Immigration Complete guide

Express Entry Canada 2026: programs, requirements, CRS score, profile and how to apply

By Alex Francisco Updated Oct 11, 2026 Figures checked Oct 11, 2026 20 min read

What is Express Entry and how does someone apply for it?

Express Entry is the online system Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada uses to manage permanent residence applications for 3 programs: the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. A candidate creates a profile, is ranked out of 1,200 points under the Comprehensive Ranking System, and can apply only after an invitation, which is valid for 60 days.

Express Entry manages 3 programs: the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. A candidate must be eligible for at least one to enter the pool.
The Federal Skilled Worker Program needs 1 year of continuous skilled work in the last 10 years, CLB 7 in all 4 abilities and 67 points out of 100 on six selection factors.
Every profile is ranked out of 1,200 points under the Comprehensive Ranking System, and a provincial nomination adds 600 of them.
A profile must be submitted within 60 days of starting it, stays in the pool for 12 months, and an invitation to apply is valid for 60 days only.
Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades applicants need settlement funds of $15,263 for one person; Canadian Experience Class applicants are exempt.
IRCC fees are $1,590 for each adult, including the $600 right of permanent residence fee, plus $270 for each dependent child and $85 for biometrics.

— YieldMaple, figures checked against official sources on October 11, 2026. Sources

Express Entry is the federal system Canada uses to select skilled workers for permanent residence, and it works differently from an ordinary application. Nobody applies directly. A candidate first proves eligibility for a program, then enters a pool, is ranked against everyone else in it, and waits for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to send an invitation. This guide covers the whole path in order, with every rule, score and fee taken from IRCC pages; the date each table was last checked is printed under it. It explains the rules; it is not immigration advice, and only IRCC decides an application. A licensed immigration consultant or lawyer can review a complicated file.

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry is an online system IRCC uses to manage immigration applications from skilled workers. It is not a program in itself: it manages 3 federal programs, and a candidate must be eligible for at least one of them to enter the pool.

The 3 immigration programs managed through Express Entry

How to read this table: A candidate does not pick a program. IRCC sorts the profile into whichever programs it qualifies for, based on the information entered.

Program	Who it is for
Canadian Experience Class	Skilled workers with eligible Canadian work experience
Federal Skilled Worker Program	Skilled workers with eligible foreign or Canadian work experience
Federal Skilled Trades Program	Skilled workers who are qualified in a skilled trade

IRCC describes the process in four steps, and the split of who does what explains most of the waiting.

How the Express Entry process works

How to read this table: Steps as IRCC lists them. Only steps 1 and 3 are in the candidate's hands; an application for permanent residence can be made only after an invitation.

Step	What happens	Who acts
1	Create a profile and enter the pool.	Candidate
2	IRCC invites the candidates with the most points in rounds.	IRCC
3	A candidate who is invited to apply fills out the application.	Candidate
4	IRCC reviews the application and makes a decision.	IRCC

Source: Express Entry - Canada.ca (how the process works); Express Entry: Create your profile and enter the pool - Canada.ca (60 days to submit the profile); Express Entry: Create your profile and enter the pool - Canada.ca (no guarantee of an invitation); Express Entry: Create your profile and enter the pool - Canada.ca (program order); Express Entry: Create your profile and enter the pool - Canada.ca (misrepresentation); Express Entry: Create your profile and enter the pool - Canada.ca (updates keep the submission time); Express Entry: Rounds of invitations - Canada.ca (tie-breaking rule); Express Entry: Rounds of invitations - Canada.ca (round types); Express Entry: Rounds of invitations - Canada.ca (provincial nominees); Express Entry: Category-based selection - Canada.ca (eligibility for a category round); Express Entry: Category-based selection - Canada.ca (occupation categories); Express Entry: Category-based selection - Canada.ca (French-language category); Express Entry: Apply for permanent residence - Canada.ca (invitation valid 60 days); Express Entry: Apply for permanent residence - Canada.ca (profile expires after 12 months); Express Entry: Apply for permanent residence - Canada.ca (not applying within 60 days); Express Entry: Apply for permanent residence - Canada.ca (fees at submission); Express Entry: Apply for permanent residence - Canada.ca (medical exam); Express Entry: After you apply - Canada.ca (biometrics); Express Entry: After you apply - Canada.ca (biometrics fee); Express Entry: After you apply - Canada.ca (biometrics family maximum); Express Entry: If we approve your application - Canada.ca; Express Entry: Get your documents ready - Canada.ca; Express Entry: Police certificates - Canada.ca; Express Entry: Educational credential assessment - Canada.ca (validity); Express Entry: Language test results - Canada.ca (validity); Immigrate as a provincial nominee - Canada.ca (Express Entry option); Immigrate as a provincial nominee - Canada.ca (who has a program). In effect from October 2, 2026; checked October 11, 2026.

Two points follow from that structure. First, entering the pool does not guarantee anything: IRCC states that completing a profile or entering the pool doesn’t guarantee an invitation. Second, there are two different points systems, and they are easy to confuse. The Federal Skilled Worker Program has its own selection grid out of 100 that decides whether a person qualifies for that program at all. The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), out of 1,200, then ranks every candidate in the pool whatever their program. Both are covered below, and the CRS score calculator works out the second one line by line.

What are the Express Entry requirements for CEC, FSW and FST?

The three programs share a pool but have different entry requirements. The table puts IRCC’s “key differences” side by side: the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST).

Express Entry requirements by program: CEC, FSW and FST side by side

How to read this table: CLB is the Canadian Language Benchmark. NOC is the National Occupational Classification, and TEER is the NOC's category for the training, education, experience and responsibilities a job needs. Settlement funds amounts are in the proof of funds section below.

