In January 2015, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will launch a new electronic system called Express Entry to manage applications for permanent residence under these federal economic immigration programs:
- the Federal Skilled Worker Program,
- the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and
- the Canadian Experience Class.
Provinces and territories will also be able to recruit candidates from the Express Entry system for a portion of the Provincial Nominee Programs to meet local labour market needs.
The Express Entry system will be the first step to immigrate to Canada under these programs. Potential candidates will be able to complete an Express Entry profile at any time once the system is online. Note that there will be no deadline to complete a profile and there will be no caps on the number of candidates that will be accepted to the pool.
Anyone who is accepted into the Express Entry pool could get an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence. Draws to invite candidates to apply are expected to take place at regular intervals over the course of each year. We will only pick the top ranking candidates regardless of when they were accepted into the pool. The first draw is expected in late January. If you have been invited to apply, you will have 60 days to submit a complete Application for Permanent Residence online.
Express Entry will launch at 12 noon EST January 1st, 2015. The first draw for an invitation to apply is planned for the last week of January.
Learn how to get ready to complete an Express Entry profile.
The Express Entry system has two steps:
- Step 1) Potential candidates complete an online Express Entry profile. Qualified candidates are placed in a pool.
- Step 2) The highest-ranking candidates in the pool will be invited to apply for permanent residence.
How Express Entry works
Find out how the system works, how the Comprehensive Ranking System is used and how a candidate can be invited to apply for permanent residence.
Choose Canada
Discover how you and your family can benefit from Canada’s strong and stable economy and high standard of living.
Information for employers
With Express Entry, you can fill labour market shortages permanently with skilled foreign nationals. Let us tell you how.
Information for immigrants
Get ready for the launch of Express Entry in January 2015. Learn about what you will need to complete your profile.
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