Who can apply
On this page
- Immigration programs
- Key differences in eligibility criteria
- Check if you're eligible
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Immigration programs
Express Entry is an online system that we use to manage immigration applications for 3 programs:
Canadian Experience Class
For skilled workers with eligible Canadian work experience
Federal Skilled Worker Program
For skilled workers with eligible foreign or Canadian work experience
Federal Skilled Trades Program
For skilled workers who are qualified in a skilled trade
Key differences in eligibility criteria
Before you compare programs, here are 3 terms you should know:
- Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB): The CLB is the Canadian standard used to measure English language ability of immigrants.
- National Occupation Classification (NOC): The NOC is a list of all the occupations in the Canadian labour market.
- Training, education, experience and responsibilities (TEER): The NOC has 6 TEER categories. A TEER category is based on the education and training needed for an occupation.
Language skills
- Canadian Experience Class
-
- CLB 7 for TEER 0 or TEER 1 occupations
- CLB 5 for TEER 2 or TEER 3 occupations
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
-
- CLB 7
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
-
- CLB 5 for speaking and listening
- CLB 4 for reading and writing
Type of work experience
- Canadian Experience Class
-
Canadian work experience in an occupation listed in 1 or more of these NOC TEER Categories:
- TEER 0
- TEER 1
- TEER 2
- TEER 3
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
-
Work experience in an occupation listed in 1 of these NOC TEER Categories:
- TEER 0
- TEER 1
- TEER 2
- TEER 3
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
-
Work experience in a skilled trade under key groups of TEER 2 or TEER 3:
- Major Group 72, technical trades and transportation officers and controllers
- excluding Sub-Major Group 726, transportation officers and controllers
- Major Group 73, general trades
- Major Group 82, supervisors in natural resources, agriculture and related production
- Major Group 83, natural resources and related production
- Major Group 92, processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors, and utilities operators and controllers
- Major Group 93, central control and process operators and aircraft assembly assemblers and inspectors
- excluding Sub-Major Group 932, aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors
- Minor Group 6320, cooks, butchers and bakers
- Unit Group 62200, chefs
- Major Group 72, technical trades and transportation officers and controllers
Amount of work experience
- Canadian Experience Class
-
1 year in Canada in the last 3 years (either combination of full-time or part-time work)
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
-
1 year continuous within the last 10 years (combination of part-time, full-time or more than 1 job in your primary occupation)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
-
2 years within the last 5 years (either combination of full-time or part-time work)
Job offer
- Canadian Experience Class
-
Not required.
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
-
Not required, but you can get selection criteria points for having a valid job offer.
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
-
Required:
- a valid job offer of full-time employment for a total period of at least 1 year, or
- a certificate of qualification in the above skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority
Education
- Canadian Experience Class
-
Not required.
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
-
Secondary education required.
You can get more selection criteria points for your post-secondary education.
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
-
Not required.
Check if you're eligible
Answer a questionnaire to check if you’re eligible for the minimum requirements of Express Entry. To answer the questionnaire, you have 2 options:
Option 1: Come to Canada tool
Answer a few questions using the Come to Canada tool to assess your eligibility.
The tool gives you a number at the end (a personal reference code). You will use this number to move your information from the tool to your Express Entry profile.
Option 2: IRCC secure account
Fill out the questionnaire in your IRCC secure account.
- Sign in to your account and choose Apply to come to Canada under Start an application.
- Choose “Express Entry” under I do not have a Personal Reference Code.
- Answer the questions.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
If you’re eligible for one of these programs, you can also apply through Express Entry for the Provincial Nominee Program.
If you’re nominated, you’ll get extra points so you can be invited to apply quickly.
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