Requirement	Canadian Experience Class	Federal Skilled Worker Program	Federal Skilled Trades Program
Language skills	CLB 7 for TEER 0 or TEER 1 occupations; CLB 5 for TEER 2 or TEER 3 occupations	CLB 7	CLB 5 for speaking and listening; CLB 4 for reading and writing
Type of work experience	Canadian work experience in an occupation in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3	Work experience in an occupation in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3	Work experience in a skilled trade under key groups of TEER 2 or TEER 3
Amount of work experience	1 year in Canada in the last 3 years (full-time, part-time or a combination)	1 year continuous within the last 10 years (part-time, full-time or more than 1 job in the primary occupation)	2 years within the last 5 years (full-time, part-time or a combination)
Job offer	Not required	Not required, but a valid job offer earns selection factor points	Required: a valid job offer of full-time employment for a total period of at least 1 year, or a certificate of qualification in the skilled trade from a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority
Education	Not required	Secondary education required; post-secondary education earns more selection factor points	Not required
Settlement funds	Not required	Required, unless currently able to legally work in Canada with a valid job offer from an employer in Canada	Required, unless currently able to legally work in Canada with a valid job offer from an employer in Canada
Where to live	Outside the province of Quebec	Outside the province of Quebec	Outside the province of Quebec

Read across the rows and three practical profiles appear:

Already working in Canada. The CEC asks for the least paperwork: 1 year of skilled work in Canada in the last 3 years, no education requirement, no job offer and no settlement funds. The work must have been done while authorized to work under temporary resident status, which is why many candidates arrive at it from a post-graduation work permit. The full rules, including what work does not count, are in the Canadian Experience Class guide.
Experience gained outside Canada. The FSW is the only one of the three built for foreign work experience. It needs 1 year of continuous skilled work in the last 10 years, CLB 7, secondary education and a pass on the selection grid.
Qualified in a trade. The FST accepts lower language scores and has no education requirement, but needs 2 years of trade experience in the last 5 years plus either a job offer or a Canadian certificate of qualification.

Someone who meets more than one set of rules does not choose. IRCC invites a candidate under the first program they are eligible for, in a fixed order:

Order in which IRCC picks the program for an invitation

How to read this table: A candidate eligible for both the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades Program is invited under the Canadian Experience Class. Declining does not move the candidate to the next program.

Order	Program
1	Canadian Experience Class
2	Federal Skilled Worker Program
3	Federal Skilled Trades Program

The order matters for money. Because candidates do not always know ahead of time which program an invitation will come under, IRCC’s proof of funds page tells them to keep their funds up to date in the profile.

All three programs require the applicant to plan to live outside Quebec, which selects its own skilled workers through the Québec skilled worker selection program. Work experience gained in Quebec can still count if the applicant can prove an intention to settle elsewhere.

What are the Federal Skilled Worker Program requirements?

The Federal Skilled Worker Program has two layers: minimum requirements, then a selection grid. A candidate must clear both before a profile is accepted into the pool under this program.

Federal Skilled Worker Program minimum requirements

How to read this table: All of the work experience conditions must be met. The primary occupation is the job used for the immigration application and may not be the most recent one.

Requirement	What IRCC requires
Skill level of the job	National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3.
Primary occupation	The experience must have the same NOC as the job used for the immigration application (the primary occupation), which may not be the most recent job.
Duties performed	The actions in the lead statement of the NOC job description and most of the main duties listed.
When and where	Obtained within the last 10 years, in Canada or abroad.
Pay	Paid work: wages or commission. Volunteer work and unpaid internships don't count.
Amount	At least 1 year of continuous work or 1,560 hours total (30 hours per week). Hours above 30 a week are not counted.
Student work	May count if it was paid by wages or commissions, was continuous (no gaps in employment) and meets all the other requirements.
Language	Approved English or French test with the minimum score in all 4 abilities: writing, reading, listening and speaking.
Education	A certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian secondary or post-secondary institution, or a completed foreign credential with an Educational Credential Assessment for immigration purposes.
Selection factors	A score of 67 points or higher out of 100 on the six selection factors.
Proof of funds	Enough money for the applicant and family to settle in Canada, unless currently able to legally work in Canada with a valid job offer from an employer in Canada.
Admissibility	The applicant must be admissible to Canada. IRCC gives security, criminal or medical reasons as examples of why a person may not be admitted.
Where to live	The applicant must plan to live outside the province of Quebec. A provincial nominee must settle in the nominating province or territory.

The work requirement is 1 year of continuous work or 1,560 hours in total, which is 30 hours a week for 12 months. Part-time work counts if it adds up to the same total, for example 15 hours a week for 24 months, and it can be spread over more than one job. Hours above 30 in a week are not counted, so working 60-hour weeks does not halve the time needed.

Once the minimums are met, IRCC scores six selection factors out of 100. The pass mark is 67.

Federal Skilled Worker selection factors: maximum points for each

How to read this table: A total of 67 points or higher out of 100 qualifies; a lower score does not. These points decide eligibility for this program only and are different from the CRS points used to rank the pool.

Selection factor	Maximum points	How points are earned
Language skills	28	Up to 24 points for the first official language (6 per ability at CLB 9 or higher) and 4 points for a second official language at CLB 5 or higher in all 4 abilities.
Education	25	Based on the Canadian credential, or the foreign credential and its Educational Credential Assessment report.
Skilled work experience	15	Based on the number of years of skilled work, in Canada or abroad, including work while studying or while self-employed.
Age	12	Based on age on the day IRCC gets the application.
Arranged employment in Canada	10	A valid job offer of at least 1 year from a Canadian employer, obtained before applying, that fits one of IRCC's four listed situations.
Adaptability	10	Combined points for the applicant and an accompanying spouse or common-law partner: language, past study or work in Canada, arranged employment and relatives in Canada.

Two of the six factors, education and age, follow fixed scales:

Federal Skilled Worker selection points for education

How to read this table: A foreign credential needs an Educational Credential Assessment report that shows its Canadian equivalent. IRCC limits the professional degree level to medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, podiatry, optometry, law, chiropractic medicine and pharmacy.

Level of education	Points
University degree at the Doctoral (PhD) level	25
University degree at the Master's level	23
Professional degree needed to practice in a licensed profession	23
Two or more certificates, diplomas or degrees	22
Bachelor's degree or other program of three or more years at a university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute	21
Two-year degree, diploma or certificate from a program at a university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute	19
One-year degree, diploma or certificate from a program at a university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute	15
Secondary school (high school diploma)	5

Federal Skilled Worker selection points for age

How to read this table: Age is taken on the day IRCC gets the application.

Age	Points
Under 18	0
18-35	12
36	11
37	10
38	9
39	8
40	7
41	6
42	5
43	4
44	3
45	2
46	1
47 and older	0

Skilled work experience earns 9 points for 1 year, 11 for 2 to 3 years, 13 for 4 to 5 years and 15 for 6 or more. Language is worth the most: 6 points per ability at CLB 9 or higher in the first official language, 5 at CLB 8 and 4 at CLB 7, with 4 more for a second official language at CLB 5 or higher in all 4 abilities.

