Create an Express Entry profile: What to do while you wait in the pool

While you wait in the pool, get ready to accept an invitation to apply. If we invite you to apply, you’ll have 60 days to submit a complete application.

On this page:

• Get your documents ready
• Find a job with Job Match
• Try to improve your score
• Keep your profile up to date
  • Some commons reasons why your profile could become ineligible
• If your work permit is about to expire
• Get updates about EE

Get your documents ready

Having your documents ready will make it easier to apply within the 60 days.

Language tests

Check that your language test results are valid. They are valid for 2 years after the date of the test result. They must also be valid on the date you apply for permanent residence.

If your results expire before then, you should:

• be tested again or
• apply before your test results expire (if possible) or
• decline the invitation, be tested again, and go back into the pool to be considered in the future

If you apply for permanent residence with language test results that have expired, we'll reject your application.

Police certificates

You’ll need to get police certificates for you and any of your family members who are 18 years old or older.

In some countries, it can take a long time to get police certificates. Ask for them now that you’re in the pool, so you can submit them before your 60 days are up.

Find a job with Job Match

You can start your job search by creating a Job Match account with Job Bank. Job Bank is a database that can help match you with employers looking for workers with your skills.

You can sign up for a Job Match account after you’re in the Express Entry pool. To do this, you’ll need the Job Seeker validation code you received when you submitted your profile. Once you come to Canada, you can keep using Job Bank to find a job.

• Sign up with Job Bank

Try to improve your score

While you’re in the pool, you can improve your score and increase your chances of being invited to apply by:

• getting a valid job offer by
  • using Job Bank
  • promoting yourself to employers in Canada using private-sector job boards
• contacting provinces and territories and asking them to consider you for a Provincial Nominee Program
• improving your language score
• improving your education
• gaining more skilled work experience

Keep your profile up-to-date

You must make sure that the information in your profile stays true and accurate at all times. You must update your profile if your situation changes, for example if you:

• start a new career
• gain or lose a job offer
• get a new language test
• get married or divorced
• have or adopt a new child

If we find that you gave us false information or left out important details, we can:

• refuse your application
• find you inadmissible
• bar you for 5 years from applying to come to Canada for any reason

Some commons reasons why your profile could become ineligible:

• your work experience no longer meets the program requirements
  • If it fell out of date – for example, it needed to be in the 3 years before you apply, and no longer does due to your time in the pool.
• your language test results expired
• your ECA results expired
• you no longer have enough funds
• you changed your primary occupation

If your work permit is about to expire

You need to keep your status if you’re in the pool and your work permit is expiring.

The expiry date on your work permit is the date you must stop working in Canada. In most cases, it’s also the date your temporary resident status in Canada expires.

You can apply to restore your work permit in the first 90 days after it expires. If you do this:

• you can stay in Canada until you get instructions from us
• you must stop working until you get your restored work permit

There is no guarantee we’ll approve your work permit application.

• You don’t have to stay in Canada to stay in the pool. If your status expires and you have no other options, you can leave Canada and still be in the pool.
• If you don’t apply to restore your work permit, you must leave Canada right away when it expires. If you don’t leave, you could be deported and will need permission from an immigration officer to come back.

Don’t be tempted to work or stay in Canada without status. It can make you ineligible for Express Entry.

Find out how to restore your work permit.

Get updates about Express Entry

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