Canada continues to use its Express Entry immigration system as a key tool for attracting skilled professionals and addressing labor shortages across critical sectors, including healthcare, technology, engineering, and skilled trades.
Managed by the government of Canada, the Express Entry system provides a streamlined pathway to permanent residency for qualified foreign workers seeking to live and work in the country.
Express Entry is an online immigration management system that processes permanent residency applications from skilled workers. Candidates can apply through three major immigration programs:
- Canadian Experience Class
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
Each program is designed to target specific categories of workers based on their skills, qualifications, and professional experience.
How the Express Entry System Works
Applicants begin by creating an online profile and entering a pool of candidates. Profiles are ranked using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which evaluates candidates based on factors such as:
- Age
- Education
- Work experience
- Language proficiency in English or French
Canada regularly conducts invitation rounds and issues Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to the highest-ranking candidates.
Once selected, applicants must submit a complete permanent residence application, provide supporting documents, and pay the applicable processing fees.
Canadian immigration authorities use several standardized systems to evaluate applicants:
Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB): Measures language proficiency in English or French.
National Occupation Classification (NOC): Categorizes occupations within Canada’s labor market.
Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER): Classifies jobs according to skill and qualification requirements.
These frameworks help determine eligibility and align immigration selection with labor market demands.
Canada revised permanent residence processing fees effective April 30, 2026. Current fees include:
- Main applicant: CAD 1,590
- Spouse: CAD 1,590
- Dependent child: CAD 270
These fees are payable upon submission of the permanent residence application.
Application Process
The Express Entry process generally includes the following steps:
- Create and submit an online profile.
- Enter the candidate pool and receive a CRS score.
- Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA), if selected.
- Upload supporting documents and pay required fees.
- Complete biometrics and other verification requirements, if applicable.
- Await processing and a final immigration decision.
- Pathway to Permanent Residency
Successful applicants receive confirmation of permanent residence and can complete the immigration landing process, allowing them to live and work permanently in Canada.
The Express Entry system remains a cornerstone of Canada’s immigration strategy, helping the country attract global talent, fill workforce shortages, and support long-term economic growth.
