Express Entry is for skilled immigrants who are willing to contribute to the Canadian economy and settle in Canada permanently. It is a point-based program which awards points to applicants on criteria established by the Federal government. The Federal Skilled Worker program has minimum requirements for skilled work experience, language ability and education, which prospective applicants must meet before they can apply. The applications are then assessed on the following criteria:
- age
- education
- language proficiency (English and/or French)
- adaptability
- work experience
- arranged employment.
These criteria form a part of a 100-point Federal Skilled Worker Grid, and candidates earn points for each factor. The current pass mark is 67, meaning, those applicants receiving 67 points can enter the Express Entry pool where a different Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is used to rank the applicant’s profile. The highest-ranking candidates (out of a possible 1,200 points) from this pool are selected and invited to apply for permanent residency. The most appealing factor of this program is its processing time – the whole process takes as less as six months, from application lodgement to visa grant.