Federal Skilled Migration
The Express Entry Migration Programs to Canada
The Express Entry programs allow the applicant and the family of the skilled worker, namely the spouse or the common-law partner and their dependent children to immigrate to Canada as permanent residents.
There are currently three Express Entry programs:
- The Federal Skilled Workers Program.
- The Federal Skilled Trades Program.
- The Canadian Experience Program.
Provinces and territories also recruit applicants for the Express Entry pool through the Provincial Nominee program (PNP) to meet the needs of the local labor market.
(1) The Federal Skilled Workers Program
This program allows for a skilled immigrant who has obtained the required qualifications and skills in his/her field, some work experience in his/her occupation, a sound knowledge of English or French and other abilities to submit an Expression of Interest Profile to the Express Entry Pool.
In order for an applicant to submit an Expression of Interest, the applicant must:
- have one of the eligible occupations on the occupation list – see section on Canada: Current Occupations for Immigration.
- worked for 12 months continuously in full-time paid employment or the equivalent in part time employment of one year (1560 hours or 30 hours per week) within the previous 10 years in his/her occupation.
- must obtain at least the minimum number of points in what is known as the 67 point system.
- proof of funds as required by the Canadian immigration authorities.
- pass the requisite English and/or French language test.
- this program does not include Quebec.
(i) The 67 points system
In order to submit an Expression of Interest under this category, the applicant must score at least 67 points from a maximum of 100 points. Points are awarded as follows:
| Factor | Maximum Points |
|---|---|
| Age | 12 |
| Education | 25 |
| Language Skills | 28 |
| Work Experience | 15 |
| Adaptability | 10 |
| Arranged Employment | 10 |
| Total | 100 |
(ii) Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points
Once an applicant qualifies under the 67 points system, then the Canadian government uses a points based system known as the CRS to evaluate and rank the Express Entry candidate.
The selection criteria are based on the following factors:
- Core Human Factors up to 600 points for: skills and experience, spouse or common law partner factors (language skills and education) and skills transferability (education and work experience).
- Skills Transferability Factors up to 600 points.
(a) Core Human Factors
(i) Age
A visa applicant can claim the following points based on his/her age as at the date the application is received.
| Age | Applicant with an accompanying spouse Maximum points = 100 |
Applicant without an accompanying spouse Maximum points = 110 |
|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | 90 | 99 |
| 19 | 95 | 105 |
| 20-29 | 100 | 110 |
| 30 | 95 | 105 |
| 31 | 90 | 99 |
| 32 | 85 | 94 |
| 33 | 80 | 88 |
| 34 | 75 | 83 |
| 35 | 70 | 77 |
| 36 | 65 | 72 |
| 37 | 60 | 66 |
| 38 | 55 | 61 |
| 39 | 50 | 55 |
| 40 | 45 | 50 |
| 41 | 35 | 39 |
| 42 | 25 | 28 |
| 43 | 15 | 17 |
| 44 | 5 | 6 |
| 45 or more | 0 | 0 |
(ii) Level of Education
| Level of Education | Applicant with an accompanying spouse Maximum points = 140 |
Applicant without an accompanying spouse Maximum points = 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Less than secondary school (high school). | 0 | 0 |
| Secondary diploma (High School Matriculation). | 28 | 30 |
| 1 year degree, diploma or certificate from a university, college, trade or technical school or other institute. | 84 | 90 |
| 2 year program at a university, college, trade or technical school or other institute. | 91 | 98 |
| Bachelors degree OR a 3 or more year program at a university, college, trade or technical school or other institute. | 112 | 120 |
| 2 or more certificates, diplomas with one of these certificates/diplomas being for a duration of 3 years. | 119 | 128 |
| Masters degree OR professional degree needed to practice a licensed profession (such as veterinary medicine, dentistry, optometry, law, chiropractic medicine, pharmacy). | 126 | 135 |
| Doctoral level university degree (Ph.D.) | 140 | 150 |
(iii) First language ability – in English or French
A visa applicant is required to take an approved language test in either French or English (or both languages for additional points). For more information see: Canada Immigration Language Skills.
| Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level per ability | Applicant with an accompanying spouse Maximum points = 128 |
Applicant without an accompanying spouse Maximum points = 136 |
|---|---|---|
| Less than CLB 4 | 0 | 0 |
| CLB 4 or 5 | 6 | 6 |
| CLB 6 | 8 | 9 |
| CLB 7 | 16 | 17 |
| CLB 8 | 22 | 23 |
| CLB 9 | 29 | 31 |
| CLB 10 or more | 32 | 34 |
(iv) Second language ability – in English or French
| Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level per ability | Applicant with an accompanying spouse Maximum points = 22 |
Applicant without an accompanying spouse Maximum points = 24 |
|---|---|---|
| CLB 4 or less | 0 | 0 |
| CLB 5 or 6 | 1 | 1 |
| CLB 7 or 8 | 3 | 3 |
| CLB 9 or more | 6 | 6 |
(v) Canadian Work Experience
| Canadian Work Experience | Applicant with an accompanying spouse Maximum points = 70 |
Applicant without an accompanying spouse Maximum points = 80 |
|---|---|---|
| None or less than 1 year | 0 | 0 |
| 1 year | 35 | 40 |
| 2 years | 46 | 53 |
| 3 years | 56 | 64 |
| 4 years | 63 | 72 |
| 5 years or more | 70 | 80 |
(vi) Spouse or Common law partners factors (if applicable)
There is a maximum of 40 points awarded for spouse/partner factors, broken down as follows:
| Factor | Points |
|---|---|
| Level of Education | 10 |
| Official language proficiencies | 20 |
| Canadian work experience | 10 |
Spouse or common law partner’s level of education:
| Level of Education | Applicant with an accompanying spouse Maximum points = 10 |
|---|---|
| Less than secondary school (high school). | 0 |
| Secondary diploma (High School Matriculation). | 2 |
| One year degree, diploma or certificate from a university, college, trade or technical school or other institute. | 6 |
| 2 year program at a university, college, trade or technical school or other institute. | 7 |
| Bachelors degree OR a 3 or more year program at a university, college, trade or technical school or other institute. | 8 |
| 2 or more certificates, diplomas with one of these certificates/diplomas being for a duration of 3 years. | 9 |
| Masters degree OR professional degree needed to practice a licensed profession (such as veterinary medicine, dentistry, optometry, law, chiropractic medicine, pharmacy). | 10 |
| Doctoral level university degree (Ph.D.) | 10 |
Spouse or common law partner’s first official language:
| Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level per ability | Applicant with an accompanying spouse Maximum points = 20 (5 points per ability) |
|---|---|
| Less than CLB 4 | 0 |
| CLB 5 and 6 | 1 |
| CLB 7 and 8 | 3 |
| CLB 9 or more | 5 |
Spouse or common law partner’s Canadian work experience:
| Canadian Work Experience | Applicant with an accompanying spouse Maximum points = 10 |
|---|---|
| None or less than 1 year | 0 |
| 1 year | 5 |
| 2 years | 7 |
| 3 years | 8 |
| 4 years | 9 |
| 5 years or more | 10 |
(vii) Skills transferability factors
Education (Maximum 50 points)
| Combination Criteria | Points |
|---|---|
| With good/strong official language proficiency of CLB 7 or more and a post-secondary degree | 50 |
| With Canadian work experience and a post-secondary degree | 50 |
Foreign Work Experience (Maximum 50 points)
| Combination Criteria | Points |
|---|---|
| With good/strong official language proficiency of CLB 7 or more and foreign work experience | 50 |
| With Canadian work experience and foreign work experience | 50 |
Certificate of Qualifications (For trade occupations – Maximum 50 points)
| Combination Criteria | Points |
|---|---|
| With good/strong official language proficiency of CLB 7 or more and a certificate of qualification | 50 |
(viii) Additional points
| Factor | Points |
|---|---|
| Brother or sister who resides in Canada and is over 18 and is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident | 15 |
| French language skills | 50 |
| Post education in Canada | 30 |
| Provincial or territory nomination | 600 |
(2) The Federal Skilled Trades Program
This program is for applicants who want to become permanent residents based on being qualified in a skilled trade. To be eligible, the applicant must:
- plan to live anywhere in Canada outside the province of Quebec.
- meet the required level of English or French by obtaining a level of CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French.
- 2 years of experience (or 3120 hours in total) in a skilled trade within 5 years of applying for this visa.
- have an offer of full-time employment for at least one year OR a certificate of qualification in his/her skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial, territory or federal authority.
- Proof of funds as required by the Canadian immigration authorities.
Skilled trades that are currently eligible for the Federal Skills Trades Program are organized under the following groups:
- Industrial, electrical and construction workers.
- Maintenance and equipment operation workers.
- Supervisors and technical workers in natural resources, agriculture, and related production.
- Processing, manufacturing and utilities supervision and central control operators.
- Chefs and cooks.
- Butchers and bakers.
(3) Canadian Experience Program
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is a popular Express Entry immigration program designed for temporary foreign workers and international graduates with skilled Canadian work experience to obtain permanent residency.
To apply under the Canadian Experience Class, the applicant must have:
- at least 12 months of full-time skilled work experience in Canada in the three years before applying in either a managerial or professional or technically skilled position.
- gained his/her work experience in Canada with the proper authorization.
- met the English or French language ability requirements.
- plan to live outside of Quebec.
* Self-employment and work experience gained while being a full-time student does not count under the Canadian Experience Class.
CONTACT US
You may be eligible for a number of different visa categories. Each visa category has different requirements and obligations so that it is best to seek professional advice in order to select the visa most beneficial and suitable to your circumstances.
Kangaroo Migration Services is a company that has for many years dealt with and continues to deal with immigration and the obtaining of all types of visas (short term and long term) to Canada.
Please feel free to contact us to discuss with our representative the options available to you and/or to complete our questionnaire and send it to us.