Express Entry

About the Express Entry

Express Entry is Canada's online immigration management system for federal economic immigration programs. It maintains a pool of candidates from three federal programs — the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) — as well as Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates who hold a provincial nomination and seek permanent residence through the federal stream.

Candidates in the Express Entry pool are assessed under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which awards points for factors including age, education, official language proficiency, Canadian work experience, a qualifying job offer, and a provincial nomination. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducts periodic rounds of invitations, issuing Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to the highest-scoring candidates or to those meeting criteria set for targeted category-based draws.

Category-based draws, introduced under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act in 2023, allow IRCC to target specific occupational categories or candidates with French-language proficiency. Express Entry was launched on 1 January 2015. The system governs applications for permanent residence under the covered programs only; temporary work permits and other non-economic pathways are processed separately.

Key facts

• Covers three federal economic programs: Federal Skilled Worker (FSWP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and Federal Skilled Trades (FSTP)
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates with a provincial nomination may enter the pool for federal permanent residence
• Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores candidates on human capital factors; IRCC issues Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in periodic rounds
• Category-based draws (introduced 2023) allow targeted rounds for specific occupations or French-language candidates
• Administered by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC); results and CRS cut-off scores published at canada.ca
• Launched 1 January 2015; governed by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA)