicants.
• The EE program is exclusively for candidates from the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class.
• Applicants must submit an EOI (Expression of Interest) and apply for a job in any Skills Type 0, A, or B.
• The Express Entry profiles will be assessed based on points and then placed in the Express Entry pool of candidates.  
• The employers and provinces of Canada will pick out eligible candidates from the pool of candidates.
• Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for Canada PR will be sent to candidates with high CRS scores.
• The total ITAs issued to candidates depends on the latest Canada Immigration Levels Plan.

Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2026-28

Immigration Class	2026	2027	2028
Economic Class	2,39,800	2,44,700	2,44,700
Family Class	84,000	81,000	81,000
Refugees & Protected Persons	49,300	49,300	49,300
Humanitarian & Other	6,900	5,000	5,000
Total PR Admissions	3,80,000	3,80,000	3,80,000

5 Things to Know about Canada Express Entry

• Minimum CRS score: 400
• Approval time: 6-8 months
• Length of Residence: 5 years
• Latest Express Entry draw date: February 06, 2026
• ITAs issued so far: 28,411

Eligibility Criteria of Express Entry Canada:

The candidates must score 67 points to qualify for the Express Entry program. The 67 points can be achieved via different eligibility criteria for PR.

The eligibility factors for the Express Entry program are as follows:

• Age: You can score the maximum points between 18 and 35. Those above this age will gain lesser points.
• Education: Your minimum educational qualification must equal Canada's higher secondary education level. A higher level of academic qualification means more points.
• Work experience: To score the minimum points, you should have at least one year of work experience. If you have more years of work experience, you will gain more points.
• Language ability: You must have at least six bands in your IELTS equivalent to CLB 7 to be eligible to apply and score the minimum points. Higher scores mean more points. Additionally, the PTE score is also accepted. 
• Adaptability: You can score ten points on the adaptability factor if your family or close relatives live in Canada and can support you when you move there. You can also gain points if your spouse or legal partner is ready to migrate with you to Canada.
• Arranged employment: A valid Canadian employer job offer entitles you to ten points.

Canada Express Entry Requirements:

The requirements to apply for the Canada Express Entry program are as follows:

• At least 12 months of work experience in any skilled occupation.
• Minimum CLB score of 7 (English or French)
• ECA (Educational Credential Certificate)

Important Announcement

PTE Core (Pearson Test of English) is now accepted for Express Entry Programs:

As per the announcement, the PTE Core, the Pearson Test of English, is now officially accepted and approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for Express Entry programs.

What is the PTE core?

PTE Core is a computer-based that combines three assessments of general speaking, writing, reading, and listening skills in one test.

Key points to remember:

• The total test fee is $275(Including Taxes).
• It is a unique combination of AI scoring and human expertise that reduces the risk of bias
• It is entirely a computer test, taken in a test centre
• The result is announced in 2 days.

• Validity period: The PTE Core Score is available for two days from the test results date. The result must be valid on the day the permanent residency application is submitted.

• Language level Measurement: The Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) will assess language proficiency.

• The CLB level for each ability will be determined according to the test result.

CLB level and points awarded

The CLB level of an individual can be followed as follows:

• Express Entry Program: Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Language Test: PTE Core: Pearson Test of English
• First official language (maximum 24 points) for Main Applicant

 

Note: For the principal applicant, the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) in four abilities for the Federal skilled worker program should be 7.

Although the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) is seven, per the client’s profile, the CLB and the points required will vary. 

Express Entry Profile Creation

You can follow the simple steps given below to create your Express Entry profile:

Step 1: Receive your ECA (Educational Credential Assessment)

Step 2: Get your language ability test scores

Step 3: Create your Express Entry profile.

Step 4: Assess your CRS score.

Step 5: Apply for the Express Entry program.

Step 6: Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA)

Step 7: Apply for a Canada visa.

Step 8: Migrate to Canada.

 ITA Canada

IRCC conducts regular Express Entry Draws. Each draw comes with a different Cut-off score and candidates who score points equal or above the given CRS score receive an ITA.

Candidates in the Express Entry pool for an extended period will receive an ITA (Invitation to Apply). After receiving an ITA candidates are given 90 days to complete and submit a correct application. If the candidate fails to fulfil the application requirements within 90days time-frame, the ITA will become void or null.

Submission of PR Application

After receiving an ITA, the candidate must know the Express Entry program (CEC, FSTP, FSWP) for which they were chosen. The list of requirements for submitting the PR application is as follows:

• Proof of English proficiency test
• Proof of civil birth (Birth certificate)
• Proof of educational qualifications
• Proof of Work experience
• Proof of medical certificate
• Proof of criminal clearance certificate
• Proof of sufficient funds

Express Entry Cost:

The table given below has details of the Express Entry fee:

Proof of funds for Express Entry

The table given below has detailed information about the proof of funds for Express Entry:

Latest Express Entry Draws 

Know Your Eligibility for Canada Immigration. Use the Canada points calculator.

 

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