Express Entry Toronto Canada

Express Entry is an online immigration system operated by the Government of Canada to manage applications for skilled workers seeking permanent residency. Express Entry manages three programs:

• the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
• the Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
• the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

Once a candidate expresses interest to apply by submitting an online profile, the federal government assesses the candidate’s eligibility to apply. Eligible candidates are accepted into the Express Entry pool and are ranked based on the Comprehensive Ranking System points. IRCC hosts regular draws and selects the top-ranked candidates from the Express Entry pool and sends them an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. 

You may apply for Canadian permanent residence through Express Entry if you qualify for one of the following three programs:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW): for applicants who have at least 1 year of foreign skilled work experience in the past 10 years and achieve level 7 in the English or French language test.

• Canadian Experience Class (CEC): for applicants who have at least 1 year of Canadian skilled work experience in the past 3 years and achieve level 5 in the English or French language test.

• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST): for applicants who have at least 2 years of work experience in a specific list of skilled trades and have a full-time job offer in Canada or a certificate of qualification issued by a Canadian authority.

Here is how to apply for Express Entry in Canada:

Step 1: Submit an online profile

Go to IRCC’s website (the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) and create an Express Entry profile by providing the following information:

–   Your work experience

–   Education level (education credential assessment report is required for those with foreign education)

–   Language test results (English and/or French)

–   Work history and personal background

Step 2: Once you have created a profile, you will receive a CRS score and join the pool. In the pool, you will wait for IRCC’s draws to take place. If you are selected, you will be given an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.

Step 3: After receiving the ITA, you have 60 days to submit your PR application to IRCC. This is when you are required to upload all the supporting documents, e.g. your travel document, employment proof, education proof, proof of funds, etc.

Express Entry candidates are ranked under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Everyone is assigned a score based on numerous factors such as:

• Age
• Education
• Skilled work experience
• Language proficiency (English and/or French)
• Canadian education or work experience
• Provincial nominations

The total CRS score adds up to 1,200. The four major components of the comprehensive ranking system are:

• Skills and experience factors (they are the main economic success for those wishing to immigrate to Canada)
• Common-law partner and spouse factors (such as education and language skills- the good thing is that they result in better economic success for you, the common-law partner and spouse).
• Skills transferability (this includes work experience and education. When these factors are perfectly combined, they will guarantee higher earnings and greater possibility of being employed.
• Additional points if you get a nomination from a territory, province or a valid job offer or if you have acquired a Canadian certificate, diploma or degree.

You can calculate your CRS score based on these criteria: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/check-score/crs-criteria.html 

IRCC holds category-based Express Entry draws to invite candidates from a specific category established by Canada’s immigration minister to meet specific economic goals. In 2025, there are seven special categories, they are:

• French-language proficiency
• Healthcare and social services occupations
• Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations
• Trade occupations
• Agriculture and agri-food occupations
• Education occupations
• Physicians with Canadian work experience

The IRCC announced that they will be adding new categories in 2026, such as scientists and researchers, senior managers, military talents. Details have yet to be disclosed.

If you meet the criteria under one of the categories, you may get an ITA under that category and it does not matter whether you are in the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Canadian Experience Class.

If you do not receive an ITA, your profile remains valid in the pool for up to 1 year. If a

candidate does not receive an ITA within one year of creating their Express Entry profile, they

can simply re-submit their profile if they are still eligible.

Once you receive an Invitation to Apply, the IRCC typically processes your PR application within six months. The government begins to measure the processing time when a complete permanent residence application is received. The processing time ends when a final decision is made on the application.

Absolutely. Express Entry is open to applicants worldwide. You do not need to be physically

present in Canada to apply for Canadian permanent residency through Express Entry.

Yes. If your temporary status in Canada is nearing expiry while your PR application is in process, you may be eligible for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP). This permit allows qualifying Express Entry applicants to continue working legally in Canada while awaiting a final decision.

The National Occupation Classification (NOC) is a standardized system that assigns a code to every single occupation that exists in the Canadian labour market using the NOC matrix. This system is used to classify and categorize occupations for statistical, administrative, and research purposes.

The NOC system is maintained by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and is regularly updated to reflect changes in the Canadian labor market.

IRCC uses NOC codes to assess every immigration applicant’s work experience. Whenever immigration applicants are asked to identify work experience, they must select the NOC code that best describes their employment experience.

It is critical to understand how the NOC codes work and find the right NOC for yourself because some economic immigration streams are restricted to applicants with experience in occupations identified by specific NOC codes. The Express Entry category-based draws is an example.

You can find your NOC code by searching the NOC matrix either by your industry, or by keywords such as your job title. However, it is important to know that your NOC is not determined just by your job title, but your job duties should match the lead statement and most of the duties and responsibilities listed under the NOC code.

Remember to look at the NOC exclusions. If your occupation seems to match a certain NOC code, but also matches one of the NOC codes listed as an exclusion, you may not claim that occupation. Whichever NOC code you claim, you will need employment letters from your past employers as a proof. In the event that your occupations seem to match multiple NOC codes, you must determine which one best fits your experience. Keep in mind that the visa officer reviewing your application will have in-depth knowledge of the NOC matrix. If they determine that your occupation should fall under a different NOC code, they may refuse your application. 

The Express Entry cut-off score goes up and down throughout the year and nobody knows the trend for sure. As long as you meet the eligibility requirements of the Express Entry, entering the pool early gives you the chance of getting an ITA.

If your CRS score is slightly below the recent cut-off point, you can wait patiently in the pool and get all your documents ready in the meantime. If your CRS score is significantly below the recent cut-offs, you can submit a profile first and look for ways to improve your CRS score at the same time. You can make changes to your profile anytime before you receive an ITA. Staying in the Express Entry pool also offers you an opportunity to receive a provincial nomination, which will give you 600 additional points and almost guarantee you an ITA.

You can usually improve your Comprehensive Ranking System score by doing the following:

•   Make sure you claim all the CRS points you are eligible for
•   Improve your language abilities and retake the language test
•   Learn one more official language and take the language test
•   Earn Canadian education credential by studying in Canada
•   Gain more Canadian work experience
•   Gain more foreign work experience

The Express Entry cut-off score goes up and down throughout the year and nobody knows the trend for sure. As of January 2026, we believe the Express Entry pool is becoming less competitive, given the high-scoring candidates were invited and left the pool and fewer people are qualified to join the pool due to the restricted quotas for work permits. However, this may change when new special categories are launched later in 2026, because those targeted draws are open to applicants of both Foreign Skilled Worker and the Canadian Experience Class.

Provided that you meet the eligibility requirements, enter the pool early regardless of your CRS score and give you the chance of getting an ITA. You can always wait in the pool while working hard on improving your score.

The Express Entry cut-off score goes up and down throughout the year and nobody knows the trend for sure. The cut-off score of different draws varies widely, you should check the most recent cut off points here.

In fact, you should enter the pool early as long as you meet the eligibility requirements regardless of your CRS score. By staying in the pool, it gives you time to improve your language test results, earn a Canadian education credential or gain more Canadian or foreign work experience. You can always update your Express Entry profile before you receive an ITA.

You will be asked to provide the following information when you submit your Express Entry profile:

• Passport or travel document
• Language test results (you need the document number)
• Proof of Canadian education or Education Credential Assessment report for foreign education
• Provincial nomination (if any)
• Your work experience, both in Canada and overseas, and the NOC codes that most closely align with your work experience.

No, you are not required to have a job offer or be employed currently to submit an Express Entry profile. However, you may earn more points in work experience if you are currently employed.

There are many areas that may seem trivial to Express Entry applicants, but can lead to a refusal or delayed processing. Understanding the common pitfalls can save you time, money, and unnecessary stress.

No, it is not mandatory for your spouse or common-law partner to take a language test when you submit your Express Entry profile. You can enter “no test results” for your spouse. However, If your spouse or common law partner scores a minimum of CLB 5 in each area of one of IRCC’s designated language exams, you can claim additional CRS points.

With professional guidance, strategic planning, and expert knowledge of Canadian immigration laws, Hopeway Immigration helps you achieve your goal of becoming a permanent resident of Canada-faster and with peace of mind.

Contact us today to begin your Express Entry application with confidence.