A worked illustration shows how the grid adds up. Take a candidate aged 32 with a bachelor’s degree, 4 years of skilled work, CLB 8 in all four abilities, no second language, no job offer and no adaptability points. The score is 12 for age, 21 for education, 13 for work and 20 for language, a total of 66: one point short of the pass mark. The same person at CLB 9 would have 24 language points and 70 in total. The adaptability factor can close a gap like that too: an accompanying spouse with CLB 4 or higher in all 4 abilities adds 5 points, as does a qualifying relative in Canada. The grid is taken apart factor by factor in the Federal Skilled Worker Program guide.

What are the Federal Skilled Trades Program requirements?

The Federal Skilled Trades Program is for people qualified in a skilled trade. It has no selection grid and no education requirement, but the work experience and the job offer or certificate conditions are strict.

Federal Skilled Trades Program minimum requirements

How to read this table: Unlike the other two programs, all of the work experience must be in the same NOC, and work done while studying does not count.

Requirement	What IRCC requires
Occupation	All of the experience must be in the same NOC, in one of the eligible skilled trade groups.
Duties performed	The actions in the lead statement of the NOC job description and most of the main duties listed, meeting the job requirements for that skilled trade as set out in the NOC.
Pay	Paid work: wages or commission. Volunteer work and unpaid internships don't count.
Qualified to practise	The experience must have been obtained in a country where the worker was qualified to practise the trade.
Amount and timing	At least 2 years of full-time work experience (or 3,120 hours total) in a skilled trade within the 5 years before applying. Hours above 30 a week are not counted.
Student work	Work experience gained while studying doesn't count towards the minimum requirements.
Job offer or certificate	Either a valid job offer of full-time employment for a total period of at least 1 year, or a certificate of qualification in the skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority.
Language	Approved English or French test with the minimum score in all 4 abilities; the minimum is lower for reading and writing than for speaking and listening.
Education	No education requirement. Canadian credentials, or foreign credentials with an educational credential assessment, can add ranking points.
Proof of funds	Enough money for the applicant and family to settle in Canada, unless currently able to legally work in Canada with a valid job offer from an employer in Canada.
Admissibility	The applicant must be admissible to Canada.
Where to live	The applicant must plan to live outside the province of Quebec. A provincial nominee must settle in the nominating province or territory.

The 2 years of experience equal 3,120 hours: 30 hours a week for 24 months, or the part-time equivalent such as 15 hours a week for 48 months. Only certain occupation groups qualify.

Occupation groups eligible for the Federal Skilled Trades Program

How to read this table: Groups are from the National Occupational Classification. The job and the work experience must both fall in one of these groups.

NOC group	Occupations covered	Excluded
Major Group 72	Technical trades and transportation officers and controllers	Sub-Major Group 726, transportation officers and controllers
Major Group 73	General trades	—
Major Group 82	Supervisors in natural resources, agriculture and related production	—
Major Group 83	Natural resources and related production	—
Major Group 92	Processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors, and utilities operators and controllers	—
Major Group 93	Central control and process operators and aircraft assembly assemblers and inspectors	Sub-Major Group 932, aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors
Minor Group 6320	Cooks, butchers and bakers	—
Unit Group 62200	Chefs	—

The second condition is a choice between two documents. A valid job offer must be for continuous, paid, full-time work of at least 30 hours a week for at least 1 year, and it can be made by up to 2 employers. The offer must be supported by a new positive labour market impact assessment, unless the worker is already in Canada on a qualifying work permit with the employer making the offer; the LMIA guide explains that process. The alternative is a certificate of qualification, which shows the holder passed a certification exam and meets the requirements to practise the trade in the province or territory that issued it. Each province and territory runs its own assessment, and IRCC notes that an applicant may have to travel there, or need a Canadian employer to provide experience and training. Where a province does not issue certificates in a trade, a job offer is the only route.

What language test scores does Express Entry need?

Every program requires an approved language test, and the minimum level differs by program and, for the CEC, by the skill level of the job.

Express Entry minimum language levels by program

How to read this table: CLB levels apply to English tests and NCLC levels to French tests. The minimum must be met in each ability listed, not on average.

Program	Abilities	English	French
Federal Skilled Worker Program	All 4 (speaking, listening, reading, writing)	CLB 7	NCLC 7
Canadian Experience Class, job in NOC TEER 0 or 1	All 4	CLB 7	NCLC 7
Canadian Experience Class, job in NOC TEER 2 or 3	All 4	CLB 5	NCLC 5
Federal Skilled Trades Program	Speaking and listening	CLB 5	NCLC 5
Federal Skilled Trades Program	Reading and writing	CLB 4	NCLC 4

Source: Express Entry: Language test results - Canada.ca (Canadian Experience Class minimums); Express Entry: Language test results - Canada.ca (Federal Skilled Worker minimum); Express Entry: Language test results - Canada.ca (Federal Skilled Trades minimums); Express Entry: Language test results - Canada.ca (how long results are valid); Express Entry: Language test results - Canada.ca (expired results); Six selection factors - Federal Skilled Worker Program - Canada.ca (language points); Six selection factors - Federal Skilled Worker Program - Canada.ca (second language and pass mark); Six selection factors - Federal Skilled Worker Program - Canada.ca (spouse language, adaptability); Canadian Experience Class - Canada.ca (language in all 4 abilities). In effect from June 22, 2026; checked September 30, 2026.

Test results must be less than 2 years old both when the profile is completed and when the application for permanent residence is submitted, so a test taken early can expire while a profile sits in the pool. Meeting the minimum is only the entry ticket. Language is also the largest block of points a candidate can still change after entering the pool, as the CRS section shows. The IELTS to CLB charts convert CELPIP, IELTS, PTE Core, TEF Canada and TCF Canada scores into CLB levels.

How to create an Express Entry profile

The profile is an online form inside an IRCC secure account. It is a declaration, not an application: no documents are uploaded at this stage, but the answers have to match documents that will be requested later.

Step 1: check eligibility. IRCC offers two ways to answer its eligibility questionnaire: the Come to Canada tool, which ends with a personal reference code used to carry the answers into the profile, or the same questions inside the secure account.

Step 2: gather the documents the profile draws on.

Documents needed to fill in an Express Entry profile

How to read this table: IRCC says information from some or all of these may be needed when creating a profile. The documents themselves are uploaded only after an invitation to apply.

Document	What to know
Passport or travel document	IRCC says a passport that expires within 6 months from the day of applying should be renewed.
Language test results	From an approved English or French test; less than 2 years old.
Proof of Canadian education or an educational credential assessment report	Needed for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, or to get points for education obtained outside Canada.
Written job offer from an employer in Canada	If there is one.
Proof of work experience	Such as a reference or experience letter from an employer.
Certificate of qualification in a trade occupation	Issued by a Canadian province or territory, if there is one.
Proof of funds	Amounts by family size are set by IRCC and updated every year.
Police certificates	IRCC suggests asking for them as soon as the profile is in the pool, because they can take a long time.
Provincial nomination	If the candidate applied for the Provincial Nominee Program.

Step 3: create and submit the profile. Sign in to the secure account, enter the personal reference code if there is one, fill in the personal details and submit. The profile can be saved and left at any time, but IRCC allows 60 days to complete and submit it; after that it has to be started again. The profile does not ask about dependent children. IRCC asks for that information only after an invitation.

Step 4: keep it accurate. A profile must be updated when circumstances change: a new career, a gained or lost job offer, a new language test, a marriage or divorce, or a new child. Updating does not change the date and time IRCC received the profile, which matters in a tie. Giving false information or leaving out important details can lead to a refused application, a finding of inadmissibility and a bar of 5 years on applying to come to Canada.

A profile can also stop being eligible while it waits. IRCC lists the common reasons: the work experience falls outside the required period, the language test or the educational credential assessment expires, funds drop below the required amount, or the primary occupation changes. For workers in Canada, an expiring work permit should be extended or restored, because working without status can make a candidate ineligible.

How does the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) work?

The Comprehensive Ranking System scores every profile in the pool out of 1,200 points, and invitations go to the highest-ranked candidates who fit the round. The points come in four parts.

Part of the CRS	Maximum without a spouse or partner	Maximum with a spouse or partner
Core or human capital factors (age, education, language, Canadian work)	500	460
Spouse or common-law partner factors	Not applicable	40
Skill transferability (combinations of education, language and work)	100	100
Additional points (nomination, French, Canadian study, sibling in Canada)	600	600
Total	1,200	1,200

A single candidate and a couple can reach the same total; the couple’s core maximum is lower because up to 40 points come from the partner’s education, language and Canadian work. Language is the factor most candidates can still move. Each of the four abilities in the first official language is scored separately:

CRS points for each first official language ability

How to read this table: Points are per ability, so multiply by four for speaking, listening, reading and writing at the same level. The row for CLB 3 means less than CLB 4, and the row for CLB 10 means CLB 10 or more.

CLB level	With a spouse or partner	Without a spouse or partner
3	0	0
4	6	6
5	6	6
6	8	9
7	16	17
8	22	23
9	29	31
10	32	34

Source: Express Entry: Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) criteria - Canada.ca; Express Entry: CRS criteria - job offer points removed (same page); Express Entry: Check your score - Canada.ca; Ministerial Instructions respecting the Express Entry system - current - Canada.ca. In effect from March 25, 2025; checked September 29, 2026.

The step from CLB 8 to CLB 9 is one of the two largest on the scale, equal to the step from CLB 6 to CLB 7: for a single candidate it is worth 32 core points across the four abilities, and CLB 9 in all four also opens the higher tier of skill transferability points. Canadian work experience has its own scale:

CRS points for Canadian work experience

How to read this table: The row for 0 years means none or less than a year, and the row for 5 years means 5 years or more.

Years of Canadian skilled work	With a spouse or partner	Without a spouse or partner
0	0	0
1	35	40
2	46	53
3	56	64
4	63	72
5	70	80

Age points peak from 20 to 29, at 110 for a single candidate and 100 with a spouse, and fall each year after that until they reach zero at 45. Education runs up to 150 points for a doctoral degree for a single candidate.

The additional points are where scores jump. A provincial nomination is worth 600. Strong French, at NCLC 7 or higher in all four abilities, adds 25 points, or 50 when English is also at CLB 5 or higher. Canadian post-secondary study adds 15 points for a credential of one or two years and 30 for three years or more, and a brother or sister living in Canada adds 15. A job offer adds nothing to the CRS: IRCC removed job offer points as of March 25, 2025.

Every row of the grid, including the spouse factors and the skill transferability combinations, is set out in the CRS points table.

How do Express Entry rounds of invitations work?

IRCC invites candidates in rounds held throughout the year. For each round it chooses a round type, decides how many candidates to invite, identifies the highest-ranking candidates who are eligible for that type and invites them. The score of the lowest-ranked candidate invited becomes that round’s cut-off.

The three types of Express Entry rounds

How to read this table: Each round has published instructions giving its date and time, the number of invitations, the round type and any program or category conditions.

Round type	Who is invited	Also worth knowing
General	Top-ranking candidates in the pool who are eligible for 1 of the 3 programs managed through Express Entry.	Candidates with a provincial or territorial nomination are also invited through general rounds.
Program-specific	Top-ranking candidates who are eligible for a specific Express Entry program.	IRCC's example is a round held only for the Provincial Nominee Program.
Category-based	Top-ranking candidates who are eligible for a category the Minister established to meet a specific economic goal.	The candidate must also be eligible for 1 of the 3 programs and meet all the requirements in that round's instructions.

The round type decides who is competing, so a single “Express Entry cut-off” does not exist. IRCC’s results for the 30 most recent rounds, from May 28 to October 1, 2026, show how far apart the scores sit:

No general rounds. None of the 30 rounds was a general round: every one was limited to a program or a category.
Canadian Experience Class rounds cut off between 516 and 523. The most recent, on September 29, 2026, invited 2,000 candidates at 518.
Provincial Nominee Program rounds, where every candidate holds the 600 nomination points, cut off between 697 and 768. The most recent, on September 28, 2026, invited 733 candidates at 725.
Category-based rounds went much lower. French-language proficiency rounds cut off between 382 and 420, the Trades Occupations round of October 1, 2026 invited 3,500 candidates at 476, and the two Physicians with Canadian Work Experience rounds cut off at 223 and 198.

The full round-by-round table is kept on the Express Entry draws page, which is updated after each round.

Category-based rounds target a group the Minister has established to meet an economic goal. A candidate still has to be eligible for 1 of the 3 programs and meet everything in that round’s instructions.

Current Express Entry categories and the main requirement for each

How to read this table: Each occupation category has its own list of eligible occupations on IRCC's category-based selection page, and the experience does not need to be continuous. Full conditions are in the instructions for each round.

Category	Main requirement
French-language proficiency	French test results showing a minimum of NCLC 7 in all 4 language abilities.
Healthcare and social services occupations	At least 12 months of full-time work (or an equal amount of part-time work) within the past 3 years, in a single listed occupation, in Canada or abroad.
Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) occupations	At least 12 months of full-time work (or an equal amount of part-time work) within the past 3 years, in a single listed occupation, in Canada or abroad.
Trade occupations	At least 12 months of full-time work (or an equal amount of part-time work) within the past 3 years, in a single listed occupation, in Canada or abroad.
Education occupations	At least 12 months of full-time work (or an equal amount of part-time work) within the past 3 years, in a single listed occupation, in Canada or abroad.
Transport occupations	At least 12 months of full-time work (or an equal amount of part-time work) within the past 3 years, in a single listed occupation, in Canada or abroad.
Physicians with Canadian work experience	At least 12 months of full-time work (or an equal amount of part-time work) within the past 3 years, in a single listed occupation, in Canada.
Senior managers with Canadian work experience	At least 12 months of full-time work (or an equal amount of part-time work) within the past 3 years, in a single listed occupation, in Canada.
Researchers with Canadian work experience	At least 12 months of full-time work (or an equal amount of part-time work) within the past 3 years, in a single listed occupation, in Canada.
Skilled military recruits	A Foreign Skilled Military Applicant with an offer of arranged employment from the Canadian Armed Forces and the other conditions IRCC lists for the category.

When several candidates share the lowest score, the tie is broken by the date and time each profile was submitted, so at the same score an earlier profile ranks ahead of a later one, and updating a profile does not reset that time. The spread of scores in the pool is on the CRS score distribution page.

How do you apply for Express Entry after an invitation?

An invitation to apply arrives as a message in the account, naming the program the invitation is for. From that moment the candidate has 60 days to submit a complete application for permanent residence, and IRCC’s advice is to start the form right away.

Applying for permanent residence after an invitation: the four steps

How to read this table: Everything is done online in the IRCC secure account.

Step	What it involves
1. Fill out the application form	Sign in, open the permanent residency application under profiles and applications not yet submitted, and complete the online form. A personalized document checklist appears once the form is complete.
2. Upload the documents	Copies of the documents used for the profile, plus police certificates, proof of funds and civil status documents. Documents not in English or French need a certified translation.
3. Pay the fees	Processing fee for the applicant and family members, right of permanent residence fee and biometrics fee, paid by debit or credit card in the account. At a minimum the processing fees are paid at submission.
4. Submit the application	The system won't accept the application unless every mandatory field is filled out and every required document is included.

The personalized checklist drives the document upload. Beyond the documents used for the profile, most applicants also need the following:

Documents most Express Entry applicants upload after an invitation

How to read this table: IRCC may add other items to a personal checklist, such as proof of a relationship to a relative in Canada. Documents in another language need an English or French translation by a certified translator, or one accompanied by an affidavit.

Document	When it is needed
Police certificates	Most applicants
Proof of funds	Most applicants; exempt applicants upload a letter
Birth certificate	If declaring dependent children
Use of a Representative form (IMM 5476)	If a representative was hired
Common-law union form (IMM 5409)	If marital status is declared as common-law
Marriage certificate	If marital status is declared as married
Divorce certificate and legal separation agreement	If marital status is declared as divorced
Death certificate	If marital status is declared as widowed
Adoption certificate	When a dependent child is listed as adopted

Three items take the longest to arrange:

Police certificates. They are needed for the applicant and each family member aged 18 or older, for every country where the person stayed 6 months in a row or longer in the last 10 years, not counting time before age 18 or time in Canada. The certificate for the country of current residence must be issued no more than 6 months before the application is submitted. IRCC suggests requesting certificates as soon as the profile is in the pool. If one cannot be obtained by the deadline, a letter of explanation with proof of a best effort can be uploaded instead, though an officer who is not satisfied may reject the application as incomplete.
The medical exam. An immigration medical exam from a panel physician is required, including for family members who are not coming to Canada. Someone living in Canada who had an exam for an earlier application in the past 5 years may not need a new one.
Proof of funds. Official letters from each financial institution are covered in the proof of funds section below.

A candidate whose situation has changed should recalculate the score before applying. If it has dropped below the lowest score in that round, IRCC says to decline, because an application submitted anyway may be refused without a refund of the fee. Declining puts the profile back in the pool for future rounds. Doing nothing has the heaviest consequence: the invitation expires and the profile is removed from the pool.

After submission, IRCC checks that the file is complete, asks for biometrics and then assesses eligibility and admissibility.

What happens after an Express Entry application is submitted

How to read this table: IRCC communicates through the secure account at every stage.

Stage	What happens
Completeness check	IRCC checks that the application is filled out completely and correctly, the processing fee is paid, all requirements are met and all documents are included. An incomplete application is rejected and the processing fees refunded.
Biometrics	Applicants aged 14 to 79 give fingerprints and a photo for every permanent residence application, even if earlier biometrics are still valid. The deadline is 30 days from the date on the instruction letter.
Updates and requests	IRCC uses the secure account to confirm the review, send status updates, ask for more documents and set up an interview if one is needed.
Changes to report	Changes to family composition, contact details, job or job offer, education, language results, a withdrawn nomination or a representative are reported through IRCC's web form.
Decision	Based on eligibility for the program and admissibility, using the results of the medical exam, police certificates and background checks.
Approval	IRCC issues a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and, for nationals of countries that need one, a permanent resident visa. The COPR can't be extended. The right of permanent residence fee must be paid before approval.
Refusal	To be considered in future rounds, a new profile must be submitted and accepted into the pool again.

Workers in Canada whose permit will expire while the application is in process may be able to keep working on a bridging open work permit, and an accompanying partner may qualify for a spousal open work permit.

Express Entry deadlines and document validity

Several clocks run at once in Express Entry, and missing any of them sends a candidate back to an earlier step. This table collects them.

Express Entry deadlines and how long each document stays valid

How to read this table: Limits as IRCC states them. The language test and credential assessment must be valid at two points: when the profile is completed and when the application is submitted.

Deadline or document	Limit	What it means
Completing and submitting the profile	60 days	Otherwise the profile has to be started again.
Time a profile stays in the pool	12 months from submission	The profile expires automatically and is removed; a new one can be created.
Invitation to apply	60 days	The invitation expires and the profile is removed from the pool.
Language test results	Less than 2 years old	Must be valid when the profile is completed and when the application is submitted.
Educational credential assessment	Less than 5 years old	IRCC refuses an application made with an expired assessment.
Police certificate for the country of current residence	Issued no more than 6 months before submission	IRCC may ask for updated certificates during processing.
Passport	No fixed limit; IRCC flags expiry within 6 months of the day of applying	IRCC says a passport expiring within 6 months should be renewed and the new details entered.
Biometrics	30 days from the date on the letter	Paying the biometrics fee with the application avoids delays.

How much money is needed for Express Entry proof of funds?

Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades applicants must show settlement funds: $15,263 for a single applicant, rising with family size. The amounts are set at 50% of the low income cut-off totals and IRCC updates them every year; the current table was updated on July 7, 2025.

Express Entry settlement funds required, by family size

How to read this table: Family size counts the applicant, a spouse or common-law partner, and the dependent children of both, even if they are Canadian citizens or permanent residents or are not coming to Canada. For families larger than 7, add $4,112 for each additional member.

Number of family members	Funds required (CAD)
1	$15,263
2	$19,001
3	$23,360
4	$28,362
5	$32,168
6	$36,280
7	$40,392

Source: Express Entry: Proof of funds - Canada.ca; Express Entry: Proof of funds - Canada.ca (update rule). In effect from July 7, 2025; checked October 11, 2026.

Two groups are exempt: anyone invited under the Canadian Experience Class, and anyone authorized to work in Canada who holds a valid job offer, even under the other two programs. A work permit on its own is not a job offer, even an open one. Because the system asks every applicant for a proof of funds document, exempt applicants upload a letter explaining why they do not need one.

For everyone else, the proof is an official letter from each bank or financial institution, on letterhead, listing account numbers, the date each account was opened, current balances, the average balance for the past 6 months and any outstanding debts. Equity in real property and money borrowed from another person cannot be used. The funds must be available both when the application is submitted and when the permanent resident visa is issued.

The settlement funds checker applies these rules to a specific family size and situation. Planning what life costs after landing is a separate question, which the newcomer budget calculator covers.

How much does Express Entry cost?

IRCC’s fees are paid at the application stage, after an invitation: $1,590 for the principal applicant, which is the $990 processing fee plus the $600 right of permanent residence fee.

IRCC fees for an Express Entry application

How to read this table: These are the fees IRCC lists for economic immigration including Express Entry, and they are the same for all three programs. Totals are the sum of the lines above them, not extra charges.

Fee	Amount	Notes
Principal applicant: processing fee	$990	Listed as "Your application (without right of permanent residence fee)".
Right of permanent residence fee	$600	Paid by the principal applicant and by an accompanying spouse or partner; not charged for dependent children.
Principal applicant: total	$1,590	The processing fee plus the right of permanent residence fee, not an extra charge.
Spouse or common-law partner: total	$1,590	Processing fee of $990 plus the right of permanent residence fee of $600.
Dependent child	$270	Per child.

Source: Express Entry: Canadian Experience Class - Canada.ca (TEER categories); Express Entry: Canadian Experience Class - Canada.ca (work in Canada under temporary resident status); Express Entry: Canadian Experience Class - Canada.ca (amount of work); Express Entry: Canadian Experience Class - Canada.ca (work experience that can't be counted); Express Entry: Canadian Experience Class - Canada.ca (counting part-time hours); Express Entry: Canadian Experience Class - Canada.ca (education); Express Entry: Canadian Experience Class - Canada.ca (living outside Quebec); Express Entry: Proof of funds - Canada.ca (who doesn't need proof of funds); Express Entry: Proof of funds - Canada.ca (letter in place of proof of funds); Express Entry: Rounds of invitations - Canada.ca (types of rounds); Express Entry: Category-based selection - Canada.ca (who can be invited, 60 days to apply); Express Entry: Category-based selection - Canada.ca (current categories); Express Entry: Rounds of invitations - Canada.ca (provincial nominees in general rounds); Citizenship and immigration application fees: Fee list - IRCC (economic immigration); Citizenship and immigration application fees: Fee list - IRCC (dependent child, right of permanent residence fee). In effect from September 24, 2026; checked October 8, 2026.

Biometrics are extra: $85 for one person, to a maximum of $170 for a family applying together. That gives IRCC totals of $1,675 for a single applicant and $3,620 for a couple with one dependent child.

At a minimum the processing fees must be paid at submission. The right of permanent residence fee can be paid later, but IRCC cannot approve the application until it is paid, and paying everything up front avoids a delay. If an application is found incomplete, IRCC refunds the processing fee and the right of permanent residence fee; once processing has started the processing fee is not refunded.

IRCC’s fees are not the whole budget. Language tests, educational credential assessments, police certificates, the medical exam and translations are paid to other organizations at prices IRCC does not set. The full fee list, including what changed in 2026, is on the PR application fees page.

How long does Express Entry take?

IRCC’s Express Entry page gives the processing time only as “varies by program”. The figures it publishes are forward-looking estimates for an application submitted now, updated monthly.

IRCC processing time estimates for Express Entry applications

How to read this table: Estimates from IRCC's processing times data, last updated September 3, 2026. The clock starts the day IRCC receives a complete application and includes the time needed to give biometrics.

Application type	Estimated processing time	People waiting
Canadian Experience Class	About 6 months	About 58,900 people waiting
Federal Skilled Worker Program	About 7 months	About 53,800 people waiting
Federal Skilled Trades Program	No estimate in IRCC's data file	Not published
Provincial Nominee Program, via Express Entry	About 7 months	About 12,800 people waiting
Provincial Nominee Program, not via Express Entry	About 13 months	About 101,500 people waiting

Source: IRCC forward-looking processing times data (Express Entry programs) - Canada.ca; IRCC forward-looking processing times data (provincial nominees) - Canada.ca; IRCC forward-looking processing times data (people waiting) - Canada.ca; IRCC forward-looking processing times data (people waiting, provincial nominees) - Canada.ca; IRCC forward-looking processing times data (last update) - Canada.ca; Check processing times - Canada.ca (how the estimate is calculated); Check processing times - Canada.ca (when the clock starts); Check processing times - Canada.ca (estimates can change). In effect from September 3, 2026; checked October 11, 2026.

Those estimates cover only the last stage. The full timeline has parts that IRCC does not estimate: preparing for and taking a language test, getting a credential assessment, and the wait in the pool, which can be anything up to the 12 months a profile stays valid, or longer across several profiles. After an invitation the candidate controls up to 60 days. IRCC describes its figures as estimates based on current operating conditions that may change.

How does a provincial nomination work with Express Entry?

A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points, which is why Provincial Nominee Program rounds cut off far above every other round type. Provinces and territories nominate people who fit their own labour needs, and many of their streams are linked to the Express Entry pool.

Getting a provincial nomination through Express Entry

How to read this table: Steps for streams linked to Express Entry. A candidate who qualifies for a provincial stream but not for a federal Express Entry program uses the non-Express Entry process instead.

Step	What to do
1. Check eligibility	Qualify for the provincial nominee program of the province or territory and for 1 of the 3 programs managed through Express Entry.
2. Get a nomination	Apply to the province or territory directly, or create an Express Entry profile, select the provinces and territories of interest and respond to a notification of interest.
3. Update the Express Entry profile	Show the nomination in the profile. IRCC awards 600 additional points.
4. Apply for permanent residence if invited	Wait for an invitation to apply and, if one arrives, apply online.

Some conditions come with the points. A nominee must settle in the province or territory that issued the nomination, and losing the nomination before applying removes the points. Each province and territory sets its own requirements and the number of people it nominates each year. Quebec and Nunavut do not have provincial nominee programs.

The Provincial Nominee Program guide by province compares every program, and the PNP navigator narrows the streams down for a given profile. Province-specific guides cover the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program and its OINP draws, the BC PNP, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program, the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program, the New Brunswick PNP, the Nova Scotia PNP, the PEI PNP and the Newfoundland and Labrador PNP.

What to do if a profile expires, an invitation lapses or an application is refused

Most setbacks in Express Entry lead back to the same place: a new profile.

The profile expired after 12 months. It is removed automatically and a message is sent to the account. A new profile can be created, with a new profile number. IRCC suggests saving screenshots of the old profile to make re-entering the data easier, and says not to open a new profile before the old one expires unless the old one is withdrawn first.
The invitation was not used within 60 days. The invitation expires and the profile leaves the pool. A new profile has to be submitted, meet the eligibility rules and be accepted again.
The score dropped after the invitation. IRCC’s instruction is to decline, update the profile and stay in the pool. Declining does not count against a candidate in later rounds.
The application was rejected as incomplete. IRCC refunds the fees, and the candidate needs a new profile to be considered again.
The application was refused. The same applies: a new profile, eligibility and acceptance into the pool. The decision arrives through the secure account.
No invitation is coming at the current score. IRCC’s own list of ways to improve a score is a better language result, more education, more skilled work experience, a valid job offer where it helps eligibility, and contacting provinces about a nomination.

Express Entry is not the only route. Employers in the Atlantic provinces can support candidates through the Atlantic Immigration Program, and designated smaller communities recruit through the Rural Community Immigration Pilot.

What changes next for Express Entry

Round results. Rounds are held several times a month, so cut-offs on this page are a snapshot. The most recent round recorded here is October 1, 2026.
Settlement funds. IRCC updates the amounts every year. The table in force was updated on July 7, 2025, and no newer table had been published when this page was checked on October 11, 2026.
Processing estimates. IRCC updates its forward-looking estimates monthly; the figures above carry its September 3, 2026 update.
Categories. The Minister sets the categories for category-based rounds and IRCC says it announces chosen categories in advance, so the list of ten can change.
Job offers. Job offer points were removed from the CRS as of March 25, 2025. Offers still count for eligibility under the Federal Skilled Trades Program, for Federal Skilled Worker selection points and in some provincial streams.

This guide is updated when IRCC changes any of the pages it is built on.

Common Express Entry mistakes

Mixing up the two points systems. Passing the Federal Skilled Worker grid at 67 says nothing about the CRS rank, and a high CRS estimate is useless without eligibility for a program.
Assuming one cut-off applies to everyone. Cut-offs depend on the round type. Comparing a score with a category round the candidate is not eligible for gives a false picture.
Letting a test or assessment expire in the pool. Language results last less than 2 years and credential assessments less than 5, and both must still be valid on the day of application.
Counting hours above 30 a week. IRCC caps the count, so long weeks do not shorten the qualifying period.
Leaving police certificates until the invitation. Sixty days is short for certificates from several countries.
Not updating the profile. A changed job, family or test result that is not reflected in the profile can turn into a refusal, or a finding of misrepresentation with a 5-year bar.
Treating a work permit as a job offer. IRCC states that a work permit on its own is not a job offer, even an open one, so it does not create an exemption from proof of funds.
Ignoring an invitation. Declining keeps the profile in the pool; letting the 60 days run out removes it.

Express Entry guides and tools on YieldMaple

Each stage of Express Entry has a page that goes deeper than this guide can.

Programs and eligibility: the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the post-graduation work permit that many candidates use to gain Canadian experience, and the LMIA guide for job offers.

Scores and rounds: the CRS score calculator, the CRS points table, the CRS score distribution, the Express Entry draws and the IELTS to CLB conversion charts.

Money and fees: the settlement funds checker, the PR application fees and the newcomer budget calculator.

Provincial nomination: the PNP guide by province, the PNP navigator and the provincial guides linked in the nomination section above, along with the Québec skilled worker program for those headed to Quebec.

After approval: getting a Social Insurance Number, the Canadian banking guide for newcomers, PR card renewal and, later, the Canadian citizenship application with its physical presence calculator.

All immigration pages are listed on the immigration hub.

Frequently asked questions

What is Express Entry in Canada?

Express Entry is an online system that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses to manage immigration applications from skilled workers. It covers 3 programs: the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. Candidates create a profile, enter a pool, receive a ranking score and can apply for permanent residence only if IRCC sends an invitation to apply in one of its rounds.

What are the Express Entry requirements?

A candidate must meet the minimum requirements of at least one of the 3 programs. All of them need paid skilled work experience, an approved English or French test, admissibility to Canada and a plan to live outside Quebec. The Federal Skilled Worker Program also needs secondary education and 67 selection points out of 100, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program needs a valid job offer or a Canadian certificate of qualification.

How do you create an Express Entry profile?

Prepare the documents, sign in to an IRCC secure account, enter the personal reference code from the Come to Canada tool if one was issued, fill in the personal details and submit. IRCC allows 60 days to complete and submit a profile; after that it has to be started again. The profile does not ask about dependent children, and it stays in the pool for 12 months if no invitation arrives.

What CRS score is needed for Express Entry?

