Express Entry is an application management system. It is the main pathway that the federal government uses to welcome economic-class immigrants through three distinct programs: The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Each Express Entry program requires minimum eligibility criteria that an applicant must fulfill before the profile submission to Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
An applicant will be evaluated through the Comprehensive Ranking System. The CRS score helps identify whether the applicant will be successful in Canada’s job market or not. It assesses every applicant and offers a score based on their human capital such as age, education, language skills, work experience and to name a few. Every two weeks, the federal government of Canada holds Express Entry draws to welcome the highest-scoring candidates to become permanent residents.
Federal Skilled Trades Program
This Express Entry Canada program is similar to FSWP however committed to inviting skilled trades workers. It is an ideal pathway for applicants as there is no specific requirement to prove levels of education. To attain permanent residence status through this program, one is required to have at least two years of work experience in a skilled trade with a job offer from a Canadian employer or a qualification certificate authorized by a Canadian authority.
Eligibility criteria for Federal Skilled Trade Program (FSTP) :
• Valid job offers of continuous, full-time, and paid jobs from at least two employers in Canada for a minimum of one year or a qualification certificate demonstrating that an international worker is qualified enough to work in a skilled trade occupation in Canada
• Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 for speaking and listening and CLB 4 for reading and writing.
• Must have at least two years of full-time work experience in the skilled trade in the last five years before applying
• Must demonstrate the skills and experience and have performed the essential duties of the occupation.
Canadian Experience Class
This Express Entry program was launched in 2008 to attract temporary international workers and students to attain permanent residence status. To qualify for the CEC, an applicant must meet all the following requirements:
• Must have at least one year of experience in performing skilled, professional, or technical work in Canada within the last three years
• Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 for jobs that fall under NOC A category, or a CLB 5 for jobs in skilled trades
• Must plan to live and work outside of Quebec.
• An international student who wishes to settle in Canada must apply through Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). It is an open work that allows one to work for a Canadian employer for up to three years with no requirement of a job offer to apply for it.
Which Express Entry Program is right for me?
The ideal pathway completely depends upon an individual’s position. One must start the process by thoroughly researching and consulting an immigration consultant to help you identify the right path to attain permanent residence status in Canada.
Express Entry is an attractive option for applicants who wish to settle in Canada. Now, IRCC has resumed the all-program Express Entry and also striving to return to the standard of 6-months processing time. Thus, it will be again the quickest way for economic class applicants to move to Canada permanently.
