Canada is one of the most desired countries immigrants often want to move to. One of the popular and quickest means to move to Canada is through the express entry visa. This is for skilled workers who want to immigrate to Canada as permanent residents.
While that may seem easy, the application process is extensive, which you’ll realize once you start. With the high number of people who want to move to Canada via this route, the Canadian government limits application approval to meet their yearly immigrant quota. And only those who are approved get invited to apply for permanent residency.
Lucky for you, this article highlights how to apply for Canada express entry visa and everything involved in the process to prepare you. Let’s get into it!
Express Entry Immigration Programs
Canada express entry visa is an immigration pathway that manages the application of skilled workers for permanent residency in the country. This involves three main express entry immigration programs. You can apply via any of the programs if you are eligible.
The programs are:
● Canadian experience class
The Canadian experience class (CEC) is an express entry program for people who have temporarily gained skilled work experience in the country through a valid work permit. To qualify for this program, you must have at least a year of working experience in Canada in the last three years. This can be either full-time at one job, equal time at different part-time jobs, or full-time work at different jobs.
In addition, you must meet the language proficiency needed for your job for different language abilities, including reading, listening, writing, and speaking. Self-employment and student work experience don’t count when checking whether you meet the work experience requirements.
Also, the CEC isn’t for refugee claimants in Canada and people who are working without authorization or whose work experience was gained without a temporary resident status. You have a high chance of admissibility if you’ve already established yourself in the Canadian workforce.
● Federal skilled worker program (FSWP)
This program is for skilled individuals with foreign work experience who want to move to Canada. To apply for this program, you must meet certain requirements, including language proficiency, education, work experience, and other important factors.
All these are calculated into points combined with your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score to determine your ranking in the eligibility pool. Your work experience is rated based on different factors. For example, the job you use for your immigration application must match your primary occupation.
Also, you must have done the job for the last ten years, at least one-year minimum work, and been paid wages for it. In addition, your language abilities cover writing, reading, listening, and speaking skills in an approved language test in English or French. You must also meet education, age, job, and adaptability requirements to rank your profile in the express entry pool.
● Federal skilled trades program
The federal skilled trades program (FSTP) is for skilled tradespeople with qualifications in a skilled trade who want to become permanent residents in Canada. To qualify, you must have a credible job offer in the country or a certificate of qualification in a specific trade issued by a province or territory. You must also meet specific language proficiency for this program.
In addition, you need at least two years of full-time work experience within five years to be eligible. You must also meet the requirements for language ability for speaking, writing, listening, and reading. Education requirements are unimportant, but having a foreign or Canadian certificate, diploma, or degree can help your rank in the express entry pool.
Applying For Canada Express Entry Visa
You can apply for Canada express entry visa now that you know the available programs. However, you should know that the Canadian government can’t accept all express entry visa applications as there are too many. Should you not make the pool, you will wait till the following year.
Hence, why you must know everything involved. This includes familiarizing yourself with the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), eligibility criteria, required documents, and steps in applying for Canada express entry visa.
Eligibility Criteria for Canada Express Entry Visa
Before starting your application process, checking whether you’re eligible will save you a lot of stress. You can determine whether you can rank at the express entry pool, determine your options, or consider other alternatives. The different programs may have eligibility criteria, but they aren’t that different.
You must meet the following criteria to be considered for Canada express entry visa:
- Work experience – relevant work experience in a skilled occupation for FSTP and FSWP or at least a year experience of skilled work in Canada
- Age – no age barrier, but ages above 47 aren’t awarded points
- Language proficiency – prove language proficiency through approved English or French tests (IELTS, TEF, CELPIP, etc.) for writing, speaking, listening, and reading
- Education – Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to prove the equivalency of your foreign education to Canadian education standards.
- A score of at least 67 points for specific express entry programs
- Ability to clear debt
- Good medical health
- Admissibility – you must be admissible with no serious criminal or health issues
Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)
Canada uses this point-based system to assess and rank candidates who apply for Canada express entry visa. It evaluates the potential success of candidates as economic immigrants to choose who is more likely to contribute to the Canadian economy.
The CRS awards points to applicants using different factors, totaling 1200 points. The higher your score, the more chance you have of being invited to apply for permanent residency.
Here are the factors:
- Core human capital factors – this covers age, Canadian work experience, language proficiency, and education level
- Spouse or common-law partner factors – this covers your spouse or common-law partner’s education, language skills, and work experience
- Skill transferability factors – this assesses the combination of your work experience, education, and language proficiency and their likelihood of enhancing your ability to settle in Canada
- Additional points – you earn additional points from job offers in Canada, provincial or territorial nomination, strong French language skills, and Canadian education
Combining your core human capital factors with spouse or common-law partner factors is a maximum of 500 points. Combining core human capital factors, spouse or common-law partner factors, and skill transferability factors, you get a maximum of 600 points. All factors together get a maximum of 1200 points.
