Self-Employed Person Program
Canada has one of the most positive immigration policies in the world and welcomes more than 400,000 new immigrants each year. According to an international survey conducted recently, 53 percent of adults in the world’s 24 leading countries said they would immigrate to Canada. While Canada offers a great choice of both Federal and Provincial immigration programs, immigration to Canada has become increasingly popular due to the main driver of the Canadian immigration system – Express Entry. The government of Canada introduced the Express Entry system for immigration in 2015The government of Canada introduced the Express Entry system for immigration in 2015 Express Entry applicants receive priority processing and increased accessibility for candidates from a broader range of occupations. Without a cap on the number of applications accepted for processing, applicants can apply to Express Entry at any time without being concerned that the program will close or fill up before their application is completed.
All immigration programs managed under the Express Entry system have different eligibility criteria. The programs are: Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades Program and Canadian Experience Class. Thus ability to qualify under one of these categories is the first requirement under Express Entry.
The Express Entry involves two steps: 1. Complete an online Express Entry profile, be placed in pool of candidates and 2. Receive invitation to apply for permanent residence from IRCC. Candidates in the pool are raked using a point-based system (CSR).Getting into Express Entry doesn’t guarantee invitation to apply, since applicants have to meet all eligible and admissibility requirements. Upon entering the pool, candidates are assigned a CRS score based on factors including education, work experience, language ability, and other criteria. Highest-ranking candidates are regularly selected from draw and invited to apply for permanent residence. Results and previous rounds of invitations can be found here.( need to make this link)
Express Entry system covers three methods of immigration to Canada, namely:
- The Federal Skilled Worker Class/Program (FSWC or FSWP),
- the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and
- the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
To apply under the Express Entry, you need to meet the minimum requirements of at least one of these options.
Comparing the Express Entry Options
The following table compares the minimum requirements for all Express Entry options:
| Criterion | Federal Skilled Worker Program | Canadian Experience Class | Federal Skilled Trades Program |
| Work Experience | At least one year full-time equivalent and continuous paid job in the past 10 years under NOC 0, A, or B. It could be inside or outside Canada. | At least one year of full-time equivalent paid job in the past three years inside Canada under NOC 0, A, or B. Self-employed jobs and intern jobs are unacceptable. | At least two years of full-time equivalent paid job in the past five years under acceptable NOC B jobs, inside or outside Canada. |
| Language | Mandatory CLB 7 | Mandatory CLB 7 for NOC 0 and A and CLB 5 for NOC B | Mandatory CLB 5 for speaking and listening and CLB 4 for reading and writing |
| Education | Non-Canadian education must receive an Education Credentials Assessment (ECA) | Non-Canadian education must receive an Education Credentials Assessment (ECA) | Non-Canadian education must receive an Education Credentials Assessment (ECA) |
| Job Offer from Canada | Not mandatory | Not mandatory | Mandatory if they do not hold a Certificate of Qualifications from a Canadian Province. The offer must be under an acceptable job title. |
| Certificate of Qualifications from a Canadian Province | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Mandatory if they do not have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer |
| Selection Points | Must receive at least 67 points out of a 100 points grid | Not Applicable | Not Applicable |
| Settlement Funds | Not mandatory at the time of entering the Express Entry pool. However, if they do not have a job offer, they later need to meet the LICO. | Not Applicable | Not mandatory at the time of entering the Express Entry pool. However, if they do not have a job offer, they later need to meet LICO. |
Meeting the Minimum Requirements of Two or More Options
If someone meets the minimum requirements for more than one option, they won’t have any special advantage over others, but it won’t hurt to meet the minimum requirements of more than one category.
Provincial Nominees (PNP)
If someone intends to apply under a PNP Express Entry option, they still need to meet one of the minimum requirements. All PNP Express Entry options expect you to enter the pool of Express Entry first.
The Express Entry Pool
When you enter the Express Entry pool, you receive a score based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). While meeting the minimum requirements allows you to enter the pool of Express Entry, if you do not receive a significant CRS score, your chances to succeed diminishes. Currently, a good score means 460 or more CRS points. However, if you receive between 440 to 460 points, you still have a chance to succeed. Unfortunately, under 440 points, your chances are meagre unless a Canadian Province selects your profile.
Please note that these numbers are approximate. The actual selection score could change drastically over time. Visit the IRCC website for official figures. Also, keep in mind IRCC usually conducts two special rounds of invitation for FSTP applicants per year. The minimum CRS scores for those two rounds are significantly lower than usual.
The basics of Express Entry (EE)
To apply via Express Entry, you need to meet the minimum requirements for one of the acceptable immigration options. Therefore, if you are not familiar with EE or the minimum requirements, make sure to read the following articles first.
