Express Entry

What is Express Entry?

Launched by the Federal Government in 2015 as a way to boost Canada’s economy through economic immigration, Express Entry is completely based on an electronic system.

Canada has always encouraged and welcomed thousands of skilled workers every year in all types of occupations. In order to keep up with the tradition, Canada continues to give more opportunities to prospective skilled immigrants who qualify under one of the following programs:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Canadian Experience Class
• Federal Skilled Trades Program

Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

This program has been one of the most popular ways of immigrating to Canada in the recent years. It is by far the speediest, cost-effective and most simple routes to obtain Permanent Residency in Canada.

Program Requirements:

To be eligible, your work-experience must have been:

• at least one year (1,560 hours total / 30 hours per week), continuous full-time or an equal amount in part-time
• paid work (volunteer work, unpaid internships do not count)
• within the last 10 years, and
• at skill type 0, or skill levels A or B of the 2011 National Occupational Classification (NOC).

If you meet the program requirements, your application is assessed against the 6 selection factors; also, known as the Federal Skilled Worker Points grid:

• Education
• Work experience
• Age
• Language ability (English and / or French)
• Arranged employment in Canada (valid job offer)
• Adaptability 

Canadian Experience Class

This program is intended for those who are already in Canada, either as Students or Temporary Foreign Workers. This is an easy transition into Permanent Residency.

Program Requirements:

To be eligible, you will need to:

• Be a temporary foreign worker who has a minimum of 1 year of full-time work experience (or equal amount in part-time) 3 years before you can apply OR
• a student, who has graduated from a Canadian Post-Secondary Institution and has worked for at least 1 year full-time in Canada 
• Meet the programs language proficiency requirements (English / French)

Federal Skilled Trade Program

This program aims to create a permanent residency route for people from different trades to work in Canada.

Qualifying Trades

• Machinists & Machining & Tooling Inspectors.
• Structural metal & plate work fabricators & fitters.
• Welders and related machine operators.
• Electricians (except industrial and power system).
• Electrical Power Line and Cable Workers.
• Telecommunications line and cable workers.
• Telecommunications installation & repair workers.
• Steamfitters, pipefitters & sprinkler system installers.
• Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics.
• Heavy-duty equipment Mechanics.
• Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanics.
• Underground production and development miners.
• Oil & Gas Well Drillers, servicers, testers & related workers.
  • Sheet Metal Workers.
  • Ironworkers.
  • Industrial Electricians.
  • Power System Electricians.
  • Plumbers.
  • Gas Fitters.
  • Railway Carmen/women.
  • Aircraft Mechanics & Inspectors.
  • Elevator constructors & mechanics.
  • Crane Operators.
  • Drillers and Blasters.
  • Water well Drillers.
  • Petroleum, gas and chemical process operators.

Program Requirements:

To be eligible under this program, all applicants must:

• have at least two years of work experience in an eligible trade listed above
• have gained this experience in the last five years
• obtain a Certificate of Qualification or you must have a job offer(s) of full-time employment for a total period of at least 1 year from up to two Canadian employers 
• meet the minimum language requirements in English or French