There is no fixed score. Each round has its own cut-off, which is the score of the lowest-ranked candidate invited. In the round of October 1, 2026, a Trades Occupations round, 3,500 candidates were invited and the lowest score was 476. The Canadian Experience Class round of September 29, 2026 cut off at 518 and the Provincial Nominee Program round of September 28, 2026 at 725.

How long is an Express Entry invitation to apply valid?

An invitation to apply is valid for 60 days only. If the invitation is not declined and no application is submitted in that time, it expires and the profile is removed from the pool, so a new profile has to be submitted and accepted. A candidate who declines goes back into the pool and is considered in future rounds if still eligible.

How much money is needed for Express Entry?

Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades applicants need settlement funds of $15,263 for one person, $19,001 for a family of two, $23,360 for three and $28,362 for four, on the table IRCC updated on July 7, 2025. Canadian Experience Class applicants, and those authorized to work in Canada with a valid job offer, are exempt. IRCC fees are separate: $1,590 for each adult and $270 for each dependent child.

How long does Express Entry take to process?

IRCC's data, last updated September 3, 2026, estimates about 6 months for the Canadian Experience Class, about 7 months for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and about 7 months for provincial nominees applying through Express Entry. The clock starts when IRCC receives a complete application, so time spent in the pool waiting for an invitation is extra. IRCC says the estimates may change.

Is a job offer required for Express Entry?

Not for the Canadian Experience Class or the Federal Skilled Worker Program. The Federal Skilled Trades Program requires either a valid job offer of full-time employment for at least 1 year or a certificate of qualification from a Canadian authority. IRCC removed job offer points from the Comprehensive Ranking System as of March 25, 2025, so an offer no longer raises the ranking score, although it can earn Federal Skilled Worker selection points.

Can you apply for Express Entry without work experience?

No. Each of the 3 programs has a paid skilled work requirement: 1 year in Canada in the last 3 years for the Canadian Experience Class, 1 year of continuous work in the last 10 years for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, and 2 years in the last 5 years in an eligible trade for the Federal Skilled Trades Program. Volunteer work and unpaid internships don't count.

How many points does a provincial nomination add in Express Entry?

A provincial or territorial nomination adds 600 points to the Comprehensive Ranking System score. The candidate must qualify for the province's stream and for 1 of the 3 Express Entry programs, show the nomination in the profile and wait for an invitation. Nominees must settle in the province or territory that nominated them. Quebec and Nunavut do not have provincial nominee programs.

What happens if an Express Entry profile expires?

A profile with no invitation within 12 months of submission expires automatically and is removed from the system, with a message sent to the account. A new profile can then be created, and it receives a new profile number. IRCC says not to create a new profile before the old one expires, unless the existing profile is withdrawn first.

Which language tests are accepted for Express Entry?

IRCC accepts CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core for English, and TEF Canada and TCF Canada for French. Results are converted to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) levels, or NCLC levels for French, and must be less than 2 years old both when the profile is completed and when the application for permanent residence is submitted.

Rules, rates and sources

Last verified: September 29, 2026
Next scheduled check: November 10, 2026

Rule or table	In effect from	Verified
Express Entry programs compared - Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades minimum requirements and FSW selection factor points	September 24, 2026	October 11, 2026
Express Entry process - profile, pool, rounds of invitations, invitation to apply, documents and deadlines	October 2, 2026	October 11, 2026
Express Entry processing times posted by IRCC (estimated, for new applications)	September 3, 2026	October 11, 2026
Express Entry minimum language levels by program and FSW language points	June 22, 2026	September 30, 2026
Canadian Experience Class eligibility rules, round types and fees	September 24, 2026	October 8, 2026
Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System points grid	March 25, 2025	September 29, 2026
Recent Express Entry rounds of invitations	October 1, 2026	October 11, 2026
Proof of settlement funds (Express Entry: FSW/FST)	July 7, 2025	October 11, 2026
Express Entry proof of funds: who needs it, family size and bank letter rules	July 7, 2025	October 11, 2026
IRCC application fees	April 30, 2026	October 8, 2026
Permanent residence fees by program — IRCC fee list, right of permanent residence fee, biometrics, payment and refund rules	April 30, 2026	October 8, 2026

Official sources

Express Entry: Who can apply - Canada.ca (the 3 programs) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Express Entry: Federal Skilled Worker Program - Canada.ca (work experience) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Express Entry: Federal Skilled Trades Program - Canada.ca (work experience) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Express Entry: Educational credential assessment - Canada.ca (FSW education points) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Express Entry: Job offer - Canada.ca (Federal Skilled Trades job offer) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Express Entry - Canada.ca (how the process works) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Express Entry: Create your profile and enter the pool - Canada.ca (60 days to submit the profile) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Express Entry: Rounds of invitations - Canada.ca (tie-breaking rule) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Express Entry: Category-based selection - Canada.ca (eligibility for a category round) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Express Entry: Apply for permanent residence - Canada.ca (invitation valid 60 days) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Express Entry: After you apply - Canada.ca (biometrics) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Express Entry: If we approve your application - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Express Entry: Get your documents ready - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Express Entry: Police certificates - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Express Entry: Language test results - Canada.ca (validity) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Immigrate as a provincial nominee - Canada.ca (Express Entry option) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
IRCC forward-looking processing times data (Express Entry programs) - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Check processing times - Canada.ca (how the estimate is calculated) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Six selection factors - Federal Skilled Worker Program - Canada.ca (language points) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Canadian Experience Class - Canada.ca (language in all 4 abilities) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Express Entry: Proof of funds - Canada.ca (who doesn't need proof of funds) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Citizenship and immigration application fees: Fee list - IRCC (economic immigration) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Express Entry: Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) criteria - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Express Entry: Check your score - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Ministerial Instructions respecting the Express Entry system - current - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
IRCC Express Entry rounds of invitations data file (ee_rounds_123_en.json) - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Express Entry: Job offer - Canada.ca — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Citizenship and immigration application fees: Fee changes - IRCC — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Citizenship and immigration application fees: Ask for a refund - IRCC (timing) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Biometrics - Canada.ca (who gives biometrics) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
How to give your fingerprints and photo - Canada.ca (pay when you apply) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Permanent residence fees increasing on April 30, 2026 - Canada.ca (two-year adjustment) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

How we check figures: our methodology and editorial policy.

General information for education, not financial, tax, legal or immigration advice. Rules change — confirm anything you act on with the official source or a licensed professional (for immigration, a lawyer or a licensed consultant registered with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants).