Migrate
All skilled workers and professionals planning to migrate to Canada can avail Express Entry. Started in 2015, it is an efficient visa option for foreign nationals to migrate and contribute to the Canadian workforce.
EE offers applications for three economic immigration programs
- Federal Skilled Worker Class / FSW
- Federal Skilled Trades Class / FST
- Canadian Experience Class / CEC
Selection Factors
Application Process:
- Check eligibility criteria
- Ensure recommended language scores
- Get your qualifications assessed
- Create an Express Entry Profile
- Enter the pool of candidates
- Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from the Canadian Government
- Gather the required documents
- Submit your application for Permanent Residence
Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
FSW is a program for skilled workers with foreign work experience to immigrate to Canada Permanently.
Minimum requirements
Work experience
1 year of paid work experience in the last 10 years in National Occupational Classification (NOC) 0, A or B.
Language ability
Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in all 4 abilities (Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening)
Education
Secondary / post-secondary with Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
Federal Skilled Traders (FST)
The Federal Skilled Trades Program is for skilled workers who want to become permanent residents based on being qualified in a skilled trade.
Minimum requirements
Work experience
2 years of full-time work experience in a skilled trade in the last 5 years.
Language ability
Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in Speaking & Listening; Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 in Reading & Writing
Education
There is no education requirement for the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
Assessment
Get assessed by the province or territory. You’ll likely have to go to the province or territory to be assessed for your trade. You may also need an employer in Canada to give you experience and training.
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
This program is aimed at skilled workers who have Canadian work experience and want to become permanent residents.
Minimum requirements
Work experience
1 year of skilled work experience in Canada, in the last 3 years, under National Occupational Classification (NOC) 0, A or B; while under temporary resident status
with authorisation to work
Language ability
● National Occupational Classification (NOC) 0 or A jobs: Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in all 4 abilities (Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening)
● National Occupational Classification (NOC) B jobs: Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in all 4 abilities (Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening)
Education
There is no education requirement for the Canadian Experience Class
Provincial Nomination Program (PNP)
This program is for workers who have the skills, education and work experience to contribute to the economy of a specific province or territory, want to live in that province and want to become permanent residents of Canada. Each province and territory has its own “streams” (immigration programs that target certain groups) and requirements. For example, in a program stream, provinces and territories may target
- Students
- Business Owners
- Skilled Workers
- Semi-Skilled workers, to be nominated by a province or territory
Non-Express Entry Process
Express Entry Process
In order to be considered for immigration to Canada through the Provincial Nomination Program (PNP), applicants have the option to apply through either the Non-Express Entry or the Express Entry process.
It is important to note that all applicants, regardless of their intended place of residence in Canada, will be required to undergo a medical examination and obtain a police certificate as part of the immigration process. These checks are mandatory for all individuals seeking to immigrate to Canada.
In the non-Express Entry process:
- Submit an application to the relevant province or territory
- Meet the eligibility requirements of the nominating province or territory
- If nominated, apply for permanent residency online, Obtain a
- Please note that application processing times for the Non-Express Entry process may be longer than those through the Express Entry process.
National Occupational Classification 2021
The Express Entry process is an online system for managing applications for permanent residency in Canada through the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class. There are two ways to apply through Express Entry:
Contacting the Province or Territory for Nomination:
- Contact the province or territory of your choice and apply for nomination under an Express Entry stream.
- If nominated, create or update your Express Entry profile to show your nomination.
Express Entry Profile:
- Make an Express Entry profile and mention your preferred provinces and territories.
- If a province or territory sends a “notification of interest” to your account, contact them directly to apply to their Express Entry stream.
- If nominated, accept the nomination certificate electronically.
Regardless of the method chosen, applicants must meet the eligibility requirements of the province or territory, submit an Express Entry profile, and show they meet the minimum criteria for Express Entry, including eligibility for one of the immigration programs it covers.
If invited to apply, submit an electronic application to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
List of provinces and territories in Canada
(The criteria by province and territory vary and can change without notice)
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Northwest Territories
- Nova Scotia
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island
- Saskatchewan
- Yukon
Pilot Programs
The Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot are two immigration programs for foreign national caregivers who aim to provide in-home care for children and/or elderly, disabled or ill individuals. To be eligible, candidates must:
- Have an employment opportunity or relevant caregiver job experience in Canada
- Satisfy the educational and language proficiency standards required
Education
Applicants must possess one of the following credentials:
- A 1-year post-secondary (or higher) educational credential from a Canadian institution.
- A foreign educational credential that is equivalent to the above, along with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report issued by an IRCC-designated organization.
A post-secondary Canadian educational credential refers to a diploma, certificate or credential awarded on completion of a program of study or training at an institution recognized by the relevant provincial authority responsible for accreditation and regulation of such institutions. Please note that applicants who have completed only one year of a college or university program but have not completed the program in its entirety do not meet this requirement.
For individuals with an educational background from outside Canada, the ECA report should
- Indicate that the foreign credential is equivalent to a 1-year post-secondary (or higher) Canadian educational credential.
- Be less than 5 years old at the time of application receipt
- Be issued on or after the date the ECA organization was designated by IRCC
The assessment conducted by the designated organization will include verification of the authenticity of the applicant’s foreign educational credentials.
LANGUAGE
Applicants must demonstrate their proficiency in either English or French at level 5 of the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) in the following four areas
reading
writing
speaking
listening
An English or French language test from a designated testing organization must be submitted along with the application to prove that the required language proficiency has been attained. Results for all four skills must be demonstrated in a single evaluation, in accordance with Ministerial Instructions 32 (MI32), paragraph 2(3)(a)(i). Multiple test results will not be accepted.
Language test results must be less than 2 years old at the time of receipt and will be considered conclusive evidence of an applicant’s language proficiency. Any other written evidence will not be taken into consideration.
All skilled workers and professionals planning to migrate to Canada can avail Express Entry. Started in 2015, it is an efficient visa option for foreign nationals to migrate and contribute to the Canadian workforce.
EE offers applications for three economic immigration programs
- Federal Skilled Worker Class / FSW
- Federal Skilled Trades Class / FST
- Canadian Experience Class / CEC
Selection Factors
Application Process:
- Check eligibility criteria
- Ensure recommended language scores
- Get your qualifications assessed
- Create an Express Entry Profile
- Enter the pool of candidates
- Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from the Canadian Government
- Gather the required documents
- Submit your application for Permanent Residence
Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
FSW is a program for skilled workers with foreign work experience to immigrate to Canada Permanently.
Minimum requirements
Work experience
1 year of paid work experience in the last 10 years in National Occupational Classification (NOC) 0, A or B.
Language ability
Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in all 4 abilities (Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening)
Education
Secondary / post-secondary with Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
Federal Skilled Traders (FST)
The Federal Skilled Trades Program is for skilled workers who want to become permanent residents based on being qualified in a skilled trade.
Minimum requirements
Work experience
2 years of full-time work experience in a skilled trade in the last 5 years.
Language ability
Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in Speaking & Listening; Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 in Reading & Writing
Education
There is no education requirement for the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
Assessment
Get assessed by the province or territory. You’ll likely have to go to the province or territory to be assessed for your trade. You may also need an employer in Canada to give you experience and training.
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
This program is for skilled workers with Canadian work experience who want to immigrate to Canada permanently.
Minimum requirements
Work experience
1 year of skilled work experience in Canada, in the last 3 years, under National Occupational Classification (NOC) 0, A or B; while under temporary resident status
with authorisation to work
Language ability
● National Occupational Classification (NOC) 0 or A jobs: Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in all 4 abilities (Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening)
● National Occupational Classification (NOC) B jobs: Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in all 4 abilities (Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening)
Education
There is no education requirement for the Canadian Experience Class
Provincial Nomination Program (PNP)
Non-Express Entry Process
Express Entry Process
You might need to apply using the non-Express Entry process, or through Express Entry.
As part of the process, you will have to pass a medical exam and get a police check (certificate). Everyone must have these checks, no matter where they plan to live in Canada.
In the non-Express Entry process:
- you apply to the province or territory for nomination under a non-Express Entry stream.
- you need to meet the eligibility requirements of the province that nominates you.
- if you’re nominated, you apply for permanent residence online
- you have to get a
- application processing times are longer than through Express Entry.
National Occupational Classification 2021
In the online Express Entry process, there are 2 ways to apply:
- You contact the province or territory and apply for a nomination under an Express Entry stream.
- If the province or territory agrees to nominate you, you create an Express Entry profile (or update your profile if you already have one) and show you have been nominated.
Or
- You create an Express Entry profile and show the provinces and territories you’re interested in.
- If a province or territory sends a “notification of interest” to your account, you contact them directly.
- You apply to their Express Entry stream.
- If you’re nominated, the province or territory will send a nomination certificate to your account, and you accept it electronically.
In both cases, you must
- meet the eligibility requirements of the province or territory and
- submit an Express Entry profile and show that you meet the minimum criteria for Express Entry, including being eligible for one of the immigration programs it covers.
- If you are invited to apply, you submit an electronic application to IRCC.
Pilot Programs
The Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot are two economic pilot programs for foreign national caregivers who
- have a qualifying job offer or Canadian work experience for work in an eligible caregiver occupation.
- meet minimum education and language proficiency requirements
Education
The applicant must provide evidence that they have either of the following completed items:
- Canadian 1-year post-secondary (or higher) educational credential or
- foreign educational credential equivalent to the above and an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report issued for immigration purposes by an organization designated by IRCC
A post-secondary Canadian educational credential is any post-secondary diploma, certificate or credential that is issued on the completion of a Canadian program of study or training at an educational or training institution that is recognized by the provincial authorities responsible for registering, accrediting, supervising and regulating such institutions. As such, an applicant who has started a college or university program and has successfully completed the credits for 1 year of that program, but who has not yet completed the program of study, would not meet this requirement.
For applicants with a foreign educational credential, the ECA report must
- indicate that the credential is equivalent to a completed Canadian 1-year post-secondary (or higher) educational credential.
- be less than 5 years old on the date of application receipt.
- have been issued on or after the date the ECA organization was designated by IRCC.
Equivalency assessments will include an assessment by the designated organization of the authenticity of the applicant’s completed foreign educational credentials.
LANGUAGE
The applicant must demonstrate that they have attained a language proficiency of level 5 in the Canadian Language Benchmarks or the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens in either English or French, for each of the 4 language skill areas:
reading
writing
speaking
listening
Along with their application, applicants must submit the results of an English or French language test from a designated testing organization to demonstrate that they meet the required language proficiencies. Results for all 4 skill areas must be demonstrated in 1 evaluation, as per Ministerial Instructions 32 (MI32), subparagraph 2(3)(a)(i). Results from multiple tests will not be accepted.
Language test results must be less than 2 years old at the time of receipt, and will be used as conclusive evidence of an applicant’s language proficiency. Other written evidence will not be considered.
List of provinces and territories in Canada
(The criteria by province and territory vary and can change without notice)
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Northwest Territories
- Nova Scotia
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island
- Saskatchewan
- Yukon