Express Entry

Express Entry is Canada's flagship skilled immigration system, managing applications for three federal economic programmes: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). It's a points-based system, you create a profile, receive a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on factors like age, education, language ability, and work experience, and then wait for your score to be above the cut-off in a regular draw.

The process is straightforward: create an Express Entry profile, get your CRS score, and enter the pool. IRCC conducts regular draws (sometimes weekly) and invites the highest-scoring candidates to apply for permanent residency. Category-based draws also target specific occupations, STEM, healthcare, trades, transport, agriculture, and French-language proficiency, which can significantly lower the score you need. As of March 2025, job offer points have been removed from CRS, so your score is based purely on your human capital.

For skilled professionals, Express Entry is often the most efficient route to Canadian PR. The 6-month processing standard is one of the fastest in the world for permanent residency. Concord helps clients optimise their CRS score, navigate category-based draws, and prepare bulletproof applications that move through processing without delays.

Express Entry is for skilled professionals who want permanent residency in Canada based on their own merit, no employer sponsorship required to enter the pool. You're a competitive candidate if you have at least 1 year of skilled work experience (NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3), strong English or French language results (CLB 7+), and a post-secondary degree. Age matters: the system favours candidates under 30, with points declining gradually after that.

It's also ideal for people already in Canada on work permits (PGWP, LMIA-based, etc.) who want to transition to permanent residency, and for professionals in targeted occupation categories (STEM, healthcare, trades) who may benefit from lower CRS cut-offs in category-based draws. If you've been considering PR in Canada but assumed you needed an employer to sponsor you, Express Entry may be your path.