Express Entry CRS Score Calculator

Are you looking to move to Canada through Express Entry?

To qualify for Express Entry it’s vital to ensure you qualify for one of the programs, this includes the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker and the Federal Skilled Trades Program.

If you meet the criteria for any of these programs IRCC will proceed to rank your CRS score and rank your profile within the express entry pool.

This ranking helps to determine whether you’ll get an invitation to apply through the Express Entry program.

Our online CRS calculator has been built so you can easily determine your score. Simply input information about your skills, education, language, work experience and other relevant factors and you’ll be given a score.

We also provide CRS scores of candidates who have been invited in the past.

We also provide insights into past Express entry draws this way you can see how you compare.

If you need assistance in determining your eligibility for Express Entry Wild Mountain Immigration offers expert guidance to help you obtain permanent residency.

If you are eligible for Express entry or want more information to find out if you are get in touch today and we can help you with the process.

It’s what we do.

This Express Entry CRS Score Calculator is intended solely for general guidance and reference purposes.

This tool will help you calculate your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on the answers you provide below. The CRS is a points-based system that IRCC uses to assess and score your profile and rank it in the Express Entry pool. It’s used to assess your:

  • Skills
  • Education
  • Language ability
  • Work experience
  • Other factors

Use the Express Entry CRS Score Calculator if

  • you’re eligible for at least 1 Express Entry program
  • and you have not filled out an Express Entry profile but you’d like to see what your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score might be if you do
  • or you were invited to apply for permanent residence, and want to see if a change to your profile may affect your CRS score

To get an invitation to apply, your CRS score must be above the minimum points score of your round of invitations (cut-off scores may vary each round).

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Latest Express Entry draws

Draw ProgramsCRS ScoreInvitations issued
#327- November 20, 2024Healthcare Occupations4633,000
#326- November 19, 2024Canadian Experience Class539400
#325- November 18, 2024Provincial Nominee Program816174
#324- November 15, 2024French Language Proficiency478800
#323- November 13, 2024Canadian Experience Class547400
#322- November 12, 2024Provincial Nominee Program812733
#321- October 23, 2024Trade occupations4331,800
#320- October 22, 2024Canadian Experience Class539400
#319 - October 21, 2024Provincial Nominee Program791648
#318 - October 10, 2024French language proficiency4441000
#317 - October 9, 2024Canadian Experience Class539500
#316 - October 7, 2024Provincial Nominee Program7431,613
#315 - September 19, 2024Canadian Experience Class5094,000
#314 - September 13, 2024French Language Proficiency4461,000
#313 - September 9, 2024Provincial Nominee Program911732
#312 - August 27, 2024 Canadian Experience Class5073,300
#311 - August 26, 2024 Provincial Nominee Program6941,121
#310 - August 15, 2024 French language proficiency3942,000
#309 - August 14, 2024 Canadian Experience Class5093,200
#308 - August 13, 2024Provincial Nominee Program690763
#307 - July 31, 2024Canadian Experience Class5105,000
#306 - July 30, 2024Provincial Nominee Program686964
#305 - July 18, 2024French language proficiency4001,800
#304 - July 17, 2024Canadian Experience Class5156,300
#303 - July 16, 2024Provincial Nominee Program6701,391
#302 - July 8, 2024French language proficiency4203,200
#301 - July 5, 2024Healthcare occupations4453,750
#300 - July 4, 2024Trade occupations4361,800
#299 - July 2, 2024Provincial Nominee Program739920
#298 - June 19, 2024 Provincial Nominee Program6631,499
#297 - May 31, 2024 Canadian Experience Class5223,000
#296 - May 30, 2024 PNP6762,985
#295 - April 24, 2024 French Language4101,400
#294 - April 23, 2024 General5292,095
#293 - April 11, 2024 STEM4914,500
#292 - April 10, 2024 General5491,280
#291 - March 26, 2024 French Language3881,500
#290 - March 25, 2024 General5241,980
#289 - March 13, 2024 Transport occupations430975
#288 - March 12, 2024 General5252,850
#287 - February 29, 2024 French Language3362,500
#286 - February 28, 2024 General5341,470
#285 - February 16, 2024 Agriculture and agri-food437150
#284 - February 14, 2024 Healthcare occupations4223,500
#283 - February 13, 2024 General5351,490
#282 - February 1, 2024 French Language3657,000
#281 - January 31, 2024General541730
#280 - January 23, 2024General5431,040
#279 - January 1, 2024General5461,510
Draw and dateProgramsCRS ScoreInvitations issued
#278 - December 21, 2023Agriculture and agri-food386400
#277 - December 20, 2023Transport occupations435670
#276 - December 19, 2023Trade occupations4251,000
#275 - December 18, 2023General5421,325
#274 - December 8, 2023STEM Occupations4815,900
#273 - December 7, 2023French Language4701,000
#272 - December 6, 2023General5614,750
#271 - October 26, 2023Healthcare Occupations4313,600
#270 - October 25, 2023French Language486300
#269 - October 24, 2023Provincial Nominee Program7761,548
#268 - October 10, 2023No Program Specified5003,725
#267 - September 28, 2023Agriculture and agri-food354600
#266 - September 27, 2023French Language472500
#265 - September 26, 2023No Program Specified5043,000
#264 - September 20, 2023Transport occupations4351,000
#263 - September 19, 2023No Program Specified5313,200
#262 - August 15, 2023No Program Specified4964,300
#261 - August 3, 2023Trade occupations3881,500
#260 - August 1, 2023French Language435800
#259 - August 1, 2023No Program Specified5172,000
#258 - July 12th, 2023French Language3753,800
#257 - July 11th, 2023All Programs505800
#256 - July 7th, 2023French Language4392,300
#255 - July 6th, 2023Healthcare Occupations4631,500
#254 - July 5th, 2023STEM Occupations486500
#253 - July 4th, 2023All Programs511700
#252 - June 28th, 2023Healthcare Occupations476500
#251 - June 27th, 2023All Programs4864,300
#250 - June 8th, 2023All Programs4864,800
#249 - May 24th, 2023All Programs4884,800
#248 - May 10th, 2023Provincial Nominee691589
#247 - April 26th, 2023All Programs4833,500
#246 - April 12th, 2023All Programs4863,500
#245 - March 29th, 2023All Programs4817,000
#244 - March 23rd, 2023All Programs4847,000
#243 - March 15th, 2023All Programs4907,000
#242 - March 1st, 2023Provincial Nominee748667
#241 - February 15, 2023Provincial Nominee791699
#240 - February 2, 2023Federal Skilled Worker4893,300
#239 - February 1, 2023Provincial Nominee733893
#238 - January 18, 2023All Programs4905,500
#237 - January 11, 2023All Programs5075,500
Draw and dateProgramsCRS ScoreInvitations issued
#236 - November 23, 2022All Programs4914,750
#235 - November 9, 2022All Programs4944,750
#234 - October 26, 2022All Programs4964,750
#233 - October 12, 2022All Programs5004,250
#232 - September 28, 2022All Programs5043,750
#231 - September 14, 2022All Programs5103,250
#230 - August 31, 2022All Programs5162,750
#229 - August 17, 2022All Programs5252,250
#228 - August 3, 2022All Programs5332,000
#227 - July 20, 2022All Programs5421,750
#226 - July 6, 2022All Programs5571,500
#225 - June 22, 2022Provincial Nominee752636
#224 - June 8, 2022Provincial Nominee796932
#223 - May 25, 2022Provincial Nominee741589
#222 - May 11, 2022Provincial Nominee753545
#221 - April 27, 2022Provincial Nominee772829
#220 - April 13, 2022Provincial Nominee782787
#219 - March 30, 2022Provincial Nominee785919
#218 - March 16, 2022Provincial Nominee754924
#217 - March 2, 2022Provincial Nominee7611,047
#216 - February 16, 2022Provincial Nominee7101,082
#215 - February 2, 2022Provincial Nominee6741,070
#214 - January 19, 2022Provincial Nominee7451,036
#213 - January 5, 2022Provincial Nominee808392
Draw and dateProgramsCRS ScoreInvitations issued
#212 - December 22, 2021Provincial Nominee720746
#211 - December 10, 2021Provincial Nominee6981,032
#210 - November 24, 2021Provincial Nominee737613
#209 - November 10, 2021Provincial Nominee685775
#208 - October 27, 2021Provincial Nominee744888
#207 - October 13, 2021Provincial Nominee720681
#206 - September 29, 2021Provincial Nominee742761
#205 - September 15, 2021Provincial Nominee732521
#204 - September 14, 2021Canadian Experience Class4622,000
#203 - September 1, 2021Provincial Nominee764635
#202 - August 19, 2021Canadian Experience Class4033,000
#201 - August 18, 2021Provincial Nominee751463
#200 - August 5, 2021Canadian Experience Class4043,000
#199 - August 4, 2021Provincial Nominee760512
#198 - July 22, 2021Canadian Experience Class3574,500
#197 - July 21, 2021Provincial Nominee734462
#196 - July 8, 2021Canadian Experience Class3694,500
#195 - July 7, 2021Provincial Nominee760627
#194 - June 24, 2021Canadian Experience Class3576,000
#193 - June 23, 2021Provincial Nominee7421,002
#192 - June 10, 2021Canadian Experience Class3686,000
#191 - June 9, 2021Provincial Nominee711940
#190 - May 31, 2021Canadian Experience Class3805,956
#189 - May 26, 2021Provincial Nominee713500
#188 - May 20, 2021Canadian Experience Class3971,842
#187 - May 13, 2021Canadian Experience Class4014,147
#186 - May 12, 2021Provincial Nominee752557
#185 - April 29, 2021Canadian Experience Class4006,000
#184 - April 28, 2021Provincial Nominee717381
#183 - April 16, 2021Canadian Experience Class4176,000
#182 - April 14, 2021Provincial Nominee753266
#181 - April 1, 2021Canadian Experience Class4325,000
#180 - March 31, 2021Provincial Nominee778284
#179 - March 18, 2021Canadian Experience Class4495,000
#178 - March 17, 2021Provincial Nominee682183
#177 - March 8, 2021Provincial Nominee739671
#176 - February 13, 2021Canadian Experience Class7527,332
#175 - February 10, 2021Provincial Nominee720654
#174 - January 21, 2021Canadian Experience Class4544,626
#173 - January 20, 2021Provincial Nominee741374
#172 - January 7, 2021Canadian Experience Class4614,750
#171 - January 6, 2021Provincial Nominee813250
Draw and dateProgramsCRS ScoreInvitations issued
#170 - December 23, 2020All Programs4685,000
#169 - December 9, 2020All Programs4695,000
#168 - November 25, 2020All Programs4695,000
#167 - November 18, 2020All Programs4725,000
#166 - November 5, 2020All Programs4784,500
#165 - October 14, 2020All Programs4714,500
#164 - September 29, 2020All Programs4714,200
#163 - September 16, 2020All Programs4724,200
#162 - September 2, 2020All Programs4754,200
#161 - August 20, 2020Canadian Experience Class4543,300
#160 - August 19, 2020Provincial Nominee771600
#159 - August 6, 2020Federal Skilled Trades415250
#158 - August 5, 2020All Programs4763,900
#157 - July 23, 2020Canadian Experience Class4453,343
#156 - July 22, 2020Provincial Nominee687557
#155 - July 8, 2020All Programs4783,900
#154 - June 25, 2020Canadian Experience Class4313,508
#153 - June 24, 2020Provincial Nominee696392
#152 - June 11, 2020Canadian Experience Class4373,559
#151 - June 10, 2020Provincial Nominee743341
#150 - May 28, 2020Canadian Experience Class4403,515
#149 - May 27, 2020Provincial Nominee757385
#148 - May 15, 2020Canadian Experience Class4473,371
#147 - May 14, 2020Provincial Nominee718529
#146 - May 1, 2020Canadian Experience Class4523,311
#145 - April 29, 2020Provincial Nominee692589
#144 - April 16, 2020Canadian Experience Class4553,782
#143 - April 15, 2020Provincial Nominee808118
#142 - April 9, 2020Canadian Experience Class4643,294
#141 - April 9, 2020Provincial Nominee698606
#140 - March 23, 2020Canadian Experience Class4673,232
#139 - March 18, 2020Provincial Nominee720668
#138 - March 4, 2020All Programs4713,900
#137 - February 19, 2020All Programs4704,500
#136 - February 5, 2020All Programs4723,500
#135 - January 22, 2020All Programs4713,400
#134 - January 8, 2020All Programs4733,400
Draw and dateProgramsCRS ScoreInvitations issued
#133 - December 19, 2019All Programs4693,200
#132 - December 11, 2019All Programs4723,200
#131 - November 27, 2019All Programs4713,600
#130 - November 13, 2019All Programs4723,600
#129 - October 30, 2019All Programs4753,900
#128 - October 16, 2019Federal Skilled Trades357500
#127 - October 2, 2019All Programs4643,900
#126 - September 18, 2019All Programs4623,600
#125 - September 4, 2019All Programs4633,600
#124 - August 20, 2019All Programs4573,600
#123 - August 12, 2019All Programs4663,600
#122 - July 24, 2019All Programs4593,600
#121 - July 10, 2019All Programs4603,600
#120 - June 26, 2019All Programs4623,350
#119 - June 12, 2019All Programs4653,350
#118 - May 29, 2019All Programs4703,350
#117 - May 15, 2019Federal Skilled Trades332500
#116 - May 1, 2019All Programs4503,350
#115 - April 17, 2019All Programs4513,350
#114 - April 3, 2019All Programs4513,350
#113 - March 20, 2019All Programs4523,350
#112 - March 6, 2019All Programs4543,350
#111 - February 20, 2019All Programs4573,350
#110 - January 30, 2019All Programs4383,350
#109 - January 23, 2019All Programs4433,900
#108 - January 10, 2019All Programs4493,900
Draw and dateProgramsCRS ScoreInvitations issued
#107 - December 19, 2018All Programs4393,900
#106 - December 12, 2018All Programs4453,900
#105 - November 28, 2018Provincial Nominee4453,900
#104 - November 15, 2018All Programs4493,900
#103 - October 29, 2018Federal Skilled Trades4423,900
#102 - October 15, 2018Provincial Nominee4403,900
#101 - October 3, 2018All Programs4453,900
#100 - September 24, 2018Federal Skilled Trades284400
#99 - September 19, 2018All Programs4413,500
#98 - September 5, 2018All Programs4403,900
#97 - August 22, 2018All Programs4403,750
#96 - August 8, 2018All Programs4403,750
#95 - July 25, 2018All Programs4413,750
#94 - July 11, 2018All Programs4423,750
#93 - June 25, 2018All Programs4423,750
#92 - June 13, 2018All Programs4513,750
#91 - May 30, 2018Provincial nominees and Federal Skilled Trades902 and 288700
#90 - May 23, 2018All Programs4403,500
#89 - May 9, 2018All Programs4413,500
#88 - April 25, 2018All Programs4413,500
#87 - April 11, 2018All Programs4443,500
#86 - March 26, 2018All Programs4463,000
#85 - March 14, 2018All Programs4563,000
#84 - February 21, 2018All Programs4423,000
#83 - February 7, 2018All Programs4423,000
#82 - January 24, 2018All Programs4442,750
#81 - January 10, 2018All Programs4462,750
Draw and dateProgramsCRS ScoreInvitations issued
#80 - December 20, 2017All Programs4462,750
#79 - December 6, 2017All Programs4522,750
#78 - November 15, 2017Provincial Nominee4392,750
#77 - November 8, 2017All Programs4582,000
#76 - November 1, 2017Federal Skilled Trades241505
#75 - November 1, 2017Provincial Nominee673290
#74 - October 18, 2017All Programs4362,757
#73 - October 04, 2017All Programs4382,801
#72 - September 20, 2017All Programs4332,871
#71 - September 6, 2017All Programs4352,772
#70 - August 23, 2017All Programs4343,035
#69 - August 9, 2017All Programs4332,991
#68 - August 2, 2017All Programs4413,264
#67 - July 12, 2017All Programs4403,202
#66 - June 28, 2017All Programs4493,409
#65 - May 31, 2017All Programs4133,877
#64 - May 26, 2017Federal Skilled Trades199400
#63 - May 26, 2017Provincial Nominee775143
#62 - May 17, 2017All Programs4153,687
#61 - May 4, 2017All Programs4233,796
#60 - April 19, 2017All Programs4153,665
#59 - April 12, 2017All Programs4233,923
#58 - April 5, 2017All Programs4313,753
#57 - March 24, 2017All Programs4413,749
#56 - March 1, 2017All Programs4343,884
#55 - February 22, 2017All Programs4413,611
#54 - February 8, 2017All Programs4473,644
#53 - January 25, 2017All Programs4533,508
#52 - January 11, 2017All Programs4593,334
#51 - January 4, 2017All Programs4682,902
Draw and dateProgramsCRS ScoreInvitations issued
#50 - December 22, 2016All Programs4752,878
#49 - December 16, 2016All Programs4971,936
#48 - November 30, 2016Provincial Nominee786559
#47 - November 16, 2016All Programs4702,427
#46 - November 2, 2016All Programs4722,080
#45 - October 19, 2016All Programs4751,804
#44 - October 12, 2016All Programs4841,518
#43 - September 21, 2016All Programs4831,288
#42 - September 7, 2016All Programs4911,000
#41 - August 24, 2016All Programs538750
#40 - August 10, 2016All Programs490754
#39 - July 27, 2016All Programs488755
#38 - July 13, 2016All Programs482747
#37 - June 29, 2016All Programs482773
#36 - June 15, 2016All Programs488752
#35 - June 1, 2016All Programs483762
#34 - May 18, 2016All Programs484763
#33 - May 6, 2016All Programs534799
#32 - April 20, 2016All Programs4681,018
#31 - April 6, 2016All Programs470954
#30 - March 23, 2016All Programs4701,014
#29 - March 8, 2016All Programs4731,013
#28 - February 24, 2016All Programs4531,484
#27 - February 10, 2016All Programs4591,505
#26 - January 28, 2016All Programs4571,468
#25 - January 13, 2016All Programs4531,518
#24 - January 6, 2016All Programs4611,463
Draw and dateProgramsCRS ScoreInvitations issued
#23 - December 18, 2015All Programs4601,503
#22 - December 4, 2015All Programs4611,451
#21 - November 27, 2015All Programs4721,559
#20 - November 13, 2015All Programs4841,506
#19 - October 23, 2015All Programs4891,502
#18 - October 2, 2015All Programs4501,530
#17 - September 18, 2015All Programs4501,545
#16 - September 8, 2015All Programs4591,517
#15 - August 21, 2015All Programs4561,523
#14 - August 7, 2015All Programs4711,402
#13 - July 17, 2015All Programs4511,581
#12 - July 10, 2015All Programs4631,516
#11 - June 27, 2015All Programs4691,575
#10 - June 12, 2015All Programs4821,501
#09 - May 22, 2015All Programs7551,361
#08 - April 17, 2015All Programs453715
#07 - April 10, 2015All Programs469925
#06 - March 27, 2015All Programs4531,637
#05 - March 20, 2015All Programs4811,620
#04 - February 27, 2015All Programs7351,187
#03 - February 20, 2015Canadian Experience Class808849
#02 - February 7, 2015All Programs818779
#01 - January 31, 2015All Programs886779
Draw and dateProgramsCRS ScoreInvitations issued
#23 - December 18, 2015All Programs4601,503
#22 - December 4, 2015All Programs4611,451
#21 - November 27, 2015All Programs4721,559
#20 - November 13, 2015All Programs4841,506
#19 - October 23, 2015All Programs4891,502
#18 - October 2, 2015All Programs4501,530
#17 - September 18, 2015All Programs4501,545
#16 - September 8, 2015All Programs4591,517
#15 - August 21, 2015All Programs4561,523
#14 - August 7, 2015All Programs4711,402
#13 - July 17, 2015All Programs4511,581
#12 - July 10, 2015All Programs4631,516
#11 - June 27, 2015All Programs4691,575
#10 - June 12, 2015All Programs4821,501
#09 - May 22, 2015All Programs7551,361
#08 - April 17, 2015All Programs453715
#07 - April 10, 2015All Programs469925
#06 - March 27, 2015All Programs4531,637
#05 - March 20, 2015All Programs4811,620
#04 - February 27, 2015All Programs7351,187
#03 - February 20, 2015Canadian Experience Class808849
#02 - February 7, 2015All Programs818779
#01 - January 31, 2015All Programs886779

