The Express Entry (EE) system was introduced in 2015 and was developed to allow Canada to meet its future labour market needs to maintain long-term economic growth.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced the Express Entry system to select candidates for immigration to Canada through the Federal Economic Immigration programs below;

  • Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWP),
  • Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTP) and
  • Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)

The CRS is a points-based system that gives a score to a candidate based on the information in the candidate’s profile. These scores allow candidates in the pool to be ranked against each other. Applicants are given points based on the following factors:

  • Skills and skill transferability
  • Work experience
  • Language ability and education
  • Language ability and education of the applicant’s spouse or common law partner
  • Possession of a job offer supported by a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment
  • Possession of a provincial government nomination for permanent residence


Using these factors, applicants will be given a score out of a maximum of 1,200 points. The highest ranked applicants will be offered an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence during the draw periods. There are several ways to improve your CRS scores, like receiving a Provincial Nomination, Canadian job offer, a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), Language skills, spousal application, work experience and education qualifications like certificates, diplomas and degrees. Candidates will now have 60 days to complete an application for permanent residence if they get an invitation to apply. This will give candidates more time to gather all the required documentation and submit a complete application.

This is a popular program due to the short application time as it can take as little as six months to process, and applicants who are successful with the program can eventually apply for permanent residence in Canada.

  • Federal Skilled Worker Program (expand Link)
  • Quebec Skilled Worker program (expand Link)

Federal Skilled Worker Program

Applications under the Skilled Worker Class are evaluated according to a number of factors, including education, work experience, whether the candidate has the capacity to settle in Canada. Immigration to Canada is made available to individuals who have the right skillset, Engineers (Civil, Mechanical, Software & Petroleum), Technicians, Teachers, Professors and Lecturers, Nurses, Healthcare Practitioners, IT, Salespersons and Marketers, Bankers, Insurance Providers and Adjusters, Accountants, and certain Trades People.

A Canadian Skilled Worker Visa eligibility will be assessed on the following factors:

  • Language – English and/or French
  • education;
  • work experience;
  • age;
  • a valid job offer
  • adaptability

Quebec Skilled Worker program

The Quebec Skilled Worker program is an immigration program that does not require a valid job offer from a Canadian employer. The program selects candidates for permanent residence who have the intention of residing in Quebec and are likely to become economically established there.

The Quebec Skilled Worker program has specific qualifying criteria based on Quebec’s cultural uniqueness. An applicant can include their spouse, common-law partner and any dependent children on their application. Additional points are awarded to applicants with families (especially those with young children). Unlike the Federal Program, The Quebec Skilled Worker program has no list of eligible occupations. The individual will qualify for the program if the criteria set out by Quebec’s immigration authorities are met.