Express Entry

Applying for Permanent Residency (PR) in Canada

Edition 2.0
2018 3Q
Presentation structure
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What is Express Entry?
• Express entry is an immigration, points based, program developed by
the government of canada to invite qualified foreign nationals to
apply for permanent residency (PR) in Canada which allows them to
live permanently, study, work, or start a business in Canada.

• Express entry pool is a collection of candidates all over the world who
have created an express entry profile- the first step to receiving an
invitation to apply (ITA) for PR in Canada.

• The following programs are managed through express entry:

• Federal skilled worker program
• Federal skilled trades program
• Canadian experience class
Express Entry profile
• The first step to receiving an invitation to apply (ITA) for PR is
creating an express entry profile, thereby getting into the pool.

• The express entry profile is a collection of information such as bio

data, education, travel history, security, work experience etc. of a
candidate in the express entry pool.

• Profiles in the express entry pool are selected (based on candidate

score) by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) i.e.
government of Canada- to apply for PR.
Before creating an Express Entry profile
1. Check your eligibility to create an express entry profile using the
come to canada tool (note: use actual IELTS test scores and date
else you can assume at this stage, example, 7 for all components).

2. Take the IELTS General Training Test (if not taken already): IRCC
only accepts the general training test (not the academic) for
immigration purposes. Result takes 13 business days from test date;
validity is 2 years.

• Higher scores (7+) on the test attracts more points i.e equivalent to
Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 9.
• IRCC requires minimum 6 across all components- Listening, Reading,
Writing, Speaking of the IELTS general training test.
Before creating an Express Entry profile
(contd.)
3. Obtain education equivalency evaluation by applying for
Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from World Education
Services (WES) Canada for all post secondary degree programs
outside Canada (undergraduate, Master’s and PhD- if applicable)
• Note: WES fee is fixed regardless of how many degrees you want evaluated.

• ECA Report takes about 20 business days from when all required
documents (copies of degree certificate and academic transcripts)
and payment have been received by WES. Validity is 5 years.

• Both IELTS and ECA should be pursued simultaneously to save time.

Before creating an Express Entry profile
(contd.)
4. Check for your National Occupational Classification (NOC) code. The
NOC code corresponds to the occupation you are experienced in
and want to base your express entry application on.
Creating an express entry profile
1. With real IELTS scores, NOC code, and ECA report reference number (after applying and
receiving report), create an express entry profile using the “create an account or sign in”
option and proceed to “Government of Canada Key” (GCKey).

• Based on the details (education, age, marital status, number of dependents, years of work
experience, IELTS scores, Canadian experience-work and education etc.) provided when
creating your profile, Express Entry calculates your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)
point in the express entry pool.

• Your CRS point determines if you receive an invitation from IRCC to apply for PR.

2. Optionally, register with Canada Job Bank (job board) using express entry reference
number (only available after successfully creating express entry profile). Canada Job Bank
periodically matches your profile with suitable job openings and invites you to apply for
the role.
Creating an express entry profile (contd.)
• Candidates in the pool know their CRS points, but don’t know their
rank (position in the pool).

• When creating your profile, avoid all forms of misrepresentation of

information including withholding of information- an offense which
leads to disqualification and can attract 5 years ban entry to Canada.

• Express entry profile is valid for 1 year, pending when candidate

receives invitation to apply (ITA) from IRCC.

• Tips for filling out a profile

Express Entry pool activities

• While candidates in the pool wait to receive an ITA (invitation to

apply) to apply for PR, Canadian provinces can nominate candidates in
the pool based on certain skills, qualifications, CRS points etc. If
candidate accepts nomination, this gives additional 600 CRS points
which triggers automatic ITA from IRCC.
• Note: Candidates must indicate at time of creating their profile that they
want province(s) to nominate them to apply for PR.

• Candidates in the pool can also receive a job offer, having registered
with Canada Job Bank (or applied to jobs using other means).
Depending on the job position, additional 50-200 CRS points would be
awarded.
Express Entry pool activities (contd.)

• After creating a profile, candidates can update their profile as

required, for example, new IELTS scores after retaking the test, a
second language test scores (French), or completing a new degree
etc. to improve their CRS points.

• A candidate may withdraw his/ her profile at any time, but only one
profile can be maintained for a candidate.
Invitation to apply (ITA) for Permanent Residency

• IRCC issues ITA, 2-3 times monthly, to candidates that have the
minimum Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) points for the
particular month.

• 86,023 ITAs were issued in 2017 which is more than twice the 33,782
issued in 2016 (www.cicnews.com)
Invitation to apply for Permanent Residency (contd.)

The minimum
score required
to receive an
invitation to
apply for PR

Source: CIC News

Invitation to apply for Permanent Residency (contd.)

Based on the
minimum
required
score, the
number of
people invited
to apply for
PR

Source: CIC News

Applying for Permanent Residency

• After receiving ITA, candidates have 90 days to submit a complete

online application for PR to IRCC.

• IRCC aims to complete processing of all PR applications in six months

or less after submitting the application.

• Successful candidates have 12 months from the date of medical test

or expiry date of international passport (whichever is earlier) to land
in Canada after receiving PR status.
• Note that medical test result (among other documents) is required to submit
the application
Total Timeline* (approx. 10+/- months: depends on individual case)

Part A: Creating Express Entry profile Part B: Receiving ITA and Applying for
PR

13 days Create Within 90

Express Submit PR PR 6 months or
&
IELTS/ECA
Entry 1 day ITA draw variable days
application of ITA processing
profile
less
20 days

33 business 1 day Variable 90 days 180 days

days +/-
Upon obtaining
minimum CRS points
and receiving ITA

*Total timeline from [Obtaining IELTS/ ECA] to [Creating Express Entry profile] to [Receiving ITA/ Applying for PR]
Document checklist and Cost- Creating an express entry
profile
• The first step to receiving an invitation
to apply (ITA) for PR is creating
an express entry profile (see part A)
Requirements Cost (Naira)
1. IELTS (General training test) 68,000
2. WES- Canada (ECA evaluation) 200 Canadian Dollar (exl. of tax and
shipping)- Approx. 58,000 (exl. of tax and
shipping)

a. Processing and mailing of educational transcript for each Variable (depends on the university
degree to be evaluated by WES- Canada sending transcript directly to WES-
Canada)
b. Mailing of copy of all degree certificates to be evaluated by Variable (depends if candidate sends by
WES- Canada fax, courier, or regular post)
3. Job NOC code Not applicable
Document checklist and Cost- Applying for PR
• After successfully creating a profile and receiving ITA, IRCC provides a
personalized checklist of documents for each candidate.

• Cost bearing documents include:

• Medical test results- (approx. N40,000 depending on panel physician chosen)

• Police clearance certificate(s) for all countries the applicant has spent a
cumulative of 6 months+ since his/ her 18th birthday- (cost varies for different
countries, Nigeria is approx. N8,000)

• Application fee + Right of Permanent Residence fee- (1040 Canadian Dollar,

approx. N 300,000)
Document checklist and Cost- Applying for PR (contd.)

• Cost bearing documents includes:

• Proof of funds for immigration to Canada- (Variable, depending on family size
immigrating to Canada. For single applicant is 12, 474 Canadian Dollar, approx.
N3,600,000)

• Note: Check updated information on proof of funds

Key Links

• Free eligibility check to participate in express entry program

• How CRS points are awarded
• Free calculation of tentative CRS points
• Up to date news on Canadian immigration (including current CRS draws)
• Register for IELTS
• Free IELTS preparation materials with full complete tests (download)
• Documents/ requirements/ policies for PR through Express Entry
Key Links (contd.)

• World Education Services (WES)- Canada for degree equivalency

• Express entry FAQ
• Glossary
Index 1

Source: CIC News

Index 2

Source: CIC News

Thank you