- Create an IRCC profile/account to apply for Canada visa online
- Check your application status
- Check application processing times
How Express Entry works
Step 1: Find out if you’re eligible
There are two ways to find out if you’re eligible for a program that is part of Express Entry:
- answer a few questions to see if you meet the minimum requirements
- read the detailed requirements for each program
Step 2: Get your documents ready
You need documents, such as language test results, to show that you’re eligible for Express Entry.
However, note that some documents take a long time to get, so you should get them ready now.
Step 3: Submit your profile into Express Entry pool
See How to create Express Entry profile for your Canada PR Application
Basically, your Express Entry profile is where you give IRCC information about yourself.
A key point specifically if you’re married or have a common-law partner. One of you must be the main or principal applicant.
Your principal applicant should be the one of you most likely to:
- meet the eligibility requirements
- earn the most points in the selection factors (if applying under the Federal Skilled Workers Program)
- earn the most points in Express Entry’s Comprehensive Ranking System
If you’re eligible, IRCC will accept you, and register you into the Express Entry pool of candidates.
You’ll be ranked in the Express Entry pool using the CRS points-based system. Your score is based on the information in your profile.
- Quickly Check your CRS score with our simple FREE CRS Score calculator.
- THEN use the more detailed official Canada government CRS Score form for Free.
- THEN create your official Canada government Express Entry Profile.
Step 4: Receive an invitation and apply for Canada permanent residence
IRCC will send Invitations to Apply to the candidates with the highest scores in the pool.
If IRCC invites you to apply, you’ll have 60 days to submit your application for permanent residence.
IRCC processes complete applications that have all the supporting documents in 6 months or less.
How to improve your Express Entry CRS score
An Express Entry candidate typically needs a CRS score of 470-490 points in a regular draw.
To emphasize, to get to these higher scores you need to maximize your points on all available factors.
Documents for Express Entry Profile
To emphasize again, you need certain documents at different stages of the Express Entry application process.
You don’t need to upload documents to submit a profile. However, you may need information from some or all of these documents:
- passport or travel document
- language test results
- education credential assessment report if
- you’re applying through the Federal Skilled Workers program, or
- you want to get points for the education you got outside Canada
- provincial nomination (if you have one)
- written job offer from an employer in Canada (if you have one)
Documents for your application for Canadian permanent residence
Most importantly, you must upload the documents referenced in your profile.
Most applicants will also need to upload the following: