Express Entry is a system that the Canadian government initiated on January 1, 2015, to effectively oversee applications for Canadian permanent residence with the aim of addressing labor shortages. It serves as a platform to select and engage with skilled and qualified applicants while also managing a pool of immigration-ready skilled workers.

Express Entry provides a pathway to permanent residence not only for skilled workers residing in Canada but also for those from other countries. Additionally, provinces and territories can leverage Express Entry to fulfill their specific labor market requirements through their Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

The Express Entry system manages three key immigration programs:

This program is designed for skilled workers who possess at least one year of full-time Canadian work experience. The work experience should fall under the categories of NOC (National Occupational Classification) 0, 1, 2, or 3. It's possible to have work experience in one or more of these categories. Educational requirements for this program include at least a secondary (high school) education. However, if you have completed post-secondary education outside Canada after the 12th grade, you will need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from a designated organization to demonstrate the equivalence of your education to a Canadian degree, diploma, or certificate. The required IELTS CLB (Canadian Language Benchmark) score is 7 for NOC 0 or NOC 1 jobs and 5 for NOC 2 or NOC 3 jobs. Importantly, there is no specific fund requirement for the Canadian Experience Class program.

To be eligible for this program, you must have a minimum of one year of continuous work experience in NOC 0, 1, 2, or 3 job categories. The age requirement falls between 21 and 44 years. Educational qualifications range from diploma to bachelor's, master's, or PhD degrees. You'll need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for foreign education. A compulsory IELTS CLB score of 7 is required. While not mandatory, a spouse's IELTS score of 5.5 can add extra points. Financial requirements for this program include approximately $13,800 for the principal applicant and approximately $3,700 for each dependent.

For this program, applicants must have a minimum of two years of full-time work experience in a skilled trade within the five years preceding the application. Eligibility also requires a valid job offer of at least one year of full-time employment or a qualification certificate in the specific skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial, or federal authority. Unlike the other programs, there is no specific education requirement for the Federal Skilled Trades program. The IELTS CLB requirements are 5 for Speaking and Listening and 4 for Reading and Writing. Financial requirements include approximately $13,800 for the principal applicant and approximately $3,700 for each dependent.