Permanent Residence Express Entry
Express Entry
Permanent residence through the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
Viviane Trudel, RCIC-IRB Licence #R723047
Express Entry is Canada’s primary system for selecting skilled workers for permanent residence. It manages applications for three federal programs:
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
Since 2023, IRCC has also held category-based draws targeting specific occupations and French-language proficiency.
Changes effective November 3, 2026
New CRS points for high-wage occupations; LMIA no longer required for job offers. See what is changing.
Who Express Entry is for
- International graduates on a post-graduation work permit and skilled workers with at least one year of Canadian work experience, applying through the Canadian Experience Class
- Skilled workers and qualified tradespeople with foreign or Canadian experience, applying through the Federal Skilled Worker or Federal Skilled Trades programs
- Candidates who may qualify for category-based draws, such as healthcare, trades, education or French-language proficiency
- Candidates living in Alberta who may qualify for a provincial nomination through the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program, which adds 600 CRS points
- Candidates who have received an Invitation to Apply and need the application prepared and filed
- Applicants with a previous refusal or a complex immigration history
- Families including a spouse or common-law partner and dependent children in the application
Candidates intending to live in Quebec follow a separate provincial selection process, which we do not handle.
Express Entry representation
Eligibility and strategy development
- Assessment against the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades requirements, including work experience, occupation (NOC TEER), language test results, and education
- Review of the immigration history and admissibility
- Early identification of risks
- A recommendation on the program and any category-based draws that fit your profile
- A plan to strengthen your CRS score
- A timeline that protects your status in Canada while you wait for an invitation and a decision
- One consistent strategy for the whole family when a spouse or dependent children are included
Application preparation and submission
- Creation and review of your Express Entry profile, checked against the documents you will need to provide
- A personalized document checklist once you are invited, including employment reference letters that meet IRCC’s requirements
- Preparation and review of every IRCC form
- An organized application package, submitted to IRCC within the invitation deadline on your behalf as your authorized representative
Post-submission support
- Monitoring of your file and handling of all IRCC correspondence, including requests for documents, biometrics and medical exams
- Updates to IRCC regarding changes in personal circumstances or immigration status
Express Entry questions
Candidates in high-wage occupations can gain up to 70 CRS points for Canadian work experience, based on how long they’ve worked, or up to 100 points for a qualifying job offer, whichever is higher. Job offers will no longer require an LMIA or a closed LMIA-exempt work permit to earn CRS points or qualify under the Federal Skilled Worker or Federal Skilled Trades programs. Add job offers to your profile before November 3 to have your score recalculated.
Under Express Entry, a job is considered a high-wage occupation if the median wage of all people in Canada performing that job is at least 1.3 times higher than the average median wage of the overall Canadian work force. This is based on all the people in Canada working under the same National Occupational Classification (NOC). It is not determined based on a person’s specific job position. High-wage occupations are grouped into 3 levels using NOC codes and points are awarded based on those levels. Only jobs listed in those 3 high-wage occupation levels are eligible for high-wage occupation points or job offer points under the Labour Market Integration factor.
At least one year of skilled work in Canada within the three years before you apply. That means 1,560 hours: 30 hours a week for 12 months, or the equivalent in part-time work over a longer period. The experience must be paid and in a TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupation.
Since 2023, IRCC has held draws for candidates in priority areas rather than by CRS score alone. Categories have included healthcare and social services, trades, education, agriculture and agri-food, and strong French-language proficiency. Each category draw is open only to candidates who meet its criteria, so you compete against a far smaller group than in a general draw, and the cut-off score is often noticeably lower as a result.
Professional fees with Trudel Immigration Consulting for an Express Entry application are CAD $4,000. Government fees are additional, including the processing fee and the right of permanent residence fee, as are any applicable costs for biometrics, translations, police certificates, medical examinations, and other third-party services.