Express Entry: Canadian permanent residence

Express Entry is a candidate-management system, not a program itself. Three federal economic streams run through it: Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and Federal Skilled Trades (FST). IRCC ranks every profile by Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and issues Invitations to Apply to the highest-ranked candidates in regular rounds. Start with the eligibility check when you need a rule-based screen, then open a stream page for stream-specific gates and the CRS page for your exact score.

Frequently asked questions

How does Express Entry work?

Express Entry runs a continuous pool. You first determine which program you qualify for, submit a profile, and IRCC ranks every profile by CRS score. Invitations to Apply go to the highest-ranked candidates in rounds held roughly every two weeks. Qualifying for a program and scoring well are separate hurdles. The program threshold comes first, and CRS only matters once you are in the pool.

How long does my profile stay in the pool?

Profiles stay active for up to 12 months, and you can update most factors at any time. Because ranking is relative to everyone else in the pool on the day of a round, a score that misses one cutoff can clear a later one without changing at all.

What are the three Express Entry programs?

Federal Skilled Worker requires at least 1 year of continuous skilled work experience, CLB 7 across all four abilities, and a 67-point pass on the FSW grid. Canadian Experience Class requires at least 1 year (1,560 hours) of skilled Canadian work in the last 3 years, with CLB 7 for TEER 0/1 or CLB 5 for TEER 2/3. Federal Skilled Trades requires 2 years in a qualifying trade, CLB 5 speaking and listening plus CLB 4 reading and writing, and either a Canadian job offer or a provincial certificate of qualification.

How is the CRS score calculated?

CRS is scored out of 1,200. Core human capital (age, education, language, Canadian experience) earns up to 600 as a single applicant or 500 with a spouse. Skill transferability adds up to 100. Additional factors including a provincial nomination, study in Canada, French ability, a sibling in Canada, and arranged employment add up to 600, a section the 600-point nomination alone can cap.

What CRS score do I need?

There is no fixed pass mark. Each round's cutoff is set by the pool that day. General draws over the past year have hovered around CRS 480 to 540. Category-based draws often clear lower: French-language proficiency at 379 to 420, healthcare at 460 to 500, trades at 430 to 470.

What is a category-based draw?

A round that invites only candidates meeting a named category rather than the whole pool: French-language proficiency, healthcare, STEM, trades, transport, agriculture and agri-food, and education. Because the field is narrower, these rounds frequently clear at a lower cutoff than a general draw held the same month, which is what makes them the most reliable route for a mid-range score.