Canada Express Entry permanent residence

Skilled workers who meet the requirements of the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program or Federal Skilled Trades Program.

• Qualify for a programme

  Meet the requirements of at least one of the three programmes managed through Express Entry: Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program or Federal Skilled Trades Program.

  canada.ca · checked 5 days agoSource

• Take a language test

  Prove your English or French skills with an approved test. Results must be less than 2 years old when you complete your profile and when you submit your permanent residence application.

  canada.ca · checked 5 days agoSource

• Receive an invitation

  Entering the Express Entry pool does not guarantee an invitation; you can apply for permanent residence only if invited. An invitation is valid for 60 days.

  canada.ca · checked 5 days agoSource

• Be admissible

  Applicants must be admissible to Canada; security, criminal or medical reasons can make someone inadmissible.

  canada.ca · checked 5 days agoSource

• Meet medical requirements

  An immigration medical exam by a panel physician is required for permanent residence, including for family members who are not coming to Canada. The guidance describes a possible exemption from a new exam for some applicants living in Canada who completed one in the previous 5 years.

  canada.ca · checked 5 days agoSource

• Provide police certificates

  Include police certificates for you and family members aged 18 or older for countries where each person stayed for 6 consecutive months or longer in the last 10 years; certificates are not required for time before age 18 or time spent in Canada.

  canada.ca · checked 5 days agoSource

• Plan to live outside Quebec

  Applicants under the three Express Entry programmes must plan to live outside Quebec. Provincial nominees must settle in the province or territory that nominated them.

  canada.ca · checked 5 days agoSource

• Canadian Experience Class workSometimes needed

  For this programme, have at least 1 year or 1,560 hours of paid, authorised work in Canada in the 3 years before applying, in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3; the work must meet the NOC duties. Full-time study work generally does not count, and self-employment generally does not count, with an exception for some physicians.

  canada.ca · checked 5 days agoSource

• Canadian Experience Class languageSometimes needed

  For this programme, meet CLB or NCLC 7 in all four abilities for TEER 0 or 1 work, or CLB or NCLC 5 in all four abilities for TEER 2 or 3 work.

  canada.ca · checked 5 days agoSource

• Federal Skilled Worker workSometimes needed

  For this programme, have at least 1 continuous year or 1,560 hours of paid work within the last 10 years, in Canada or abroad, in your primary occupation under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3; the work must meet the NOC duties.

  canada.ca · checked 5 days agoSource

• Federal Skilled Worker languageSometimes needed

  For this programme, meet CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French in each of speaking, listening, reading and writing.

  canada.ca · checked 5 days agoSource

• Federal Skilled Worker educationSometimes needed

  For this programme, have a Canadian secondary or post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree; or a completed foreign credential with an Educational Credential Assessment for immigration purposes. The assessment must be less than 5 years old when you complete your profile and submit your application.

  canada.ca · checked 5 days agoSource

• Federal Skilled Worker pass markSometimes needed

  For this programme, score at least 67 out of 100 on its selection factors to qualify to submit an Express Entry profile. This is separate from the Comprehensive Ranking System score used to rank candidates in the pool.

  canada.ca · checked 5 days agoSource

• Federal Skilled Trades workSometimes needed

  For this programme, have at least 2 years of full-time work, or 3,120 hours, in a qualifying skilled trade within the 5 years before applying. The paid work must be in the same qualifying NOC, meet its duties and job requirements, and have been gained where you were qualified to practise; student work does not count.

  canada.ca · checked 5 days agoSource

• Trades offer or qualificationSometimes needed

  For this programme, have either a valid offer of full-time employment for a total of at least 1 year or a certificate of qualification in the skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority.

  canada.ca · checked 5 days agoSource

• Federal Skilled Trades languageSometimes needed

  For this programme, meet CLB or NCLC 5 in speaking and listening and CLB or NCLC 4 in reading and writing.

  canada.ca · checked 5 days agoSource

• Show settlement fundsSometimes needed

  Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades applicants need proof of funds unless they are authorised to work in Canada and have a valid job offer; Canadian Experience Class applicants do not need it. The published minimums, updated 7 July 2025, are CAD 15,263 for 1 family member, 19,001 for 2, 23,360 for 3, 28,362 for 4, 32,168 for 5, 36,280 for 6 and 40,392 for 7, plus 4,112 for each additional member. Funds must be available when applying and when a permanent resident visa is issued.

  canada.ca · checked 5 days agoSource

• Principal applicant, including processing and right of permanent residence feesircc.canada.ca · checked 5 days agoSource$1,590 per person
• Accompanying spouse or partner, including processing and right of permanent residence feesircc.canada.ca · checked 5 days agoSource$1,590 per family member
• Accompanying dependent childircc.canada.ca · checked 5 days agoSource$270 per family member
• Biometrics, per individual required to provide themcanada.ca · checked 5 days agoSource$85 per person

1. Get ready

   • Check which programme you qualify for

     Compare your work, language and other circumstances with the three programmes’ minimum requirements.

     You’ll need: Work experience records

   • Take an approved language test

     Take an approved English or French test and keep results that will be less than 2 years old when you create your profile and apply.

     You’ll need: Language test results

   • Gather your documents

     Prepare your travel document and work records, and obtain an Educational Credential Assessment or proof of funds where your programme requires them.

     You’ll need: Passport or travel document, Proof of work experience, Educational Credential Assessment, if required, Proof of funds, if required

2. Apply

   • Submit your Express Entry profile

     Create a profile in your IRCC secure account and submit it within 60 days of starting it to enter the pool if eligible.

     You’ll need: Language test results, Passport or travel document, Educational Credential Assessment, if required

   • Wait for an invitation

     Keep your profile up to date while IRCC ranks candidates using the Comprehensive Ranking System and invites eligible candidates in rounds.

   • Get your application documents

     If invited, obtain the documents on your personalised checklist, including police certificates and medical-exam evidence as applicable.

     You’ll need: Police certificates, Medical-exam information sheet or upfront medical report, Personalised document checklist

   • Apply for permanent residence

     Within 60 days of your invitation, complete the online form, upload the required documents and pay the applicable fees.

     You’ll need: Completed online application, Document-checklist uploads

3. Visa

   • Give your biometrics if required

     Applicants aged 14 to 79 must give fingerprints and a photograph for each permanent residence application, within 30 days of the instruction letter.

     You’ll need: Biometrics instruction letter

   • Check your approval documents

     If approved, check your Confirmation of Permanent Residence for errors and travel before it expires if you are outside Canada.

     You’ll need: Confirmation of Permanent Residence, Permanent resident visa, if issued

4. Travel

   • Bring your documents to Canada

     On arrival, show the border officer your valid passport or travel document, Confirmation of Permanent Residence, any issued permanent resident visa and proof of funds unless exempt.

     You’ll need: Valid passport or travel document, Confirmation of Permanent Residence, Permanent resident visa, if issued, Proof of funds, unless exempt

Canadian permanent residence if an application is approved.

• Immigrate through Express Entry - Canada.cacanada.caOfficial
• canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/ch…Official
• Express Entry: Who can apply - Canada.cacanada.caOfficial
• Express Entry: Language test results - Canada.cacanada.caOfficial
• Express Entry: Canadian Experience Class - Canada.cacanada.caOfficial
• Express Entry: Federal Skilled Worker Program - Canada.cacanada.caOfficial
• Educational credential assessment - Canada.cacanada.caOfficial
• Express Entry: Federal Skilled Trades Program - Canada.cacanada.caOfficial
• Apply for permanent residence through Express Entry - Canada.cacanada.caOfficial
• Express Entry: Police certificates - Canada.cacanada.caOfficial
• Express Entry: After you apply - Canada.cacanada.caOfficial
• canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-cana…Official
• canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-cana…Official
• canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-cana…Official
• canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-cana…Official
• Citizenship and immigration application fees: Fee listircc.canada.caOfficial
• Documents for Express Entry: Proof of funds - Canada.cacanada.caOfficial

Japper is an AI immigration assistant. It gives general information from official sources, not legal advice, and it can be wrong. For your own case, ask a licensed advisor.