EXPRESS ENTRY APPLICATIONS

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced electronic application criteria to receive applications from foreign nationals and temporary residents of Canada who are skilled workers and want to become permanent residents of Canada, and such an electronic application intake process is called Express Entry Application System. In short, applicants are required to submit an expression of interest application form, and all such applications are added into a pool of candidates where they are ranked based on various factors like age, education, work experience, language proficiency, marital status, job offers, etc. To be eligible to enter into the pool of skilled candidates through the Express Entry Intake System, you are required to meet the selection criteria of one of the following immigration programs:

 

(i) FEDERAL SKILLED WORKER PROGRAM

You can make an application under the federal skilled worker program, through Express Entry Intake, if:

  • you have at least one year of continuous full time or full-time equivalent of work experience in a Skilled Occupation defined under National Occupation Classification (NOC) level O, A or B;
  • you have English and/or French language proficiency equivalent to Canadian Language Benchmark 7;
  • your educational credentials are evaluated by a designated body in Canada;
  • you can score a minimum of 67 points based upon education, age, work experience, language proficiency, permanent job offer, and adaptability(previous skilled work experience in Canada, previous studies in Canada, blood relative in Canada, etc); and
  • you have sufficient funds to establish in Canada

 

(ii)  CANADIAN EXPERIENCE CLASS

Canadian Experience Class has been introduced to provide an opportunity for temporary foreign workers and international students to become permanent residents of Canada. This class is for applicants who are familiar with Canadian society, job market of Canada, have knowledge of official languages of Canada and have an ability to establish in Canada.

You can make an application under the Canadian Experience Class, through Express Entry Intake, if:

  • You have at least 12 months of work experience in Canada as a skilled worker in the last 36 months
  • You must have required language proficiency and language proficiency test results, and
  • You must have gained that work experience while having a valid work permit.

If your skilled work experience falls under NOC 0 or A , you are required to have a minimum level of Canadian Language Benchmark(CLB) 7 in either English or French language tests.

If your skilled work experience is in a NOC B job, you are required to have a minimum level of CLB 5 in either English or French language tests.

 

(iii) FEDERAL SKILLED TRADES CLASS

In order to be eligible to make an application under this class of skilled workers, through the Express Entry Intake, an applicant must have:

  • required language proficiency in English or French languages;
  • at least two years of full-time or full-time equivalent work experience in a skilled trade within the five years at the time of application;
  • an offer of full-time employment for a period of at least one year or a certificate of qualification for a skilled trade issued by a Canadian licensing authority, and
  • meet all the job requirements for a skilled trade as provided in the National Occupation Classification except a certificate of qualification.

The following Skilled Trades are eligible under this program:

  • Electrical and Construction Trades
  • Maintenance and Equipment Operation Trades
  • Supervisors and technical jobs in natural resources, agriculture and related production
  • Processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors and central control operators
  • Chefs and Cooks
  • Butchers and Bakers