Which Express Entry Program is Best for Me?

Canada’s Express Entry system is the country’s most popular permanent residency (PR) program, and for a good reason. It’s one of the fastest permanent residency programs worldwide, with some applicants getting their Canadian PR in as little as six months.

This system is specifically for skilled workers with tertiary education, but this doesn’t mean all skilled workers are the same. With such a diverse economy, the Canadian labor market needs different types of workers in different industries. As a result, there are three different Express Entry programs:

• The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
• The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
• The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Each program has different eligibility requirements and processing times. The question is: Which one is right for you? To help, here’s a breakdown of each program and who each program is for. But first, to understand why choosing the right program is essential, here’s how the Express Entry system works.

How Does the Express Entry System Work?

The Express Entry system is an online immigration application system used by the Canadian government to manage applications for permanent residence from skilled workers. The system prioritizes candidates most likely to succeed economically in Canada.

To apply through the Express Entry system, candidates must create an online Express Entry profile on the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) web portal and provide information about their:

• Age,
• Work Experience,
• Education,
• Marital Status
• Language Ability, and
• Connections to Canada

IRCC assigns candidates a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on this information. All CRS scores then go into the Express Entry pool.

Your CRS score is one of the most significant factors IRCC considers when deciding whether to give you permanent residency. A great strategy for your Express Entry application is to determine your CRS score before you begin your application. This way, if your score is too low to get an ITA, you know beforehand and can work to improve your CRS score before you go through all of the work of a permanent residency application.

To help you determine your CRS score, here is our CRS score calculator, which can give you a good idea of where you will stand in the next Express Entry pool.

Every two weeks, IRCC holds an Express Entry draw. In the draw, Candidates with the highest CRS score in the Express Entry pool receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.

If you want to know how likely you are to receive an ITA at the next draw, here is our Express Entry draw page. This shows the minimum required score of every Express Entry draw to show you the score you need to get your ITA.

Once invited to apply, candidates have 60 days to submit a complete application for permanent residence, including supporting documents like travel documents, police certificates, and medical exams. The Canadian government aims to process applications within six months of submission.

Overall, the Express Entry system is designed to make the immigration process faster and more efficient for skilled workers who want to come to Canada.

What is the Federal Skilled Worker Program?

The FSWP program allows skilled workers with foreign work experience to immigrate and become permanent residents of Canada.

Who is it For?

The FSWP program is designed for people who work in a National Occupational Classification (NOC) Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) level 0 or 1. These managerial or professional occupations generally require a university degree, like a CEO, Software developer, doctor, or lawyer.

To be eligible for the FSWP program, an applicant must:

• Be of legal age,
• Have completed their degree,
• Have a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of at least seven
• Have Sufficient Funds to Settle in Canada
• Have at least one year of full-time Skilled work experience or two years of part-time work experience in their TEER 0 or 1 occupation.

Please Note:

Skilled work experience means an applicant has worked in one of the TEER categories and performed the duties set out in the lead statement of the occupational description in the NOC.

The work experience must be paid work, including paid wages or earned commission, and continuous full-time work experience or the equivalent of continuous part-time work. The FSWP program is Canada's premier worker immigration program that allows the nation to accept many immigrants each year based on their potential to integrate into the country's workforce.

Candidates for the FSWP program receive the highest proportion of invitations to apply, and more than half of all invitations were sent to FSWP applicants. However, even if an applicant is qualified to apply for a position under the FSWP program, there is no assurance that they will get an ITA.

Is it Right for Me?

This program is right for you if:

• You are currently outside of Canada. 
• You work in a NOC TEER 0 or 1 occupation.

However, if you want to be absolutely sure that this is the right program for you, the best thing to do is to consult a certified Canadian immigration professional like a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC). An RCIC can give you a complete evaluation, break down the NOC system, help you find which TEER you fall under, and find which Express Entry Program you’re most likely to get permanent residency through.

What is the Federal Skilled Trades Program?

The FSTP is a Canadian immigration program that provides a pathway to permanent residence for skilled workers who are qualified in a skilled trade.

The program was launched in 2013 to address worker shortages across many skilled trades occupations across Canada.

Who is it For?

The FSTP is specifically for skilled tradespeople working in occupations under NOC TEERs 2 and 3. These professions may not require a degree but will often require some form of tertiary education like a diploma or certification. These occupations include electricians, roofers, and chefs.

To be eligible for the FSTP, candidates must:

• Be of legal age,
• Have completed their tertiary qualifications,
• Have a CLB score of at least five
• Have Sufficient Funds to Settle in Canada
• At least two years of work experience obtained within five years before applying in one of the skilled trades listed in the NOC TEERs 2 and 3.

While there is no formal education requirement for the FSTP, candidates can improve their rank in the Express Entry pool by obtaining a certificate, diploma, or degree from a Canadian secondary or post-secondary institution. Candidates must also have a certificate of qualification in the skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial, or federal authority.

Is it Right for Me?

This program is right for you if:

• You are currently outside of Canada
• You work in a skilled trade
• You are willing to wait an extended processing period

What is the Canadian Experience Class?

The CEC is the third Express Entry program to help skilled workers already in Canada on a temporary work permit become permanent residents.

Who is it For?

The CEC is a permanent residence category for people living and working in Canada for the past year. The program was developed for temporary foreign workers and foreign graduates with qualifying Canadian work experience.

To be eligible for the CEC, an applicant must:

• Be of legal age,
• Have completed their degree,
• Have a CLB score of at least seven
• Have at least one year of full-time Skilled work experience in Canada in their TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupations.
• Be currently living in Canada.
• Be working for a Canadian employer.

Additionally, applicants must plan to live and work outside the province of Quebec. The CEC does not have education requirements, but applicants must provide either a Canadian or a foreign educational credential with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report for immigration purposes from a designated organization to prove that their overseas diploma, degree, or certificate is equivalent to a completed Canadian educational credential. If applicants meet all the minimum requirements, their application will be assessed based on the skilled federal worker points grid selection factors.

Please note:

To make Quebec your future home, you must apply to Quebec's skilled worker program.

Is it Right for Me?

This program is right for you if:

• You have been living and working in Canada for the past year
• You work in a skilled occupation in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3

Move to Canada the Express Way

Now you know about each Express Entry program and the type of applicant each accepts, it’s time to find the one that’s right for you. One of the best ways to ensure you’ve chosen the right program and maximize your chances of success within that program is to utilize the skills and experience of an RCIC.

An RCIC can help determine which program you’re most eligible for, find your NOC code and level, create your Express Entry profile, fill out your application forms, provide you with resources to help improve your CRS score like an IELTS course, represent you with certain government authorities, keep track of your application progress for you and provide you with the guidance and support you need throughout your application process.

FAQs

How Can I Improve my CRS Score?

There are many ways to improve your CRS score, all with varying effects on your final score. Here’s a handy guide to help you:

Which is the Fastest Express Entry Program?

The speed of an Express Entry application massively depends on your eligibility for permanent residency in Canada. If you have a high CRS score, you will likely have a faster processing time as you will likely get an ITA relatively quickly.

Another major factor in your processing time is your chosen Express Entry program. Each program has a different processing time and is as follows:

Learn more about IRCC processing times here.