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry is an online system used by the Canadian government to manage applications for permanent residency from skilled foreign workers who want to move to Canada. It applies to three federal economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class.

To apply through Express Entry, eligible candidates need to create an online profile and provide information about their qualifications, including education, language proficiency, work experience, and other factors. The system then uses a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to rank candidates based on their scores, and the highest-ranking candidates are invited to apply for permanent residency in regular draws.

Candidates with the highest scores receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency, which they can then use to submit their application within 60 days.

Express Entry is designed to be a faster and more efficient way for skilled foreign workers to apply for permanent residency in Canada. It allows the Canadian government to select the most qualified candidates for permanent residency based on the country’s current labour market needs.

Learn more about Express Entry
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Express Entry Ebook

This comprehensive guide will tell you everything you need to know.

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Express Entry CRS score calculator FAQs

Here are some commonly asked questions about the Express Entry CRS Score Calculator.

How can I Use the Express Entry CRS score calculator?

The Express Entry CRS Score Calculator is an online tool where you input information related to your age, education, language proficiency, work experience, and other relevant criteria. It then estimates your CRS score based on the provided information, helping you understand your potential ranking in the Express Entry pool.

What is an Express Entry CRS Score?

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score is a key component of the Express Entry system, used by the Canadian government to assess and rank potential immigrants’ profiles in the Express Entry pool. The Express Entry CRS Score Calculator can help you estimate your CRS score based on factors such as age, education, language proficiency in English or French, work experience, and other criteria to determine your eligibility for immigration to Canada.

How is the CRS Score Calculated?

The CRS score is calculated based on various factors, including skills and experience factors, spouse or common-law partner factors, skills transferability factors, and additional points for specific conditions. The Express Entry CRS Score Calculator allows you to input your personal information to estimate how many points you would score in the system. The maximum score is 1,200.

How much CRS score is required for Express Entry?

The required Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for Express Entry varies for each draw, as it is determined by the Canadian government based on the current immigration needs and the profile of candidates in the Express Entry pool. There is no fixed “minimum” CRS score for eligibility to enter the Express Entry pool; however, higher scores increase your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency.

Recent draws have seen CRS score cut-offs within the range of 470 to 500 points, although these numbers can fluctuate. To improve your chances of receiving an ITA, candidates are encouraged to seek ways to increase their CRS scores, such as improving language scores, gaining additional work experience, pursuing further education, or obtaining a provincial nomination, which awards significant additional points.

What is a good CRS score?

A “good” CRS score depends on the minimum scores of the draws from the Express Entry pool, which can change over time. Using the Express Entry CRS Score Calculator, you can get an idea of how competitive your score is. Generally, scores above 480 are considered competitive, but this can vary.

How often are Express Entry draws conducted?

A “good” CRS score depends on the minimum scores of the draws from the Express Entry pool, which can change over time. Using the Express Entry CRS Score Calculator, you can get an idea of how competitive your score is. Generally, scores above 480 are considered competitive, but this can vary.

Can I improve my CRS score?

Yes, you can improve your CRS score in several ways. The Express Entry CRS Score Calculator can help you identify areas where you might improve your score, such as by enhancing your language proficiency, gaining additional work experience, or obtaining higher education.

What happens if my CRS score is below the cut-off?

If your CRS score is below the cut-off for a draw, you will remain in the pool for a year. During this time, you can use the Express Entry CRS Score Calculator to explore ways to improve your score and increase your chances of receiving an invitation in future draws.

How long is My CRS score valid?

Your CRS score is valid as long as your Express Entry profile is active, usually for one year from the date of submission. You can update your profile to reflect changes in your circumstances and use the Express Entry CRS Score Calculator to reassess your score.

Is there a fee to submit an Express Entry profile?

There is no fee to submit an Express Entry profile. However, the Express Entry CRS Score Calculator is a useful tool to assess your potential score before submitting your profile. If you’re invited to apply for permanent residence, application fees will apply at that stage.

by Robert Bastow-Page

2024 Latest Express Entry draw results

The Express Entry system is a popular Canadian immigration program designed for skilled foreign workers who want to become permanent residents of Canada. The program manages the applications for three federal economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class.

The Express Entry program regularly holds draws where candidates with the highest Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores are invited to apply for permanent residency. The CRS score is calculated based on factors such as age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and other criteria. These draws are conducted approximately every two weeks and are a crucial step for skilled foreign workers interested in moving to Canada.

It’s essential to note that the number of ITAs and the minimum CRS score can vary from draw to draw based on the number of candidates in the Express Entry pool and the immigration targets set by the Canadian government.

Moreover, the Canadian government has set a record-high immigration target of 465,000 new permanent residents for 2023, and around 82,880 new permanent residents are expected to be admitted through the regular Express Entry streams, and an additional 105,500 through all Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams, including those aligned with Express Entry.

To achieve this target, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will continue issuing invitations to Express Entry and PNP applicants in its pool, making it a potentially significant year for skilled foreign workers looking to immigrate to Canada.

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Latest Express Entry draws

Draw ProgramsCRS ScoreInvitations issued
#327- November 20, 2024Healthcare Occupations4633,000
#326- November 19, 2024Canadian Experience Class539400
#325- November 18, 2024Provincial Nominee Program816174
#324- November 15, 2024French Language Proficiency478800
#323- November 13, 2024Canadian Experience Class547400
#322- November 12, 2024Provincial Nominee Program812733
#321- October 23, 2024Trade occupations4331,800
#320- October 22, 2024Canadian Experience Class539400
#319 - October 21, 2024Provincial Nominee Program791648
#318 - October 10, 2024French language proficiency4441000
#317 - October 9, 2024Canadian Experience Class539500
#316 - October 7, 2024Provincial Nominee Program7431,613
#315 - September 19, 2024Canadian Experience Class5094,000
#314 - September 13, 2024French Language Proficiency4461,000
#313 - September 9, 2024Provincial Nominee Program911732
#312 - August 27, 2024 Canadian Experience Class5073,300
#311 - August 26, 2024 Provincial Nominee Program6941,121
#310 - August 15, 2024 French language proficiency3942,000
#309 - August 14, 2024 Canadian Experience Class5093,200
#308 - August 13, 2024Provincial Nominee Program690763
#307 - July 31, 2024Canadian Experience Class5105,000
#306 - July 30, 2024Provincial Nominee Program686964
#305 - July 18, 2024French language proficiency4001,800
#304 - July 17, 2024Canadian Experience Class5156,300
#303 - July 16, 2024Provincial Nominee Program6701,391
#302 - July 8, 2024French language proficiency4203,200
#301 - July 5, 2024Healthcare occupations4453,750
#300 - July 4, 2024Trade occupations4361,800
#299 - July 2, 2024Provincial Nominee Program739920
#298 - June 19, 2024 Provincial Nominee Program6631,499
#297 - May 31, 2024 Canadian Experience Class5223,000
#296 - May 30, 2024 PNP6762,985
#295 - April 24, 2024 French Language4101,400
#294 - April 23, 2024 General5292,095
#293 - April 11, 2024 STEM4914,500
#292 - April 10, 2024 General5491,280
#291 - March 26, 2024 French Language3881,500
#290 - March 25, 2024 General5241,980
#289 - March 13, 2024 Transport occupations430975
#288 - March 12, 2024 General5252,850
#287 - February 29, 2024 French Language3362,500
#286 - February 28, 2024 General5341,470
#285 - February 16, 2024 Agriculture and agri-food437150
#284 - February 14, 2024 Healthcare occupations4223,500
#283 - February 13, 2024 General5351,490
#282 - February 1, 2024 French Language3657,000
#281 - January 31, 2024General541730
#280 - January 23, 2024General5431,040
#279 - January 1, 2024General5461,510
Draw and dateProgramsCRS ScoreInvitations issued
#278 - December 21, 2023Agriculture and agri-food386400
#277 - December 20, 2023Transport occupations435670
#276 - December 19, 2023Trade occupations4251,000
#275 - December 18, 2023General5421,325
#274 - December 8, 2023STEM Occupations4815,900
#273 - December 7, 2023French Language4701,000
#272 - December 6, 2023General5614,750
#271 - October 26, 2023Healthcare Occupations4313,600
#270 - October 25, 2023French Language486300
#269 - October 24, 2023Provincial Nominee Program7761,548
#268 - October 10, 2023No Program Specified5003,725
#267 - September 28, 2023Agriculture and agri-food354600
#266 - September 27, 2023French Language472500
#265 - September 26, 2023No Program Specified5043,000
#264 - September 20, 2023Transport occupations4351,000
#263 - September 19, 2023No Program Specified5313,200
#262 - August 15, 2023No Program Specified4964,300
#261 - August 3, 2023Trade occupations3881,500
#260 - August 1, 2023French Language435800
#259 - August 1, 2023No Program Specified5172,000
#258 - July 12th, 2023French Language3753,800
#257 - July 11th, 2023All Programs505800
#256 - July 7th, 2023French Language4392,300
#255 - July 6th, 2023Healthcare Occupations4631,500
#254 - July 5th, 2023STEM Occupations486500
#253 - July 4th, 2023All Programs511700
#252 - June 28th, 2023Healthcare Occupations476500
#251 - June 27th, 2023All Programs4864,300
#250 - June 8th, 2023All Programs4864,800
#249 - May 24th, 2023All Programs4884,800
#248 - May 10th, 2023Provincial Nominee691589
#247 - April 26th, 2023All Programs4833,500
#246 - April 12th, 2023All Programs4863,500
#245 - March 29th, 2023All Programs4817,000
#244 - March 23rd, 2023All Programs4847,000
#243 - March 15th, 2023All Programs4907,000
#242 - March 1st, 2023Provincial Nominee748667
#241 - February 15, 2023Provincial Nominee791699
#240 - February 2, 2023Federal Skilled Worker4893,300
#239 - February 1, 2023Provincial Nominee733893
#238 - January 18, 2023All Programs4905,500
#237 - January 11, 2023All Programs5075,500
Draw and dateProgramsCRS ScoreInvitations issued
#236 - November 23, 2022All Programs4914,750
#235 - November 9, 2022All Programs4944,750
#234 - October 26, 2022All Programs4964,750
#233 - October 12, 2022All Programs5004,250
#232 - September 28, 2022All Programs5043,750
#231 - September 14, 2022All Programs5103,250
#230 - August 31, 2022All Programs5162,750
#229 - August 17, 2022All Programs5252,250
#228 - August 3, 2022All Programs5332,000
#227 - July 20, 2022All Programs5421,750
#226 - July 6, 2022All Programs5571,500
#225 - June 22, 2022Provincial Nominee752636
#224 - June 8, 2022Provincial Nominee796932
#223 - May 25, 2022Provincial Nominee741589
#222 - May 11, 2022Provincial Nominee753545
#221 - April 27, 2022Provincial Nominee772829
#220 - April 13, 2022Provincial Nominee782787
#219 - March 30, 2022Provincial Nominee785919
#218 - March 16, 2022Provincial Nominee754924
#217 - March 2, 2022Provincial Nominee7611,047
#216 - February 16, 2022Provincial Nominee7101,082
#215 - February 2, 2022Provincial Nominee6741,070
#214 - January 19, 2022Provincial Nominee7451,036
#213 - January 5, 2022Provincial Nominee808392
Draw and dateProgramsCRS ScoreInvitations issued
#212 - December 22, 2021Provincial Nominee720746
#211 - December 10, 2021Provincial Nominee6981,032
#210 - November 24, 2021Provincial Nominee737613
#209 - November 10, 2021Provincial Nominee685775
#208 - October 27, 2021Provincial Nominee744888
#207 - October 13, 2021Provincial Nominee720681
#206 - September 29, 2021Provincial Nominee742761
#205 - September 15, 2021Provincial Nominee732521
#204 - September 14, 2021Canadian Experience Class4622,000
#203 - September 1, 2021Provincial Nominee764635
#202 - August 19, 2021Canadian Experience Class4033,000
#201 - August 18, 2021Provincial Nominee751463
#200 - August 5, 2021Canadian Experience Class4043,000
#199 - August 4, 2021Provincial Nominee760512
#198 - July 22, 2021Canadian Experience Class3574,500
#197 - July 21, 2021Provincial Nominee734462
#196 - July 8, 2021Canadian Experience Class3694,500
#195 - July 7, 2021Provincial Nominee760627
#194 - June 24, 2021Canadian Experience Class3576,000
#193 - June 23, 2021Provincial Nominee7421,002
#192 - June 10, 2021Canadian Experience Class3686,000
#191 - June 9, 2021Provincial Nominee711940
#190 - May 31, 2021Canadian Experience Class3805,956
#189 - May 26, 2021Provincial Nominee713500
#188 - May 20, 2021Canadian Experience Class3971,842
#187 - May 13, 2021Canadian Experience Class4014,147
#186 - May 12, 2021Provincial Nominee752557
#185 - April 29, 2021Canadian Experience Class4006,000
#184 - April 28, 2021Provincial Nominee717381
#183 - April 16, 2021Canadian Experience Class4176,000
#182 - April 14, 2021Provincial Nominee753266
#181 - April 1, 2021Canadian Experience Class4325,000
#180 - March 31, 2021Provincial Nominee778284
#179 - March 18, 2021Canadian Experience Class4495,000
#178 - March 17, 2021Provincial Nominee682183
#177 - March 8, 2021Provincial Nominee739671
#176 - February 13, 2021Canadian Experience Class7527,332
#175 - February 10, 2021Provincial Nominee720654
#174 - January 21, 2021Canadian Experience Class4544,626
#173 - January 20, 2021Provincial Nominee741374
#172 - January 7, 2021Canadian Experience Class4614,750
#171 - January 6, 2021Provincial Nominee813250
Draw and dateProgramsCRS ScoreInvitations issued
#170 - December 23, 2020All Programs4685,000
#169 - December 9, 2020All Programs4695,000
#168 - November 25, 2020All Programs4695,000
#167 - November 18, 2020All Programs4725,000
#166 - November 5, 2020All Programs4784,500
#165 - October 14, 2020All Programs4714,500
#164 - September 29, 2020All Programs4714,200
#163 - September 16, 2020All Programs4724,200
#162 - September 2, 2020All Programs4754,200
#161 - August 20, 2020Canadian Experience Class4543,300
#160 - August 19, 2020Provincial Nominee771600
#159 - August 6, 2020Federal Skilled Trades415250
#158 - August 5, 2020All Programs4763,900
#157 - July 23, 2020Canadian Experience Class4453,343
#156 - July 22, 2020Provincial Nominee687557
#155 - July 8, 2020All Programs4783,900
#154 - June 25, 2020Canadian Experience Class4313,508
#153 - June 24, 2020Provincial Nominee696392
#152 - June 11, 2020Canadian Experience Class4373,559
#151 - June 10, 2020Provincial Nominee743341
#150 - May 28, 2020Canadian Experience Class4403,515
#149 - May 27, 2020Provincial Nominee757385
#148 - May 15, 2020Canadian Experience Class4473,371
#147 - May 14, 2020Provincial Nominee718529
#146 - May 1, 2020Canadian Experience Class4523,311
#145 - April 29, 2020Provincial Nominee692589
#144 - April 16, 2020Canadian Experience Class4553,782
#143 - April 15, 2020Provincial Nominee808118
#142 - April 9, 2020Canadian Experience Class4643,294
#141 - April 9, 2020Provincial Nominee698606
#140 - March 23, 2020Canadian Experience Class4673,232
#139 - March 18, 2020Provincial Nominee720668
#138 - March 4, 2020All Programs4713,900
#137 - February 19, 2020All Programs4704,500
#136 - February 5, 2020All Programs4723,500
#135 - January 22, 2020All Programs4713,400
#134 - January 8, 2020All Programs4733,400
Draw and dateProgramsCRS ScoreInvitations issued
#133 - December 19, 2019All Programs4693,200
#132 - December 11, 2019All Programs4723,200
#131 - November 27, 2019All Programs4713,600
#130 - November 13, 2019All Programs4723,600
#129 - October 30, 2019All Programs4753,900
#128 - October 16, 2019Federal Skilled Trades357500
#127 - October 2, 2019All Programs4643,900
#126 - September 18, 2019All Programs4623,600
#125 - September 4, 2019All Programs4633,600
#124 - August 20, 2019All Programs4573,600
#123 - August 12, 2019All Programs4663,600
#122 - July 24, 2019All Programs4593,600
#121 - July 10, 2019All Programs4603,600
#120 - June 26, 2019All Programs4623,350
#119 - June 12, 2019All Programs4653,350
#118 - May 29, 2019All Programs4703,350
#117 - May 15, 2019Federal Skilled Trades332500
#116 - May 1, 2019All Programs4503,350
#115 - April 17, 2019All Programs4513,350
#114 - April 3, 2019All Programs4513,350
#113 - March 20, 2019All Programs4523,350
#112 - March 6, 2019All Programs4543,350
#111 - February 20, 2019All Programs4573,350
#110 - January 30, 2019All Programs4383,350
#109 - January 23, 2019All Programs4433,900
#108 - January 10, 2019All Programs4493,900
Draw and dateProgramsCRS ScoreInvitations issued
#107 - December 19, 2018All Programs4393,900
#106 - December 12, 2018All Programs4453,900
#105 - November 28, 2018Provincial Nominee4453,900
#104 - November 15, 2018All Programs4493,900
#103 - October 29, 2018Federal Skilled Trades4423,900
#102 - October 15, 2018Provincial Nominee4403,900
#101 - October 3, 2018All Programs4453,900
#100 - September 24, 2018Federal Skilled Trades284400
#99 - September 19, 2018All Programs4413,500
#98 - September 5, 2018All Programs4403,900
#97 - August 22, 2018All Programs4403,750
#96 - August 8, 2018All Programs4403,750
#95 - July 25, 2018All Programs4413,750
#94 - July 11, 2018All Programs4423,750
#93 - June 25, 2018All Programs4423,750
#92 - June 13, 2018All Programs4513,750
#91 - May 30, 2018Provincial nominees and Federal Skilled Trades902 and 288700
#90 - May 23, 2018All Programs4403,500
#89 - May 9, 2018All Programs4413,500
#88 - April 25, 2018All Programs4413,500
#87 - April 11, 2018All Programs4443,500
#86 - March 26, 2018All Programs4463,000
#85 - March 14, 2018All Programs4563,000
#84 - February 21, 2018All Programs4423,000
#83 - February 7, 2018All Programs4423,000
#82 - January 24, 2018All Programs4442,750
#81 - January 10, 2018All Programs4462,750
Draw and dateProgramsCRS ScoreInvitations issued
#80 - December 20, 2017All Programs4462,750
#79 - December 6, 2017All Programs4522,750
#78 - November 15, 2017Provincial Nominee4392,750
#77 - November 8, 2017All Programs4582,000
#76 - November 1, 2017Federal Skilled Trades241505
#75 - November 1, 2017Provincial Nominee673290
#74 - October 18, 2017All Programs4362,757
#73 - October 04, 2017All Programs4382,801
#72 - September 20, 2017All Programs4332,871
#71 - September 6, 2017All Programs4352,772
#70 - August 23, 2017All Programs4343,035
#69 - August 9, 2017All Programs4332,991
#68 - August 2, 2017All Programs4413,264
#67 - July 12, 2017All Programs4403,202
#66 - June 28, 2017All Programs4493,409
#65 - May 31, 2017All Programs4133,877
#64 - May 26, 2017Federal Skilled Trades199400
#63 - May 26, 2017Provincial Nominee775143
#62 - May 17, 2017All Programs4153,687
#61 - May 4, 2017All Programs4233,796
#60 - April 19, 2017All Programs4153,665
#59 - April 12, 2017All Programs4233,923
#58 - April 5, 2017All Programs4313,753
#57 - March 24, 2017All Programs4413,749
#56 - March 1, 2017All Programs4343,884
#55 - February 22, 2017All Programs4413,611
#54 - February 8, 2017All Programs4473,644
#53 - January 25, 2017All Programs4533,508
#52 - January 11, 2017All Programs4593,334
#51 - January 4, 2017All Programs4682,902
Draw and dateProgramsCRS ScoreInvitations issued
#50 - December 22, 2016All Programs4752,878
#49 - December 16, 2016All Programs4971,936
#48 - November 30, 2016Provincial Nominee786559
#47 - November 16, 2016All Programs4702,427
#46 - November 2, 2016All Programs4722,080
#45 - October 19, 2016All Programs4751,804
#44 - October 12, 2016All Programs4841,518
#43 - September 21, 2016All Programs4831,288
#42 - September 7, 2016All Programs4911,000
#41 - August 24, 2016All Programs538750
#40 - August 10, 2016All Programs490754
#39 - July 27, 2016All Programs488755
#38 - July 13, 2016All Programs482747
#37 - June 29, 2016All Programs482773
#36 - June 15, 2016All Programs488752
#35 - June 1, 2016All Programs483762
#34 - May 18, 2016All Programs484763
#33 - May 6, 2016All Programs534799
#32 - April 20, 2016All Programs4681,018
#31 - April 6, 2016All Programs470954
#30 - March 23, 2016All Programs4701,014
#29 - March 8, 2016All Programs4731,013
#28 - February 24, 2016All Programs4531,484
#27 - February 10, 2016All Programs4591,505
#26 - January 28, 2016All Programs4571,468
#25 - January 13, 2016All Programs4531,518
#24 - January 6, 2016All Programs4611,463
Draw and dateProgramsCRS ScoreInvitations issued
#23 - December 18, 2015All Programs4601,503
#22 - December 4, 2015All Programs4611,451
#21 - November 27, 2015All Programs4721,559
#20 - November 13, 2015All Programs4841,506
#19 - October 23, 2015All Programs4891,502
#18 - October 2, 2015All Programs4501,530
#17 - September 18, 2015All Programs4501,545
#16 - September 8, 2015All Programs4591,517
#15 - August 21, 2015All Programs4561,523
#14 - August 7, 2015All Programs4711,402
#13 - July 17, 2015All Programs4511,581
#12 - July 10, 2015All Programs4631,516
#11 - June 27, 2015All Programs4691,575
#10 - June 12, 2015All Programs4821,501
#09 - May 22, 2015All Programs7551,361
#08 - April 17, 2015All Programs453715
#07 - April 10, 2015All Programs469925
#06 - March 27, 2015All Programs4531,637
#05 - March 20, 2015All Programs4811,620
#04 - February 27, 2015All Programs7351,187
#03 - February 20, 2015Canadian Experience Class808849
#02 - February 7, 2015All Programs818779
#01 - January 31, 2015All Programs886779
Draw and dateProgramsCRS ScoreInvitations issued
#23 - December 18, 2015All Programs4601,503
#22 - December 4, 2015All Programs4611,451
#21 - November 27, 2015All Programs4721,559
#20 - November 13, 2015All Programs4841,506
#19 - October 23, 2015All Programs4891,502
#18 - October 2, 2015All Programs4501,530
#17 - September 18, 2015All Programs4501,545
#16 - September 8, 2015All Programs4591,517
#15 - August 21, 2015All Programs4561,523
#14 - August 7, 2015All Programs4711,402
#13 - July 17, 2015All Programs4511,581
#12 - July 10, 2015All Programs4631,516
#11 - June 27, 2015All Programs4691,575
#10 - June 12, 2015All Programs4821,501
#09 - May 22, 2015All Programs7551,361
#08 - April 17, 2015All Programs453715
#07 - April 10, 2015All Programs469925
#06 - March 27, 2015All Programs4531,637
#05 - March 20, 2015All Programs4811,620
#04 - February 27, 2015All Programs7351,187
#03 - February 20, 2015Canadian Experience Class808849
#02 - February 7, 2015All Programs818779
#01 - January 31, 2015All Programs886779

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry is an online system used by the Canadian government to manage applications for permanent residency from skilled foreign workers who want to move to Canada. It applies to three federal economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class.

To apply through Express Entry, eligible candidates need to create an online profile and provide information about their qualifications, including education, language proficiency, work experience, and other factors. The system then uses a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to rank candidates based on their scores, and the highest-ranking candidates are invited to apply for permanent residency in regular draws.

Candidates with the highest scores receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency, which they can then use to submit their application within 60 days.

Express Entry is designed to be a faster and more efficient way for skilled foreign workers to apply for permanent residency in Canada. It allows the Canadian government to select the most qualified candidates for permanent residency based on the country’s current labour market needs.

Learn more about Express Entry
ebook

Express Entry Ebook

This comprehensive guide will tell you everything you need to know.

Consent

How can I improve my chances of being selected in the latest Express Entry draw?

The Express Entry Draw is a highly competitive process, and candidates need to have a high Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score to be invited to apply for permanent residency in Canada. In this regard, there are several steps that candidates can take to improve their chances of being selected in the draw.

Here are some tips and strategies that candidates can consider to increase their chances of success.

Increase your CRS score: The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score is a crucial factor in determining your eligibility for the Express Entry Draw. You can improve your score by re-taking language proficiency tests, gaining more work experience, and pursuing further education or training.

Apply for Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs): PNPs are immigration programs offered by individual provinces and territories in Canada. If you apply for and receive a provincial nomination, you will automatically receive an additional 600 CRS points, which can increase your chances of being invited to apply for permanent residency.

Get a job offer from a Canadian employer: A job offer from a Canadian employer can give you additional CRS points and increase your chances of being selected in the Express Entry Draw.

Make sure your Express Entry profile is accurate and up-to-date: An accurate and up-to-date profile can help you score higher on the CRS and increase your chances of being invited to apply for permanent residency.

Stay informed about changes in immigration policy: The government of Canada regularly updates its immigration policies and programs. Staying informed about these changes can help you adjust your strategy and improve your chances of being selected in the Express Entry Draw.

Overall, it’s important to remember that the Express Entry Draw is a highly competitive process, and there are no guarantees of success. However, by following these tips and working to improve your qualifications and profile, you can increase your chances of being selected and becoming a permanent resident of Canada.

express entry

Are you ready to get started, or not sure which option is best for you?

Find out how you can move to Canada.

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What is the tie-breaking rule for candidates with the same CRS score?

In the event that more than one candidate has an exact Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score which meets the CRS cut-off threshold for an Express Entry Draw, the tie-breaking rule is applied. The candidate who submitted their Express Entry profile first will be issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in Canada.

How many candidates are invited to apply in each IRCC Express Entry draw?

The number of candidates who are invited to apply in each Express Entry Draw varies, depending on the number of candidates in the pool and the immigration targets set by the government. Since 2017, the average number of people invited to apply for “all-programs” draws was around 3,600.

However, in the recent past, from 2020 to 2022, the average number of people invited to apply was around 3,800, with no “all-programs” draws taking place in 2021 due to the pandemic.

Lately, it appears that IRCC is targeting a range of around 5,000 ITAs issued in most “all-programs” draws, which took place in late 2022 and into 2023.

When is the latest Express Entry draw?

The schedule for the next express entry draw is not set in stone. Typically, draws are held approximately every two weeks, but the specific date and time can vary. Based on previous rounds of invitations, draws are usually held every two weeks on a Wednesday.

In 2022, every Express Entry Draw was on a Wednesday. However, it’s essential to keep in mind that this is subject to change, and IRCC updates the information on its website regularly.

In conclusion, the IRCC Express Entry Draw is an essential process for skilled foreign workers who want to move to Canada and become permanent residents. With the Canadian government setting a record-high immigration target for 2023, the number of invitations issued through the Express Entry and PNP streams is expected to be significant.

At Wild Mountain Immigration, we can assist potential candidates in meeting the eligibility requirements and improving their chances of success during their Canadian immigration process. By following the tips and strategies mentioned above, candidates can increase their CRS scores and improve their chances of being selected for the Canada express entry draw. It is essential to stay informed about changes in immigration policies and keep an accurate and up-to-date Express Entry profile to maximize their chances of success.

by Robert Bastow-Page

CLB Calculator: Determine Your Score for Canadian Immigration

Embarking on a journey to immigrate to Canada involves various factors, and one crucial aspect is English language proficiency.

At Wild Mountain Immigration, we understand the significance of meeting the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) requirements set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

As an aspiring immigrant, having access to a reliable CLB calculator is essential for assessing your language proficiency accurately, whether you have taken the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP), Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada (TCF Canada), or Test d’évaluation de français pour le Canada (TEF Canada).

Our CLB calculator, designed specifically for IELTS, CELPIP, TCF Canada, and TEF Canada, simplifies the process of converting your language test scores into equivalent CLB levels. By utilizing this tool, you can determine your language proficiency and evaluate your eligibility for a wide range of immigration, citizenship, and settlement programs in Canada.

Our CLB calculator follows the official equivalency charts provided by IRCC, ensuring accurate results and a seamless user experience.

What are the Canadian Language Benchmarks?

The Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) are the standards used in Canada to describe, measure, and recognize the English language proficiency of adult immigrants and prospective immigrants for federal immigration programs. The CLB is a 12-point scale that ranges from Level 1 (basic knowledge) to Level 12 (near-native proficiency). The CLB is used by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and the provinces and territories to assess the language proficiency of applicants for immigration, citizenship, and settlement programs.

ebook

Express Entry Ebook

This comprehensive guide will tell you everything you need to know.

Consent

CELPIP to CLB calculator

If you have taken the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) test and are looking to convert your scores to the Canadian Language Benchmarks, you can use our CELPIP to CLB calculator.

The CELPIP to CLB (Canadian Language Benchmark) calculator is a tool used to convert scores from the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) into the equivalent Canadian Language Benchmark levels. The CLB is used by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to evaluate the English language proficiency of individuals who are applying for immigration, citizenship, and settlement programs in Canada.

The CELPIP scores are used as evidence of English language proficiency and the equivalent CLB levels can help individuals determine their eligibility for various immigration programs. The calculator provides the equivalent CLB level based on the scores obtained in the CELPIP reading, writing, listening, and speaking components.

How to convert CELPIP to Canadian Language Benchmark?

Enter your CELPIP test scores into the calculator to determine your Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score for each of the four key language competencies: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking.

CELPIP to CLB calculator

CLB Level Reading Writing Listening Speaking
10 10 10 10 10
9 9 9 9 9
8 8 8 8 8
7 7 7 7 7
6 6 6 6 6
5 5 5 5 5
4 4 4 4 4

IELTS to CLB calculator

If you have taken the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) – General Training test and are looking to convert your scores to the Canadian Language Benchmarks, you can use our IELTS to CLB calculator.

The IELTS to CLB (Canadian Language Benchmark) calculator is a tool used to convert scores from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) into the equivalent Canadian Language Benchmark levels. The CLB is used by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to evaluate the English language proficiency of individuals who are applying for immigration, citizenship, and settlement programs in Canada.

The IELTS scores are used as evidence of English language proficiency and the equivalent CLB levels can help individuals determine their eligibility for various immigration programs. The calculator provides the equivalent CLB level based on the scores obtained in the IELTS reading, writing, listening, and speaking components.

How to convert IELTS to Canadian Language Benchmark?

Enter your IELTS General Training test scores into the calculator to determine your Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score for each of the four key language competencies: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking.

IELTS to CLB calculator

CLB Level Reading Writing Listening Speaking
10 8.0 7.5 8.5 7.5
9 7.0 7.0 8.0 7.0
8 6.5 6.5 7.5 6.5
7 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0
6 5.0 5.5 5.5 5.5
5 4.0 5.0 5.0 5.0
4 3.5 4.0 4.5 4.0

TEF to CLB calculator

If you have taken the Test d’évaluation de français pour le Canada (TEF Canada) and are looking to convert your scores to the Canadian Language Benchmarks, you can use our TEF Canada to CLB calculator.

The TEF Canada to CLB (Canadian Language Benchmark) calculator is a tool used to convert scores from the Test d’évaluation de français pour le Canada (TEF Canada) into the equivalent Canadian Language Benchmark levels. The CLB is used by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to evaluate the French language proficiency of individuals who are applying for immigration, citizenship, and settlement programs in Canada.

The TEF Canada scores are used as evidence of French language proficiency, and the equivalent CLB levels can help individuals determine their eligibility for various immigration programs. The calculator provides the equivalent CLB level based on the scores obtained in the TEF Canada reading, writing, listening, and speaking components.

How to convert TEF Canada to Canadian Language Benchmark?

Enter your TEF Canada test scores into the calculator to determine your Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score for each of the four key language competencies: Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking.

TEF to CLB calculator

CLB Level Reading Writing Listening Speaking
10 263-300 393-450 316-360 393-450
9 248-262 371-392 298-315 371-392
8 233-247 349-370 280-297 349-370
7 207-232 310-348 249-279 310-348
6 181-206 271-309 217-248 271-309
5 151-180 226-270 181-216 226-270
4 121-150 181-225 145-180 181-225

TCF to CLB calculator

If you have taken the Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada (TCF Canada) and are looking to convert your scores to the Canadian Language Benchmarks, you can use our TCF Canada to CLB calculator.

The TCF Canada to CLB (Canadian Language Benchmark) calculator is a tool used to convert scores from the Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada (TCF Canada) into the equivalent Canadian Language Benchmark levels. The CLB is used by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to evaluate the French language proficiency of individuals who are applying for immigration, citizenship, and settlement programs in Canada.

The TCF Canada scores are used as evidence of French language proficiency, and the equivalent CLB levels can help individuals determine their eligibility for various immigration programs. The calculator provides the equivalent CLB level based on the scores obtained in the TCF Canada reading, writing, listening, and speaking components.

How to convert TCF Canada to Canadian Language Benchmark?

Enter your TCF Canada test scores into the calculator to determine your Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score for each of the four key language competencies: Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking.

TCF to CLB calculator

CLB Level Reading Writing Listening Speaking
10 and above 549-699 16-20 549-699 16-20
9 524-548 14-15 523-548 14-15
8 499-523 12-13 503-522 12-13
7 453-498 10-11 458-502 10-11
6 406-452 7-9 398-457 7-9
5 375-405 6 369-397 6
4 342-374 4-5 331-368 4-5
ebook

Express Entry Ebook

This comprehensive guide will tell you everything you need to know.

Consent

by Nicola Wightman

Alberta Advantage Immigration Program

Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway

Overview

The Accelerated Tech Pathway is designed for Express Entry candidates who have certain job offers from an Alberta tech company. This pathway allows for expedited processing of nomination applications.

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) has an Accelerated Tech Pathway that expedites the process for foreign workers who already work for, or have been offered a job by, an employer in the tech industry based in Alberta.

Foreign nationals can only apply for the Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway if their occupation meets the requirements under the National Occupation Classification (NOC) code, their industry is eligible, and they meet all of the required eligibility requirements.

After meeting all of the requirements, candidates may start the application process by submitting their Express Entry profile details, Alberta job offer, and employer to the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program. Alberta will then invite qualified applicants to apply for nomination.

After receiving a nomination you will then need to apply for permanent residency through Express Entry.

If you are nominated, you will receive 600 extra Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points. This puts you in a strong position to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence from the Express Entry pool in the next draw.

Accelerated Tech Eligibility

AAIP may invite you to submit your application if:

  • you have an active profile in the Express Entry pool with a Comprehensive Ranking System score of 300 and above
  • you work full-time or have an offer for full-time employment in Alberta:
    • your occupation is on the list of eligible Accelerated Tech Pathway occupations and
    • is for an employer in the Alberta tech industry on the list
  • your primary occupation in your EE profile matches your Alberta employment or your job offer

If your Express Entry profile is set to expire in less than 3 months, you may have a lower chance of being asked to submit an application.

  • 0013 Senior managers - financial, communications and other business services
  • 0112 Human resources managers
  • 0131 Telecommunication carriers manager
  • 0211 Engineering managers
  • 0212 Architecture and science managers
  • 0213 Computer and information systems managers
  • 0512 Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts
  • 0601 Corporate sales managers
  • 1123 Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations
  • 1121 Human resources professionals
  • 1223 Human resources and recruitment officers
  • 2131 Civil engineers
  • 2132 Mechanical engineers
  • 2133 Electrical and electronics engineers
  • 2147 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
  • 2161 Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries
  • 2171 Information systems analysts and consultants
  • 2172 Database analysts and data administrators
  • 2173 Software engineers and designers
  • 2174 Computer programmers and interactive media developers
  • 2175 Web designers and developers
  • 2221 Biological technologists and technicians
  • 2232 Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
  • 2233 Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians
  • 2241 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
  • 2253 Drafting technologists and technicians
  • 2281 Computer network technicians
  • 2282 User support technicians
  • 2283 Information systems testing technicians
  • 3211 Medical laboratory technologists
  • 3212 Medical laboratory technicians and pathologists' assistants
  • 3219 Other medical technologists and technicians (except dental health)
  • 4163 Business development officers and marketing researchers and consultants
  • 5131 Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations
  • 5241 Graphic designers and illustrators
  • 7241 Electricians (except industrial and power system)
  • 7242 Industrial electricians
  • 7246 Telecommunications installation and repair workers
  • 2211 Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution
  • 3251 Basic Chemical Manufacturing
  • 3254 Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing
  • 3333 Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing
  • 3341 Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing
  • 3342 Communications Equipment Manufacturing
  • 3343 Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing
  • 3344 Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing
  • 3345 Navigational, Medical and Control Instruments Manufacturing
  • 3346 Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media
  • 3364 Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing
  • 4173 Computer and Communications Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
  • 5112 Software Publishers
  • 5121 Motion Picture and Video Industries
  • 5173 Wired and Wireless Telecommunications Carrier (except Satellite)
  • 5174 Satellite Telecommunications
  • 5179 Other Telecommunications
  • 5182 Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services
  • 5191 Other Information Services
  • 5413 Architectural, Engineering and Related Services
  • 5414 Specialized Design Services
  • 5415 Computer Systems Design and Related Services
  • 5417 Scientific Research and Development Services
  • 5419 Other Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
  • 7115 Independent Artists, Writers and Performers
  • 8112 Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance

People who do not meet the requirements below cannot apply to be nominated, even if they satisfy the occupation and industry demands, or have a full-time job offer for at least 12 months:

  • employees who work part-time, casually or seasonally
  • contractors or agency workers
  • Employees who work from a location outside of Alberta, such as online.

You also cannot apply if you:

  • are a refugee claimant or involved with an appeal or removal process
  • have an active AAIP nomination
  • have a letter from AAIP stating you are not eligible

Assessment criteria

If AAIP invites you to submit an application, you will need to meet the below assessment criteria.

You must:

  • you have an active profile in the Express Entry pool and a CRS score of 300 or above
  • meet the eligibility criteria of either:
  • must be working full-time or have an Alberta offer for full-time employment
    • this occupation must match the primary occupation in your active Express Entry profile
    • your occupation is on the list of eligible Accelerated Tech Pathway occupations and
    • for an Alberta employer:
      • in Alberta under an eligible tech industry on the list
      • that is a business which is registered with the provincial, territorial or national government, has an established production capacity, a physical plant or place of business in Alberta.
      • of which you do not own 10% or more of the voting shares of the business.
  • you have a contract or job offer signed by your Alberta employer and yourself and it shows:
    • continuous paid work
    • full-time work (30 hours per week minimum)
    • for at least 12 months of employment
    • for a job in Alberta
      • If you work or will be working at a home-based business in Alberta, your employer must have the authorization to operate that business location from a personal residence.
    • a base wage or salary:
  • if you are working for your employer in Alberta when you submit your application, you must have valid immigration status, meaning either a work permit or implied status.
  • intend to live and work in Alberta

How to apply through the Accelerated Tech Program

If AAIP invites you to submit an application, you will need to meet the below assessment criteria.

If you believe you meet the assessment criteria, for expedited processing you must first complete and submit the Accelerated Tech Pathway form. You will need to include your Express Entry profile number and your job offer or employment contract.

Though you may meet the minimum requirements for this fast-track immigration program, an invitation to apply is not guaranteed. The number of potential Accelerated Tech Pathway applicants who meet the requirements, as well as AAIP’s current processing queues and available nominations will affect your request to apply.

The AAIP will notify you via email and provide a portal link if your application is selected.

Review the assessment criteria. You must meet all of the requirements at the time of both your application and assessment in order to be accepted. Failing to do so will result in an automatic decline of your application.

The only way to apply for the Alberta Express Entry Stream through the AAIP is online.

For your online application to be accepted for processing by the AAIP, you must complete 2 steps:

  • complete and submit the online application, and
  • pay the application fee

Application fee

A $500 application fee is required for all online submissions when applying for a nomination.

This will be paid when you submit your application not when submitting the Accelerated Tech Pathway form.

You are not guaranteed a nomination certificate.

You will also need to pay the Express Entry fees when applying for permanent residency after receiving a nomination.

How to apply for permanent residency

You have 30 days to accept your nomination in your Express Entry profile.

Be sure to check your nomination certificate for mistakes. If you find any, please reach out to the program officer who was responsible for reviewing your application.

If Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invite you to apply for permanent residency, you have 60 days from receiving the invitation to submit your application.

Finish your Express Entry application, upload the needed supplementary documents, and pay any required fees.

The IRCC will evaluate your Canada immigration application for permanent residency to check if everything is in order.

If they accept it, you’ll be given a file number and told what the next steps are.

The IRCC will reach out to you if they need any additional information through your account.

Work permits after nomination

After being nominated the 204(c) Letter of Support in your nomination package allows you to apply for a work permit from IRCC if you did not have a valid one at the time of nomination.

If you were ineligible to receive a 204(c) Letter of Support during your nomination process, you can request one from the AAIP if you now have a job offer in Alberta. You can this letter to apply to IRCC for a work permit.

Learn more

If your current work permit will expire before you receive permanent residence status, you must apply to the IRCC to renew your work permit.

An AAIP nomination does not guarantee that your work permit will be renewed. Make sure to pay attention to the expiration date on your work permit.

The nominees of the AAIP can apply for a work permit renewal through IRCC in 4 ways.

Learn more

by Nicola Wightman

Alberta Advantage Immigration Program

Alberta Express Entry Stream

Overview

Qualified candidates from Canada’s federal Express Entry pool are nominated by Alberta through the Alberta Express Entry Stream. This stream is run through Alberta Advantage Immigration Program. Once you apply for and receive a nomination, you will then need to apply for permanent residency through Express Entry.

If you are nominated, you will receive 600 extra Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points. This puts you in a strong position to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence from the Express Entry pool in the next draw.

  • The Alberta Express Entry Stream is not open to candidates who apply directly.
  • Only candidates who have been invited may submit an application. The AAIP invites those who meet the minimum eligibility criteria to apply.
  • You cannot use a nomination from any other AAIP stream to apply under the Alberta Express Entry Stream or the federal Express Entry system.
  • Nominations for the Alberta Express Entry Stream cannot be extended.

There are two ways you can be processed through this stream:

General Alberta Express Entry Stream

If you have a strong connection to Alberta or can help the government with its economic development and diversification goals, you may be invited to apply.

If you are an international graduate of a Canadian post-secondary institution, you could be invited to apply under this stream.

Accelerated Tech Pathway

The Alberta Express Entry Stream offers fast processing times to candidates who either currently work for or have a job offer from an employer in an eligible Alberta-based tech occupation. The following occupations are eligible for the Accelerated Tech Pathway program.

Alberta Express Entry Stream Eligibility

Below is the eligibility for General Express Entry candidates, take a look at the eligibility for Accelerated Tech Pathway candidates.

Based on the information in your active Express Entry profile, Alberta may send you a notification of interest.

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) requires interested individuals who have received a Notification of Interest letter to send a copy, and other required information, within 14 days via email.

Although you may meet the requirements, this does not guarantee that you will receive a Notification of Interest letter. Your chances are determined by how many other candidates also meet these requirements, what type of submissions are ahead of you, and how many nominations are available.

If all of the following criteria are met, you could receive a Notification of Interest letter:

  • you have an active profile in the Express Entry pool and a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 300
  • you have expressed interest in moving to Alberta permanently
  • your primary occupation must support Alberta’s economic development and diversification

You are more likely to receive a Notification of Interest letter if you meet any of the following adaptability factors:

  • you currently have an Alberta-based job offer
  • you have graduated from a Canadian college or university
  • you have a child, parent, or sibling who is either a permanent resident or Canadian citizen living in Alberta
  • you speak French as your first language

You are less likely to receive a Notification of Interest letter if you meet any of the following factors:

  • your Express Entry profile expires within 5 months
  • your Express Entry primary occupation:

How to apply if you receive a Notification of Interest letter

Below are the application steps for General Express Entry candidates, take a look at the steps for Accelerated Tech Pathway candidates.

If you received a Notification of Interest letter, your next steps are:

  • within two weeks of receiving your letter in your Express Entry profile, email a copy to AAIP at albertaexpressentry@gov.ab.ca
  • provide your profile number
  • provide the email address you will use
  • provide information about current and past AAIP applications

If your application is selected, you will receive an email from the AAIP with a portal link.

If you are not contacted by the AAIP, then you do not meet the requirements for this stream.

Read the AAIP terms and conditions.

You must meet the following requirements both when you submit your application through AAIP and when it is assessed.

You must:

  • have an active profile in the Express Entry pool with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 300
    • the primary occupation in your federal Express Entry profile must be an occupation that supports Alberta’s economic development and diversification
  • meet the criteria of one of the Express Entry immigration programs:
  • intend to live and work in Alberta permanently

You can only apply to the Alberta Express Entry Stream program online through the online portal.

There are two steps to complete for the AAIP to accept your application:

  • submit a complete application, and
  • pay the AAIP application fee

If your AAIP nomination is accepted, then you may apply for permanent residence.

Alberta Express Entry Stream application fee

A $500 application fee is required for all online submissions when applying for a nomination.

You must pay a separate application fee for each AAIP application, and no refund will be issued.

You are not guaranteed a nomination certificate.

You will also need to pay the Express Entry fees when applying for permanent residency after receiving a nomination

How to apply for permanent residency

You only have 30 days to accept your nomination after you receive it in your Express Entry profile.

You will receive your AAIP nomination certificate by email.

You should read over your nomination certificate for any mistakes. If you find any, contact the program officer who was in charge of assessing your application.

If you receive an Invitation to apply for permanent residence from IRCC, you will have 60 days to submit your application.

Complete an online Express Entry application, upload any required supporting documents, and pay the applicable fees.

Express Entry

IRCC will assess your application for permanent residence to check if it is complete. If they accept it, you’ll be given a file number and told the next steps.

The IRCC will contact you with any updates or requests for information through your account.

by Nicola Wightman

Alberta Advantage Immigration Program

Alberta Opportunity Stream

The Alberta Opportunity Stream is a Provincial Nominee Program designed to help individuals become permanent residents of Canada through a nomination from the province of Alberta.

The Alberta Opportunity Stream is for foreign workers who have a full-time job offer from an Alberta employer in an eligible occupation and are already working full-time in Alberta.

Review the eligibility requirements to see if you are eligible to apply:

Table of contents

Overview

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (formerly known as Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program) is available to individuals who have lived and worked in Alberta for at least one year, hold a job offer from an employer in Alberta, and are qualified for the program.

Candidates must also fulfil additional residency, occupation, language, education and Alberta job offer requirements, as well as work experience in an eligible job.

To apply, potential candidates fill out an online application via the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program portal.

PNP vs Express Entry

Residency, and work permit requirements

You must have a valid temporary resident status in Canada that allows you to work in Canada when your application is submitted and when the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) assesses it.

You must have a valid work permit when you submit your application as well as when the AAIP assesses it. Status maintained during processing (formerly known as implied status) and restoration status will make you ineligible to apply.

A valid work permit is:

  • A positive Labour Market Impact Assessment
  • An LMIA exemption work permit:
    • International Experience Canada
    • Workers transferred to Canada within a company
    • International trade agreements
    • Mobilité Francophone
    • R205(d) for religious work
    • Vulnerable workers including workers under the VWOWP exemption, or
    • A family member of a vulnerable worker under the VWOWP exemption
  • A Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) from an Alberta Advanced Education publicly funded post-secondary institution (must also meet specific occupation, education and work experience requirements)
  • An open work permit issued under one of IRCC’s open work permit public policies:

The Alberta Opportunity Stream is not available to the following individuals:

  • refugee claimants or if you are involved in an appeal or removal process
  • temporary residents living in a different province other than Alberta, or
  • foreign nationals who do not have valid temporary resident status

Occupation requirements

You must work in an eligible occupation in Alberta both when you submit your application and at the time the AAIP assessment is conducted. Your work experience and job offer also need to meet certain occupational requirements.

Review the work experience and eligible job offer criteria for more information.

The employment you are currently working in when your application is submitted is referred to as your “current occupation.”

The AAIP covers most occupations with skill levels 0, A, B, C, and D under the National Occupational Classification (NOC).

You must follow certain criteria to stay in Canada with a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

One of the requirements is that your occupation is related to what you studied in Alberta. Review the education requirements section for information on recognized Alberta credentials and authorized Alberta institutions.

How to find your NOC code

Language requirements

The following are the language score requirements that you must meet in English or French when submitting your application, these scores must be based on a single test result.

Check the language score requirements here.

When you submit your application, the results from an official test must be less than 2 years old.

Take a look at the guideline on CLB/NCLC for each of the official tests’ equivalencies.

You will need to provide your official test results with your application from one of the following language exams:

If your occupation is a nurse aide, orderly and patient service associate (NOC code 3413), you are required to meet a minimum language test score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 7 for each English skill or Niveaux de compétence Linguistique Canadiens (NCLC) of 7 for each French skill.

English test for Express Entry
IELTS to CLB calculator

Education requirements

All applicants unless you are a Post-Graduation Work Permit holder

Upon submitting your application, you must have the educational equivalent of a Canadian high school diploma.

You must submit a copy of your Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) issued by a designated organization by IRCC, to show your highest level of education.

You do not need to provide an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA if:

Please note that to be eligible for the program, PGWP must fulfil the following extra educational requirements at the time of application submission.

Approved Alberta institutions

Your credential must come from an Alberta Advanced Education publicly funded post-secondary institution.

Eligible Alberta credentials

Depending if your Alberta credential program was before or after April 1, 2019, it will depend on which Alberta Advanced Education approved credentials must be.

Check which credential you will need.

Work experience requirements

The term ‘current occupation’ refers to the job you are currently working when you apply.

Your current employment must also correspond with the experience at the time your application is submitted, as well as the time when the AAIP examines your application.

Eligible work experience

When your AAIP application is submitted you must have either:

  • Within the past 18 months, you must have worked for at least 12 months full-time in your current job in Alberta.
  • You must have worked full-time in your current occupation for at least 24 months within the last 30 months - this experience can come from a combination of work done in Alberta, Canada (outside of Alberta), or abroad.

PGWP applicants must have at least 6 months of full-time work experience in their current job in Alberta within the last 18 months.

  • must have worked full-time for at least 30 hours per week
  • must be for the same occupation as your current occupation
  • must have had temporary resident status if done in Canada or Alberta
  • cannot have been gained while studying in Canada unless you are a PGWP holder who finished paid co-op work terms as a part of your program of study at an Alberta post-secondary institution. To
  • qualify, your work terms must have been:
    • paid and full-time (at least 30 hours per week)
    • for work experience directly related to your current occupation, and
    • for work experience, all gained within Alberta

Every applicant must meet the specific licensing, registration and certification requirements both when they submit their application and when the AAIP evaluates it:

  • must have the required licensing or certification to work in your current occupation within Alberta if required.
  • for compulsory trades in Alberta, you must have a valid Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Trade (AIT) trade certificate.
  • childcare workers, you must have valid certification as a Level 2 Early Childhood Educator or Level 3 Early Childhood Educator.

Eligible job offers

You must have a full-time job offer from an Albertan employer to work in your current occupation in Alberta at the time you submit your application, and when the AAIP evaluates it.

Your Alberta employer must be incorporated or registered by or under an act of legislation of a territory, province, or the Parliament of Canada and be operating as a business with a place of business in Alberta.

You must and your employer must sign your Offer of Employment, which must contain the following:

  • continuous, and paid work
  • full-time work (at least 30 hours per week)
  • work in your current occupation
  • employment for a minimum of 12 months
  • wages and benefits that meet the provinces minimum wage and:
  • work for an eligible Alberta Advantage Immigration Program occupation that meets AAIP work permit requirements

 

Application fees

The fee for the Alberta Opportunity Stream is $500 CAD.

How to apply

Here is a list of the steps required to get Permanent Residence through the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS), so that you have a better understanding of the process.

Apply via the AAIP portal by completing the online application and uploading all required documentation.

​Apply for permanent residence to the federal government (IRCC) within 6 months of receiving the nomination via the PR portal and include the nomination from the AAIP along with the application and all required documentation.

by Nicola Wightman

Express Entry guide graphic

Express Entry Guide

Express Entry overview

Express Entry is a fast-track immigration system that enables individuals and families to become permanent residents of Canada. Since its introduction in 2015, it has become the primary avenue for skilled worker immigration to Canada and a popular choice among individuals looking to immigrate globally. However, it’s essential to understand that not everyone can immigrate to Canada through Express Entry.

This step-by-step guide is designed to help you determine if Express Entry is the right option for you and your family, if applicable. It will provide a clear and comprehensive understanding of the requirements and eligibility criteria, guiding you through the process step by step.

Immigration news directly into your inbox

What is Express Entry?

The Express Entry system is utilized by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to quickly manage and evaluate applications from skilled workers through three federal economic immigration programs. Based on a point system, candidates are ranked against each other based on various criteria such as age, education, language skills, work experience and others. Only the highest-ranking candidates are invited to apply for Canadian permanent residency, making it a highly sought-after and efficient path for those looking to make a fresh start in Canada.

PNP vs Express Entry

Step 1:

Find out if you’re eligible

The Express Entry system is utilized by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to quickly manage and evaluate applications from skilled workers through three federal economic immigration programs. Based on a point system, candidates are ranked against each other based on various criteria such as age, education, language skills, work experience and others. Only the highest-ranking candidates are invited to apply for Canadian permanent residency, making it a highly sought-after and efficient path for those looking to make a fresh start in Canada.

As part of the Express Entry process, Canada thoroughly screens all applicants for any criminal history or medical concerns that may render an individual inadmissible to the country.

To be eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) under Express Entry, you must meet the following criteria:

Work Experience: Have at least 12 months of continuous, full-time (or an equivalent amount of part-time) skilled work experience in a single occupation. The occupation must be classified at National Occupation Classification (NOC) Training, Education, Experience, Responsibilities (TEER) category 0, 1, 2, or 3.

Language Proficiency: Demonstrate proficiency in either English or French through an approved language test, such as IELTS or TEF, with a minimum score equal to Canadian Language Benchmark 7 (CLB 7).

Education: Possess a minimum education equivalent to the completion of a Canadian high school diploma. If your education was completed outside of Canada, you will need to obtain an Educational Credentials Assessment (ECA) that attests to the equivalent value of your education in Canada.

Points Grid: Obtain a minimum score of 67 points on the Federal Skilled Worker Points Grid, which assesses factors such as age, work experience, education, language proficiency, and adaptability.

Settlement Funds: Have sufficient funds to support your settlement in Canada without relying on social assistance. The specific amount required may vary depending on the size of your family.

To be eligible for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), you must meet the following requirements:

Work Experience: Have at least 12 months of full-time (or equivalent part-time) skilled work experience in Canada in the last three years. The experience must have been obtained while holding a valid work permit and must be in one or more occupations classified as National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Type 0, Skill Level A or B. The 12 months of experience may be obtained through two different NOC codes as long as they are skilled positions and the work experience was obtained legally.

Language Proficiency: Meet the language requirements for your job, as outlined by the Canadian Language Benchmark, in speaking, reading, listening, and writing. These levels must be proven by taking an approved language test, such as IELTS or TEF.

Residency: Plan to live outside the province of Quebec.

Please note that work experience gained through self-employment and work experience gained while studying full-time do not qualify under the Canadian Experience Class. It is important to stay updated on the latest information on the Government of Canada’s website as the eligibility criteria for the CEC may change from time to time.

To be eligible for the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), you must meet the following criteria:

Language Proficiency: Show proficiency in either English or French by taking an approved language test and submitting the results. The minimum score required is Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 for speaking and listening, and CLB 4 for reading and writing.

Work Experience: Have at least two years of full-time work experience (or the equivalent in part-time work experience) in a skilled trade within the past five years. The work experience must be paid and demonstrate that you have the skills and experience to perform the essential duties of the occupation.

Job Offer or Certificate: Have a full-time job offer for a minimum of one year in the skilled trade from one or two Canadian employers, or hold a certificate of qualification in the skilled trade from a Canadian provincial or territorial authority.

How to find your NOC code

Step 2:
Check your score

We recommend checking your potential CRS score before creating a profile, as you will need your language test and Educational Credentials Assessment (ECA) to create your profile. By checking your score before obtaining these documents, you can verify that you have the minimum of 300 points necessary to be eligible for entry into Express Entry the pool.

If you meet the criteria for one of the Express Entry options and submit your profile, then you will be ranked against other applicants in the Express Entry pool using a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

The CRS score is used to rank eligible candidates in the Express Entry pool, and the highest-ranking candidates are invited to apply for Canadian permanent residency through periodic draws.

To calculate your CRS score, the Express Entry system considers factors such as age, education, language proficiency, work experience, and other factors. The score is used to determine your place in the Express Entry pool and your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency.

Express Entry CRS Score Calculator
express entry

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Step 3:
Get your documents ready

To submit your Express Entry profile, you’ll need to gather several important documents. These include:

Language Test Scores: All Express Entry applicants must demonstrate language proficiency in either English or French. You’ll need to provide official scores from an approved language test, such as the IELTS General Training exam for English or the TEF exam for French. The minimum required score varies based on the Express Entry program you’re eligible for.

Educational Credentials Assessment (ECA): The ECA is an evaluation of your non-Canadian education against Canadian standards. It’s mandatory for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, but it’s recommended for the Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades Program candidates, as education is an important factor in your CRS score. If you completed your education in Canada, you don’t need to get an ECA.

Valid Passport: You’ll need a valid passport in order to submit your Express Entry profile. In exceptional cases, alternative identification documents may be accepted when obtaining a passport is not possible.

When applying for immigration to Canada with a spouse or common-law partner, it is crucial to assess each other’s qualifications before proceeding. The principal applicant must be designated in the Express Entry profile, and the majority of the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score will be determined based on their credentials.

IMM 5409 guideEnglish test for Express EntryCLB calculator

Step 4:
Create an Express Entry profile

Your Express Entry profile is where you provide information about yourself.

If you are eligible, you will be accepted into the Express Entry pool of candidates and a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score will be assigned to you.

Individuals who are eligible to apply for Express Entry must create a profile and submit it to the pool of applicants. This profile serves as a declaration of their intention to immigrate to Canada and acts as a basis for the ranking system.

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) determines the ranking score of each candidate, which is a total of 1,200 points. Candidates have the opportunity to increase their score by making changes to their profile that positively impact their CRS score. The higher the CRS score, the greater the chances of receiving an invitation to apply for Express Entry.

The CRS score is a crucial factor in Express Entry draws as it sets the cutoff point for invitation rounds. The CRS score reflects the likelihood of a candidate’s economic success in Canada by considering various factors, such as language proficiency, education, work experience, and any job offers or provincial nominations.

Express Entry candidates have the opportunity to increase their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and improve their ranking position in the pool of applicants through various means. For example, having a valid job offer from a Canadian employer or receiving a provincial nomination can both result in additional points being awarded.

As a candidate in the Express Entry program, you have the option to create a profile in the Canada Job Bank to increase your chances of being selected for immigration. The Canada Job Bank is a free resource designed to connect Canadian employers with skilled workers who meet their specific needs. By creating a profile in the Canada Job Bank, you will increase your visibility to Canadian employers, making it easier for them to find and recruit you.

Please note that while registration in the Canada Job Bank used to be a mandatory requirement for Express Entry candidates, this is no longer the case as of June 2017.

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Step 5:
Get an invitation and apply

The candidates with the highest scores in the pool will receive invitations to apply.

Receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is an important step in the Express Entry process. IRCC conducts Express Entry draws on a regular basis, typically every two weeks, and invites candidates with a ranking above a certain threshold to apply for Canadian permanent residency. If a candidate is not selected in a draw, their profile will remain valid for 12 months before it expires. At that point, they may choose to submit a new profile.

Latest Express Entry drawProof of funds Express Entry

Step 6:
Submit your permanent residence application

Receiving an Express Entry Invitation to Apply (ITA) opens the door to submitting an application for Canadian permanent residency within 60 days. The application process requires detailed personal information and supporting documentation, which must be submitted electronically.

After submitting your Express Entry application, you will have to wait for a decision from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Typically, around 80% of Express Entry applications are processed within a period of six months or less. If your application is approved, you will receive authorization to activate your permanent residency status in Canada.

How to write a cover letterWhat is maintained status?

by Nicola Wightman

Spousal Sponsorship Canada

How the Spousal Sponsorship Canada Process Works

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A quick call is all it takes! Reach out, answer a few questions, and we’ll confirm if you qualify for spousal sponsorship. One of our expert immigration consultants will provide everything you need to get started with confidence.

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If you decide to move forward with us, we’re ready to handle everything—or provide a detailed review if that’s all you need. At any support level, we guide you with expert advice and personalized assistance every step of the way.

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What is Spousal Sponsorship Canada?

Spousal Sponsorship Canada is a Canadian immigration program that allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to bring their spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner to live with them in Canada as permanent residents.

This program is part of Canada’s commitment to family reunification, ensuring that families can stay together and build their lives in Canada.

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Who Can Be Sponsored?

The Spousal Sponsorship Canada program supports family reunification by allowing Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor:

A spouse under Canadian law:

  • Is at least 18 years old
  • Is legally married to the Canadian citizen or permanent resident sponsor
  • May be of any gender

If married outside of Canada, the marriage must be recognized as legally valid in both the country where it took place and under Canadian federal law.

Same-sex marriages performed within Canada are recognized, while those conducted outside Canada may need to apply under common-law or conjugal partnership if local laws prevent recognition.

A common-law partner is defined as:

  • Being at least 18 years old
  • Living in a marriage-like relationship with the Canadian citizen or permanent resident sponsor for a minimum of 12 consecutive months

Common-law partnerships are recognized under Canadian law even if the couple is not legally married, provided they meet the cohabitation requirement.

A conjugal partner is someone who:

  • Is at least 18 years old
  • Has been in a committed relationship with the sponsor for at least one year
  • Is not able to live with the sponsor due to external barriers, such as immigration restrictions or cultural or legal reasons (e.g., same-sex marriage restrictions)

Proof of the relationship, such as emotional and financial commitment, joint ownership of assets, or ongoing efforts to maintain the relationship despite living apart, may be required.

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Eligibility Requirements for Spousal Sponsorship

To sponsor a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner, under the spousal sponsorship Canada program certain requirements must be met by both the sponsor and the sponsored individual.

  • Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian under the Canadian Indian Act
  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Plan to live in Canada with the sponsored person once they attain permanent residency
  • Agree to financially support the sponsored person for three years after they gain permanent residence
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Our Spousal Sponsorship Canada Services

Our free consultation offers a full eligibility assessment and expert guidance to help you start confidently. With our file management services, our consultants provide:

  • Document collection and preparation
  • Application form completion
  • Submission and case tracking
  • Status updates and follow-ups
  • Secure online portal access
  • End-to-end support throughout the process
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Why Choose Wild Mountain Immigration?

At Wild Mountain Immigration, we don’t just handle paperwork—we shape futures. With deep expertise and a passion for your success, we make your journey to Canada seamless and stress-free, guiding you every step of the way.

Proven Success

Our results speak for themselves. We consistently deliver successful spousal sponsorship applications.

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Have Questions?

We have the answers.

To qualify as a sponsor in Spousal Sponsorship Canada, you must meet certain criteria set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). You must:

  • Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a registered Indian under the Canadian Indian Act
  • Be 18 years or older
  • Live in Canada or intend to reside in Canada once your spouse or partner receives permanent residency
  • Be financially capable of supporting your spouse or partner for at least three years

Additionally, you must not have unresolved financial issues, criminal convictions, or be undergoing bankruptcy. If you meet these requirements, you’re eligible to start your sponsorship application.

Under the Spousal Sponsorship Canada program, you can sponsor the following types of partners:

  • Spouse: Legally married partners who are at least 18 years old. The marriage must be valid in the country where it took place and under Canadian law.
  • Common-law Partner: Partners who have lived together in a marriage-like relationship for at least 12 consecutive months and are at least 18 years old.
  • Conjugal Partner: Partners in a committed relationship for at least one year who cannot live together or marry due to barriers such as immigration restrictions or legal obstacles (e.g., same-sex marriage restrictions in the partner's home country). The partner must be at least 18 years old.

Each relationship type has specific eligibility criteria, and you will need to provide evidence proving the authenticity of your relationship.

The Spousal Sponsorship Canada process involves several key steps:

  • Check Eligibility: Determine if you meet the requirements for inland or outland sponsorship. Inland sponsorship is for spouses already in Canada, while outland is for those living outside Canada.
  • Download the Application Package: Access the official IRCC forms and checklists.
  • Complete the Application Forms: Fill out the sponsorship forms and gather supporting documents, including proof of relationship, financial stability, and identity documents.
  • Pay the Required Fees: The total sponsorship fee is generally 1,080 CAD, covering the sponsorship and permanent residence fees.
  • Submit Your Application: Submit the application online, and keep track of your application status with the reference number they provide.
  • Await Permanent Residency Approval: Once approved, your spouse or partner will receive instructions on how to finalize their Canadian permanent residency.

Each step is essential to moving your sponsorship application forward efficiently and successfully.

Inland Spousal Sponsorship is for spouses or partners already living in Canada on a temporary basis (e.g., as visitors, workers, or students). Inland applicants may qualify for an open work permit, allowing them to work while the application is processed.

Outland Spousal Sponsorship is for spouses or partners living outside of Canada. This type of application allows your partner to travel to and from Canada (if they are from a visa-exempt country) and may offer a faster processing time depending on their country of residence.

Choosing the right application type depends on where your spouse or partner currently resides and whether they need to work in Canada during the process.

The processing time for Spousal Sponsorship Canada applications varies, generally taking 4 to 12 months. Processing times depend on:

  • Inland or outland applications may have different timelines
  • Country of residence of the sponsored individual
  • Completeness of the application and any additional information IRCC may require

The application fees for Spousal Sponsorship Canada include:

  • Sponsorship fee: $85 CAD
  • Principal applicant processing fee: $545 CAD
  • Right of permanent residence fee: $575 CAD
  • Biometric fee: $85 CAD per person
  • Dependent child fee (if applicable): $175 CAD per child

This brings the primary fees to $1,290 CAD, with additional charges for dependents if applicable. These fees must be paid at the time of submission to prevent delays.

Unlike other family sponsorship programs, Spousal Sponsorship Canada does not have a minimum income requirement. However, sponsors must prove they are financially capable of supporting their spouse or partner and must agree to a three-year financial undertaking with IRCC. This means sponsors must ensure their spouse does not require social assistance upon arrival.

Sponsors are required to provide financial support for their spouse or partner for a period of three years starting from the day the sponsored person becomes a Canadian permanent resident. During this time, the sponsor is responsible for meeting the basic needs of their spouse, including housing, food, and medical expenses not covered by public health services.

Yes, if you apply for inland sponsorship, your spouse may be eligible for an open work permit, allowing them to work in Canada while the sponsorship application is being processed. The open work permit provides flexibility for spouses to support themselves financially while awaiting a final decision on their permanent residency application.

Yes, you can sponsor your spouse if they are already in Canada on a temporary basis, such as a visitor, provided they meet the eligibility requirements for Spousal Sponsorship Canada. This scenario is often handled through an inland sponsorship application, and your spouse may be eligible to apply for an open work permit while their sponsorship application is processed.

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British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program

What is the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program?

British Columbia’s Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) was designed to enable workers and experienced entrepreneurs who have the skills and qualifications to apply for permanent residence. British Columbia is dependent on these high-demand foreign workers to fill jobs so as to achieve labour market needs in order for the province’s economic growth to thrive.

The BC Skills Immigration Stream has the following streams Skilled Workers, Health Care Professionals, International Graduates, International Post Graduates and via Express Entry.

Who is eligible to apply?

The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program offers four streams — the Opportunity Stream, the Express Entry Stream, the International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream, and the Self-Employed Farmer stream.

Skilled workers

To apply under this stream, you must:

Health care professionals

This stream is limited to those who work within the medical profession.

To apply under this stream, you must:

International post graduate

To apply under this stream, you must:

International graduate

To apply under this stream, you must:

BC PNP via Express Entry

To apply under this stream, you must:

The Express Entry BC Stream of the BC Provincial Nomination Program connects to the Federal Express Entry System. It is a faster way for eligible skilled workers to gain permanent residence in BC

Applicants who want to apply under any of the four streams above can do so if they meet the additional requirements:

Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Workers

This program targets select occupations in hospitality and tourism, as well as long-haul trucking industries. Entry Level and Semi-Skilled applicants cannot take advantage of the Express Entry process.

To apply under this stream, you must:

by Nicola Wightman

Alberta Advantage Immigration Program

Alberta Advantage Immigration Program

One of the best ways to apply for permanent residency in Alberta is to apply through one of the streams under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program.

Alberta is one of the ten provinces of Canada, located in the western part of the country. With a population of over four million people, it is the fourth most populous province in Canada. The capital city of Alberta is Edmonton, which is also the largest city in the province. Alberta is home to a diverse range of landscapes, from the Rocky Mountains in the west to the grasslands of the prairies in the east.

The province is also well known for its oil sands, which are some of the largest deposits of oil in the world. Alberta’s economy is largely based on natural resources, with agriculture, forestry, and oil and gas extraction being major industries. Tourism is also an important contributor to the province’s economy, with visitors coming to admire the natural beauty of Alberta’s parks and mountains.

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (formerly the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program) is an economic immigration program that allows people to be nominated for permanent residence in Alberta. Nominees must have the ability to address labour shortages or be ready to buy or start a company in Alberta. They must also be able to support their families.

If you are nominated for the program, you and your spouse or common-law partner may apply for permanent resident status, as well as any dependent children.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada processes applications for permanent residence once you have you have been nominated by Alberta.

You have 7 options to choose from if you want to immigrate to Alberta:

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program has 3 permanent resident programs for foreign workers
who are employed or planning to reside in Alberta:

Alberta Opportunity Stream

If you’re a qualified candidate who lives and works in Alberta and have a job offer from an employer in Alberta, you can apply for an Alberta Provincial Nominee Program nomination.

Alberta Express Entry Stream

If you have an Express Entry profile and meet the requirements, AAIP may send you an invitation to apply for permanent residence. Tech workers can go through the Accelerated Tech Pathway.

Rural Renewal Stream

Candidates who have a job offer from an Alberta company and wish to work in a designated rural Alberta area can apply for an Alberta Provincial Nominee Program nomination.

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program has 4 permanent resident streams for foreign entrepreneurs
who want to move to Alberta and either buy or start a business:

Farm Stream

Farmers who have extensive experience and plan to buy or start a farm in Alberta can apply for PR.

Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

International graduates from qualified Alberta post-secondary institutions who want to start a business or buy an existing business can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI).

Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

Foreign graduates who studied outside of Canada can apply for permanent residency.

Rural Entrepreneur Stream

Entrepreneurs wanting to start a business or purchase an existing business in an eligible rural Alberta community can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI).

Alberta Opportunity Stream

Under the Alberta Opportunity Stream, foreign nationals who work in Alberta and international graduates studying at an approved Alberta post-secondary institution may apply for a provincial nomination.

What's the process?

Candidates who want to apply for the Alberta Opportunity Stream must do so via the AAIP online portal. After that, individuals will be invited to upload required documents based on their unique circumstances and pay the online application fee.

What are the minimum requirements?

Alberta Opportunity Stream
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Alberta Express Entry Stream

Individuals who already have a profile in the federal Express Entry system may be nominated to the Express Entry stream through the Alberta provincial nominee program. Individuals with the skills to contribute to Alberta’s economic growth and who have ties to the province may be invited by the province to submit an application.

Candidates who are selected from the province of Alberta earn 600 more CRS points. By receiving a nomination, you are almost guaranteed to receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence in the next Express Entry draw.

What's the process?

The Alberta Express Entry Stream is by invitation only. Under this system, those who have been deemed eligible to participate in the federal Express Entry pool may receive a Notification of Interest (NOI) from the Alberta government. After being invited, candidates need to tell the province they are interested in this selection stream.