Required Documents for Canada Express Entry Visa
Applying for Canada express entry visa is easier when the required documents are ready. Here are the documents you need for profile submission:
- Passport
- Results of language tests
- Report of educational credential assessment
- Provincial nomination (if accepted)
- Employment offer (if available)
If you scale through the profile submission and are invited to apply for PR, you need proof of funds, a medical examination report, and a police clearance certificate.
Steps for Applying for Canada Express Entry Visa
Like many things, familiarizing yourself with a process before starting is important. Knowing everything involved and what it entails to apply for Canada express entry visa is a good way to start. Now that you know about the different express entry visa programs, CRS, eligibility requirements, and other important factors, you can start your application.
The following steps will make your Canada express entry visa application seamless and increase your chance at ranking high in the pool:
● Complete the language test
Language proficiency is a key requirement for Canada express entry visa. You must demonstrate your speaking, reading, listening, and reading skills in either French or English. Completing your language proficiency test is a good way to start.
You will take IELTS or TOEFL for English language proficiency, while you’ll do TEF for French proficiency. Passing the proficiency test is crucial in considering your visa application. The test result is valid for two years, so if you don’t make the express entry pool, you can use the same result for your application the following year.
● Check your eligibility
The next thing to do is check your eligibility to see whether you qualify for any express entry visa programs. Generally, you must be a skilled worker or tradesperson to qualify. Also, you must have years of experience working in the job field you applied for. Furthermore, it requires that you must have been paid for the job.
Beyond that, you shouldn’t forget the education credential assessment to convert your foreign certificate to a Canadian equivalent. To ensure you’re on track, check the Canadian government website to confirm that you meet all requirements.
● Prepare your documents
Documents are essential for Canada express entry visa application. The documents you need have been highlighted earlier in this article. You need the documents to show you are eligible for an express entry visa. Some of the documents include language proficiency results, passport, employment offer, etc. Some documents can take time to get, like the language test results; therefore, you should prepare them early enough ahead of your application.
● Create your profile
You need a profile for Canada express entry visa. Create your profile on the IRCC website. You’ll be required to enter a lot of information about yourself which will be needed to calculate your points. Ensure you enter accurate details and avoid mistakes to increase your chances of getting an invitation.
Then, you apply for the education credential assessment if you didn’t study in Canada, as this can get you many points.
● Check your score
You can calculate and check your score after creating your profile and filling in the necessary information. The comprehensive ranking system will rank your application in the express entry pool. The CRS evaluates your profile, scores it, and ranks it in the pool. You must acquire a score above the minimum points required to qualify for the rounds of invitation.
You can use the CRS tool to determine your score. Reapply the following year if you don’t meet the required score.
● Apply for the provincial nomination program
Applying for a provincial nomination program is optional, but it helps your point and increases your chances. Different Canadian territories or provinces nominate skilled people for express entry visas to remedy labor shortages in the area. Apply for the provincial nomination program if you have the needed skill set. This can help you receive up to 600 points.
● Get invited to apply
Once you’ve completed your application, you’ll be placed in the express entry pool with other applicants. Draws will be taken from the pool occasionally, and individuals with the top scores will be invited to apply for Canada permanent residency. Once invited, you have 60 days to complete your application and submit supporting documents. After this, your application will be handled.
● Complete criminal and medical background checks
After you’ve been invited, you must complete your criminal and medical background checks. Do your background checks with a doctor who has approval from the Canadian immigration authority. Then, you get the police certificate from the city you live in.
● Application review
After submitting your application, it’ll be reviewed by a Canadian immigration officer. The review can take up to six months or less. You needn’t play an active role during the review. However, you should prepare for anything. You might be asked to provide supporting documents or additional information during the review.
● Receive the PR status
After your application has been reviewed and deemed qualified, you’ll be offered a Canadian PR visa. Once you’ve got the status, you can then apply for a Canada PR card. During the process, the officials will verify whether you’re ready to travel to Canada. You can travel in and out of Canada without hassle with your PR card, which is valid for five years.
Conclusion
There’s a lot involved in how to apply for Canada express entry visa, but it can be hassle-free when you have an idea of what to do. You can start by determining which express entry program you’re eligible for, preparing your document, and applying. Not all Canada express entry visa applications will be considered, but you can up your chances by providing the right documents, meeting the requirements, and entering the correct information during your application.
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