For newcomers seeking a new life in Canada, Express Entry is the quickest and most common pathway. Express Entry organizes and handles applications for individuals seeking to immigrate to Canada and gain permanent residency in Canada.

Express Entry manages applications for three economic immigration programs:

• Federal Skilled Worker
• Federal Skilled Trades
• Canadian Experience Class

Canada Express Entry, implemented by the federal government in January 2015 to replace the old “first come, first served” scheme, is the most common immigration system offering Canadian permanent residence.

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry is not in itself an immigration programme, it is simply an online system built to handle the intake of Canada’s immigration applications.

Applicants meeting eligibility requirements need to submit an online profile known as an Expression of Interest (EOI) under one of three federal immigration programs in Canada or a participating provincial immigration program.

The profiles of candidates are rated against each other according to the Comprehensive Ranking System, a point-based system (CRS). An Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency will be received for the top-ranked applicants. Those obtaining an ITA must request to complete the application and pay processing fees quickly, within a 60-day delay.

The federal government plans to process full PR applications in 6 months.