- Express Entry Immigration to Canada
- Minimum Requirements for Express Entry Canada
- Minimum Language Requirements for Express Entry
If you meet the minimum requirements, you may enter the pool of Express Entry. However, IRCC will send you an Invitation to Apply (ITA), only if your Express Entry points are more than the minimum points at each round of invitation. For example, the following table shows some historical points in the past few years.
| Year | Lowest Minimum Express Entry Points | Highest Minimum Express Entry Points |
| 2015 | 450 | 886 |
| 2016 | 453 | 538 |
| 2017 | 413 | 468 |
| 2018 | 439 | 456 |
| 2019 | 438 | 470 |
| 2020 (more draws to come) | 415 (FSTC only), 431 (CEC only), 687 (PNP EE only), 471 (all groups draw) | 478 (all groups draw), 808 (PNP EE only) |
Since we have not reached the end of 2019, the posted scores could change. Of course, IRCC runs special rounds of invitation for FSTP/FSTC applicants with much lower Express Entry points. They also run PNP rounds of invitation from time to time, which reflects much higher scores.
An introduction to Express Entry points
CRS stands for the Comprehensive Ranking System. It consists of a 1200 point system. Consequently, when you enter the pool of Express Entry, you receive a CRS score. Then you remain in the pool of Express Entry for up to 12 months. Of course, IRCC runs rounds of invitation to people in the EE pool every other week or so. If your score is more than the minimum Express Entry points, you will receive an ITA. However, if your score is less than the minimum score, you remain in the pool for the next round. Unfortunately, if your score is equal to the minimum points, you could not receive the ITA depending on the date and time you entered the pool.
Express Entry Points for married applicants
The following lists show potential Express Entry points for married people. In other words, for those applicants who have an accompanying spouse or common-law partner. Of course, the spouse or common-law may not be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Core or human capital factors (Maximum 460 points)
- Age – Maximum 100 for ages between 20 and 29
- Level of education – Maximum 140 for Doctoral level university degree (Ph.D.)
- Official languages proficiency – Maximum 150 for CLB 10 or more in both official languages of Canada
- Canadian work experience – Maximum 70 for five years or more work experience in Canada
- Spouse or common-law partner factors (Maximum 40 points)
- Level of education – Maximum 10 for Ph.D. or Master’s degree or professional degree
- Official language proficiency – Maximum 20 for CLB 9 or more in one of the official languages
- Canadian Work Experience – Maximum 10 for five years or more work experience in Canada
- Skill Transferability factors (Maximum 100 points)
- Education (Maximum 50 points)
- With good/strong official languages proficiency and a post-secondary degree 50
- With Canadian work experience and a post-secondary degree 50
- Foreign work experience (Maximum 50 points)
- With good/strong official languages proficiency (Canadian Language Benchmark [CLB] level 7 or higher) and foreign work experience 50
- With Canadian work experience and foreign work experience 50
- Certificate of qualification for people in trade occupations (Maximum 50 points)
- With good/strong official languages proficiency and a certificate of qualification 50
- Additional points (Maximum 600 points)
- Brother or sister living in Canada (citizen or permanent resident) 15
- The French language skills 30 (as of October 27, 2020, up to 50 points)
- Post-secondary education in Canada 30
- Arranged employment 200
- Provincial nomination 600
The government may revise the Express Entry points system from time to time. Of course, if you need the official breakdown, visit the IRCC website.
Express Entry Points for single applicants
The following lists show potential Express Entry points for the following people:
- single, divorced or annulled marriages
- the spouse or common-law partner is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- the common-law partner or spouse is not accompanying them to Canada
- Core or human capital factors (Maximum 500 points)
- Age – Maximum 110 for ages between 20 and 29
- Level of education – Maximum 150 for Doctoral level university degree (Ph.D.)
- Official languages proficiency – Maximum 160 for CLB 10 or more in both official languages of Canada
- Canadian work experience – Maximum 80 for five years or more work experience in Canada
- Spouse or common-law partner factors (Maximum 0 points)
- No points
- Skill Transferability factors (Maximum 100 points)
- Education (Maximum 50 points)
- With good/strong official languages proficiency and a post-secondary degree 50
- With Canadian work experience and a post-secondary degree 50
- Foreign work experience (Maximum 50 points)
- With good/strong official languages proficiency (Canadian Language Benchmark [CLB] level 7 or higher) and foreign work experience 50
- With Canadian work experience and foreign work experience 50
- Certificate of qualification for people in trade occupations (Maximum 50 points)
- With good/strong official languages proficiency and a certificate of qualification 50
- Additional points (Maximum 600 points)
- Brother or sister living in Canada (citizen or permanent resident) 15
- French language skills 30
- Post-secondary education in Canada 30
- Arranged employment 200
- Provincial nomination 600
The government may revise the Express Entry points system from time to time. Of course, if you need the official breakdown, visit the IRCC website.
CRS Calculator for Express Entry points
Considering the complexity of calculating Express Entry points, IRCC offers a CRS calculator. They call it the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) tool. Please remember this tool does not consider the minimum requirements for Express Entry. In other words, if you do not meet the minimum requirements, the CRS calculator is useless. To access the CRS calculator, click the following link:
Let us help!
If you are interested in immigrating under the Express Entry system, please fill out the following form. For other options, you may fill out our assessment form or book an appointment with me.