Immigrate to Canada
Streamlined Immigration to Canada
Canada has replaced the old “first come, first served” approach for granting Canadian permanent residency, since the federal government launched its “Express Entry” program in January 2015.
Express Entry is an internet system, as opposed to an immigration program, and is used for Canada’s immigration intake.
An Expression of Interest (EOI) is an online profile that applicants submit to the Express Entry pool if they meet the qualifying requirements for one of three federal Canada immigration programs or a participating provincial immigration program.
A points-based method known as the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) ranks candidates against each other. An invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residency will be issued to the most qualified candidates. In order to avoid a 60-day waiting period after receiving an ITA, applicants must complete their applications and pay any processing fees .
The general wait-time for processing of permanent residency applications is six months, as set by the federal government.
How the CRS works
A candidate’s profile information is used to calculate a score for the candidate. Candidates in the pool are ranked based on these scores. The following variables go towards allocating points to potential candidates:
- Age
- Education
- Language proficiency
- Canadian work experience
- Language proficiency, education and Canadian work experience of the applicant’s spouse or common-law partner
- Arranged employment (validated job offer)
- Provincial government nomination for permanent residence
- Sibling in Canada
- Certain combinations of language skills, education and work experience that result in a higher chance of employment for the applicant (skill transferability).
Federal Skilled Worker Immigration
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is used to evaluate applicants who desire to permanently settle in Canada under the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program, which is controlled by the Express Entry system. Candidates in the Federal Skilled Worker category do not have to have Canadian work experience in order to be considered for Express Entry. A minimum points requirement based on variables such as job experience, language proficiency, and education are required for candidates. Invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residence will be sent to applicants with the best CRS scores once they are in the pool.
Who is eligible to apply for the FSW program, and how do I know if I qualify?
FSW candidates must meet several criteria, including experience, education, age, and proficiency in either English or French, in order to be considered for the program.
Candidates who match the criteria must also show that they scored at
least 67 points out of a possible 100 on the FSW eligibility points grid.
| Factor | Points |
|---|---|
| Education | 25 |
| Language Proficiency | 28 |
| Age | 12 |
| Work Experience | 15 |
| Arranged Employment | 10 |
| Adaptability | 10 |
| Minimum Pass Score | 67 |
Federal Skilled Trades
The Federal Skilled Trades (FST) program is one of the three federal immigration programs managed by the Express Entry system. As with all Express Entry programs, FST uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to rank interested candidates against one another, only inviting the most competitive candidates to apply for Canadian permanent residence.
Each year, over half of all immigrants to Canada are skilled workers welcomed through economic programs, including the Federal Skilled Trades program. For qualified trades people the FST program can be a fast option for obtaining Canadian permanent residence, and with it, the right to live and work in Canada permanently.
FST Program Requirements
In order to qualify for FST, a candidate must have at least two years of full-time work experience in a skilled trade (or an equal amount in part-time). This experience must have been obtained within the previous 5 years and only considers work experience obtained after an individual has been granted the certification to practice the trade in their country of residence.
Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC) code, defines skilled trades as the following occupation groups:
Major Group 72
Industrial, electrical and construction trades
Major Group 73
Maintenance and equipment operation trades
Major Group 82
Supervisors and technical jobs in natural resources, agriculture and related production
Major Group 92
Processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors and central control operators
Minor Group 632
Chefs and cooks
Minor Group 633
Butchers and bakers
Eligibility for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), as defined by the Canadian government.
Those who have recently worked in Canada and are pursuing permanent residency in Canada should apply for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). CEC is also one of the fastest ways to become a permanent resident of Canada, taking just three to four months!
Does the Canadian Experience Class Program accept anyone?
To be eligible for CEC, an applicant must have worked in Canada for a minimum of 12 months full-time (or an equivalent number of months part-time) in a skilled position.
Experience in Canada must be no older than three years old as of the date of application.
Foreign nationals who have not recently worked in Canada are not eligible for CEC.
Requirements for the Canadian Experience Class
The following conditions must be met for your 12-months of Canadian work experience to count toward your CEC application:
- Experience obtained in Canada within 36 months prior to the computerized Application for Permanent Residency (eAPR).
- Job responsibilities in Canada fall within the NOC Code Skill Levels 0, A, or B.
- Must have legal, remunerated work experience obtained in Canada.
An applicant’s employment experience in Canada cannot include time spent studying full-time.