If candidates are selected, they will receive a request from the AAIP to apply for provincial nomination. All required documents must be submitted through the AAIP online portal.

After receiving your nomination, you will then need to apply through Express Entry to gain permanent residence.

What are the minimum requirements?

  • have an active profile in the Express Entry pool with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 300
    • the primary occupation in your federal Express Entry profile must be an occupation that supports Alberta’s economic development and diversification
  • meet the criteria of one of the Express Entry immigration programs:
  • indicated you intend to live and work in Alberta permanently in your Express Entry profile

If you work in the Tech industry, you may be eligible to apply through the Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway.

Alberta Express Entry Stream
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Rural Renewal Stream

Candidates who have a job offer from an Alberta employer to work in rural areas in the province of Alberta may apply to the Rural Renewal Stream.

What's the process?

Candidates must first gain the approval of a participating Alberta community in order to be eligible for this stream. Designated communities seek to attract and retain foreign nationals, employers make them a job offer, and the community is in charge of ensuring that the applicant fulfils the stream requirements. After that, the foreign national is given a letter of support. The application is then submitted to the AAIP after the endorsement has been provided.

What are the minimum requirements?

rural alberta stream

Farm Stream

Candidates interested in coming to Alberta to purchase or establish a farm may apply for the Self-Employed Farmer Stream.

What's the process?

Candidates must first submit their business plan to the Alberta government and then wait for a response. The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program makes the final call by consulting with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry to make sure that the business plan is realistic, and that the plan meets the demands of Alberta’s agricultural sector.

After you receive a positive decision, you must gather the required documents and complete the paperwork for Alberta and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

What are the minimum requirements?

Farm Stream

Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

International graduates of authorized Alberta post-secondary institutions who are interested in establishing or running a business in Alberta may apply for Alberta’s International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream.

What's the process?

To apply, interested individuals must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) via the AAIP’s website. Within 30 days, you will receive an EOI score, and the top candidates will be invited to complete a Business application.

After being invited you will have 90 days o complete the application.

What are the minimum requirements?

Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

Foreign-educated graduates who want to start their own business in Alberta are eligible for the Foreign Graduate Start-Up Visa.

What's the process?

If you want to participate in this program, you must work with a designated organization. If you fulfil the criteria, this agency will provide you with a letter of recommendation.

After you get your letter of recommendation, you need to submit it with the Expression of Interest (EOI) through the AAIP Portal, along with all required paperwork, documentation and the assessment of your business plan from the designated agency.

What are the designated agencies?

What are the minimum requirements?

Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

Rural Entrepreneur Stream

The Rural Entrepreneur Stream is designed for candidates who want to establish a business in small-town communities throughout Alberta.

What's the process?

This stream is community-driven, meaning that entrepreneurs wishing to start a company in rural Alberta must first contact a participating community and conduct an exploratory visit.

After the initial visit, the entrepreneur must submit a business proposal that contains information about how the community will benefit from the business. They will then provide a letter of support to the entrepreneur.

Once the community has backed them, the foreign national files an Expression of Interest (EOI) with the AAIP.

What are the minimum requirements?

If you are interested in applying under one of the streams through the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program get in contact!

by Nicola Wightman

canadian experience class

Canadian Experience Class

Are you eligible to apply under the Canadian Experience Class?

The Canadian Experience Class is for skilled workers who want to become permanent residents and have work experience in Canada.

This is 1 of the 3 federal programs under the Express Entry online application for skilled immigrants. The other two programs are; Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades.

Table of contents

Minimum requirements

You must:

  • You must meet the required language levels
  • You must have at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada in the previous three years before you apply. You can achieve this in a few different ways:
    • full-time job: 30 hours/week for 12 months
    • equal amount in part-time work: for example 15 hours/week for 24 months. You can work as many part-time jobs as necessary to reach this requirement.
  • You gained your work experience by working in Canada with a valid work permit

How work experience is calculated

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada only counts your skilled work experience if it was paid, which includes any wages or commissions you earned. We don’t include volunteer work or unpaid internships when we count your experience.

You don’t have to work a set number of hours each week when you’re part-time, as long as the total number of hours for the year meets 1,560. You can be employed for more than one job to get the hours you need.

Only a maximum of 30 hours a week are counted as work experience.

You’re not eligible to apply under the Canadian Experience Class if:

  • you are a refugee claimant inside Canada
  • you are working without authorization in Canada
  • your work experience was gained without a valid work permit

Work experience that is classified as skilled according to the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC) includes:

  • managerial jobs (NOC skill level 0)
  • professional jobs (NOC skill type A)
  • technical jobs and skilled trades (NOC skill type B)

Applicable work experience can be in 1 or more National Occupational Classification jobs that are levels 0, A, or B.

To demonstrate your experience for this position, you must have completed the duties mentioned in the lead statement of the NOC. This typically includes all the essential duties and most of the main responsibilities listed in the NOC.

Self-employment and student work experience

This program has minimum requirements that cannot be met through self-employment or work experience gained while studying full-time.

Education

There is no educational requirement for the Canadian Experience Class.

If you’re looking to improve your ranking in the Express Entry pool, there are two ways to go about it:

  • If you attended school in Canada, you can receive points for a certificate, diploma or degree from a secondary institution (high school) or a post-secondary institution.

or

Language ability

You must:

  • In order to participate in this program, you must meet the minimum language level of:
    • Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 for NOC 0 or A jobs or
    • Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 for NOC B jobs
  • Approved language tests are required for: writing, reading, listening and speaking
  • add the test results in your Express Entry profile

Approved language tests remain valid for 2 years after the test date and must still be valid on the day you apply for permanent residence.

IELTS to CLB calculator

Where you can live in Canada

You must intend to live outside of Quebec. Skilled workers in the province of Quebec are chosen by the province. For applicants planning on living in Quebec, see Quebec-selected skilled workers.

When you create your profile, we’ll inquire about where you intend to reside in Canada. You don’t have to stay in that province or territory after receiving permanent residence.

If you are applying under a Provincial Nominee Program, you must settle in the territory or province that nominated you.

Admissibility

You must be admissible to Canada.

How to apply

Let's look at how to transition from obtaining a work visa to getting your Permanent Resident (PR) card.

You can gain the work experience necessary on a permit.

Some common work permits are:

Temporary foreign workers need to complete 12 months of full-time skilled work experience in the last 3 years, in a National Occupational Classification (NOC) A, B or 0 occupation.

In the case of students, eligible work experience can not be gained while being a full-time student.

Take a language proficiency test. Candidates for English-language teaching jobs may take the IELTS or CELPIP exam. For French, the current alternatives are the TEF and TCF.

Read our English test for Express Entry guide to learn more.

On the IRCC website, you will submit a digital Express Entry profile. You must complete this step by providing personal information and documents that match your claimed skills, work experience and language results.

Once in the pool, you will be given a Comprehensive Ranking System score. You can determine your score by using our Express Entry CRS Score Calculator.

The most common reason why Canadian Experience Class applicants do not receive an invitation to apply is that they have not provided documentation to prove their education. While Federal Skilled Worker candidates are required to provide proof of their education, Canadian Experience Class individuals are not.

Candidates who finished their education outside of Canada may be eligible for points if they obtain an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). To improve their chances of being invited to apply for permanent residence, Canadian Experience Class applicants should acquire an ECA or submit documentation of their Canadian education credentials.

By not doing so, CEC candidates may be lose up to 150 points for the education level itself, plus up to 100 points in combination with Canadian work experience and/or language ability.

There are several other ways to potentially improve your CRS score, such as completing additional work experience, improving your language results, or seeing if you are eligible under one of the Express Entry-aligned Provincial Nominee Program streams. If you are nominated by one of the provinces, you will be awarded 600 points toward your CRS score.

You will have 60 days to submit a complete application after being invited to apply. When IRCC draws from the Express Entry pool, ITAs are issued. This is normally every 2 weeks.

All Experience Class candidates are evaluated for medical and criminal inadmissibility. You must submit a letter from an IRCC-recognized panel physician documenting a medical evaluation.

In addition, you must obtain a police background check for each country you have resided in for at least six months since the age of 18.

You must also include work reference letters from previous employers to obtain points for eligible work experience. Given the short time frame getting your reference letters before receiving an ITA is a smart idea.

The application will be evaluated by a Canadian immigration officer, who will let you know if anything more is needed.

If an application is approved, a foreign national is given a confirmation of permanent residence (COPR) document. This document will be reviewed by an immigration officer at the port of entry you enter. If approved you will be granted permanent residence.

You will then receive your permanent resident card in the mail over the coming months.

You may use this as evidence of your status in Canada if you travel outside the country.

by Nicola Wightman

federal skilled trades

Federal Skilled Trades

The Federal Skilled Trades (FST) program is one of Canada’s three programs for processing permanent resident applications under the Express Entry system.

The FST program is for skilled workers who want to become permanent residents based on being qualified in a skilled trade. This category was introduced with the intention to help fill Canada’s growing labour shortages in certain skilled trades by facilitating immigration through selection criteria that better reflect tradespersons’ specifics, putting more emphasis on practical experience.

The FST class is based on a pass/fail model which includes selection criteria in which a prospective FST candidate must meet.

What are the requirements

To be eligible for FST, you must have worked in a skilled trade for at least two years (or an equivalent amount in part-time).

This must have taken place within the previous five years, and it only counts as work experience acquired after an individual has been authorized to practice their trade in their own country of citizenship.

Skilled trades are defined as follows in Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC):

GroupTrade
Major Group 72Industrial, electrical and construction trades
Major Group 73Maintenance and equipment operation trades
Major Group 82Supervisors and technical jobs in natural resources, agriculture and related production
Major Group 92Processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors and central control operators
Minor Group 632Chefs and cooks
Minor Group 633Butchers and bakers
Express Entry CRS Score Calculator

Is proof of funds required

To apply under the Federal Skilled Worker Trades program, you will need to show that you meet the settlement funds requirement unless you:

  • are currently authorized to work in Canada, and
  • have a valid job offer from an employer in Canada.

For proof, you must have official correspondence from any banks or financial institutions where you keep money.

The amount of money necessary for settlement is determined by the number of members in your application.

Please see the chart below for how much money you’ll require based on your family size:

Family membersFamily members funds required (CAD)
1$13,310
2$16,570
3$20,371
4$24,733
5$28,052
6$31,638
7$35,224
For each additional family member$3,586

Can I apply from outside of Canada

Yes. You may apply from outside Canada as long as you fulfil the FST eligibility.

by Nicola Wightman

federal skilled worker

Federal Skilled Worker

The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program is Canada’s flagship immigration program for skilled workers to become permanent residents of Canada, allowing the country to welcome tens of thousands of newcomers every year based on their ability to become established in Canada’s workforce.

The FSW program is one of Canada’s three programs for processing immigration applications under the Express Entry system.

This particular stream focuses on skilled workers with foreign work experience who want to immigrate to Canada permanently.

What is the FSW program

The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program is run through the Express Entry system and assesses applicants for permanent residency using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

Federal Skilled Workers are not required to have Canadian work experience to join the Express Entry pool.

Candidates must fulfill a minimum points requirement based on their work experience, language proficiency, and education, among other factors.

Within the pool, individuals with the highest competitive CRS scores will be invited to apply for Canadian permanent residency.

Six selection factors for the Federal Skilled Worker Program

Who is eligible?

A candidate must satisfy certain minimum criteria for the FSWP, such as years of experience, level of education, age, and English or French language ability. These requirements ensure that only candidates with the necessary skills and qualifications are considered.

Work Experience

At least 12 months of continuous, full-time, skilled work experience completed within the previous 10 years (or an equal amount in part-time experience) is required in NOC Skill Level 0, A, or B level job.

Education

A Canadian high school diploma or its equivalent in foreign education is necessary.

Language Proficiency

You must obtain a CLB level 7 or higher on an authorized English or French language test.

IELTS to CLB calculator

Financial Support

They must be able to afford their own living expenses and those of any spouse or children who may come with them to Canada.

Residence in Canada

You must be intending to reside outside of the province of Quebec.

A candidate must score at least 67 out of 100 points on the FSW eligibility point grid to along with meeting the requirements listed above.

Candidates who satisfy these criteria will be able to create an Express Entry profile.

However, applicants should be aware that they must satisfy Canada’s minimal admissibility standards. A person may be inadmissible to Canada for a variety of reasons, including criminal activities and medical conditions.

How to calculate CRS points

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is a ranking and selection system used by Canada to assess candidates’ eligibility to join the Express Entry immigration program.Every two weeks, the IRCC administers Express Entry Draws. The candidates that meet the minimum CRS points or more will be invited to apply for permanent residence after receiving an Invitatio to Apply (ITA).

Express Entry CRS Score Calculator

Is proof of funds required

To apply under the Federal Skilled Worker Program you will need to show that you meet the settlement funds requirement unless you:

  • are currently authorized to work in Canada, and
  • have a valid job offer from an employer in Canada.

For proof, you must provide official letters from any banks or financial institutions where you have money.

The amount of money required for settlement is determined by the number of members in your application.

Please see the table below for the amount of money you’ll need based on your family size.

Family membersFamily members funds required (CAD)
1$13,310
2$16,570
3$20,371
4$24,733
5$28,052
6$31,638
7$35,224
For each additional family member$3,586

Can I apply from outside of Canada

Yes. You may apply from outside Canada as long as you fulfil the FSW eligibility.

by Nicola Wightman