This page covers the basic requirements for Canada Express Entry immigration programs, including Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades and Canadian Experience Class.
Canada’s Express Entry system is the main route for skilled workers to immigrate to Canada.
It is not an immigration program in its own right but manages the intake of applications for three federal programs, plus parts of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
Those three federal programs are:
· Federal Skilled Worker
· Federal Skilled Trades
· Canadian Experience Class
Basic requirements differ for each of the three programs. However, meeting basic requirements does not guarantee an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
Instead, the Express Entry system is designed to select the highest scoring candidates based on a number of factors, including language ability, age, job offer, work experience and education.
Federal Skilled Worker Minimum Requirements
The Federal Skilled Worker Program has minimum requirements for:
Work Experience
Candidates must have at least one year of paid full-time work experience (or equivalent part-time experience) in the last 10 years in skill type 0 or skill level A or B under the National Occupational Classification (NOC).
Language Ability
Candidates must have a minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark 7 in English or French in writing, reading, speaking and listening, assessed by an approved language test.
Education
Candidates must have a certificate, diploma or degree from or equivalent to a Canadian high school or post-secondary institution. Foreign education is subject to an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).
Once applicants meet the minimum requirements, they are assessed and scored on the following factors:
- Age.
- Education.
- Work experience.
- Job offer.
- Language ability.
- Adaptability.
Federal Skilled Trades Minimum Requirements
The Federal Skilled Trades Program has minimum requirements for:
Work Experience
Candidates must have at least two years of paid full-time work experience (or equivalent part-time experience) in the last five years in a skilled trade.
NOC
Candidates must meet requirements for the skilled trade as per the National Occupational Classification.
Job Offer
Candidates must have:
- A full-time job offer lasting at least one year, OR
- A qualification certificate for the skilled trade issued by a Canadian authority.
Language Ability
Candidates must meet the following Canadian Language Benchmarks in English or French:
- English Speaking and listening CLB 5
- English Reading and writing CLB 4
- French Speaking and listening NCLC 5
- French Reading and writing NCLC 4
Canadian Experience Class Minimum Requirements
The Canadian Experience Class has minimum requirements for:
Canadian Work Experience
Candidates must have at least one year of paid full-time skilled work experience in Canada (or equivalent part-time experience) in the last three years in skill type 0 or skill level A or B under the National Occupational Classification (NOC).
The work experience must have been gained while in Canada as a temporary resident with authorization to work.
Language Ability
Candidates must have Canadian Language Benchmark 7 in English or French in reading, writing, speaking and listening for NOC 0 or A jobs.
Candidates must have Canadian Language Benchmark 5 in English or French in reading, writing, speaking and listening for NOC B jobs.
Proof of Funds
Candidates applying under Federal Skilled Worker or Federal Skilled Trades are required to show proof of funds unless they have a valid job offer and are authorized to work in Canada.
Candidates for the Canadian Experience Class are not required to show proof of funds.
Proof of funds shows that a candidate has enough money to settle in Canada.
It is important to note that the above are only the minimum requirements for the federal programs that come under Express Entry.
The system is such that only the highest-scoring Express Entry profiles will be selected and issued with Invitations to Apply to one of the above programs.
It is therefore advisable for candidates to include all the information they can in the following areas in their Express Entry profile.
- Skills and work experience.
- Education.
- Language ability in English and/or French.
- Language ability and education of the applicant’s spouse or common-law partner.
- Possession of a job offer supported by a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment.
- Possession of a provincial government nomination.
- Certain combinations of language skills, education and work experience that result in a higher chance of the applicant becoming employed.
- Having a sibling or relative in Canada.
