Eligibility Criteria for Canadian Express Entry Immigration for Employment
If you’ve been considering a move to Canada for high-paying employment opportunities, you’re in luck. Canada opens its doors to over 300,000 economic immigrants annually through the Express Entry program. This means you too can explore the possibility of relocating to Canada with your family in the coming year.
Are You an Ideal Candidate for Express Entry?
Determining your eligibility for the Canadian Express Entry immigration program may seem like a complex task, but it’s a crucial step on your journey to Canada. The key to assessing your eligibility lies in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), an online automatic ranking system that evaluates applicants based on various criteria, including age, language proficiency in English or French, work experience, Canadian references, and education.
If your CRS score is on the higher side, you’re on the right track to becoming an ideal candidate for the Canadian Express Entry program. However, if your score falls short, you’ll need to work on improving it by meeting the following criteria:
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Educational Qualifications
You must hold a master’s, bachelor’s, or doctoral degree.
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Age Requirement
Your age must be below 30 years.
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Language Proficiency
You need to achieve a minimum of level 9 in the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) test.
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Language Proficiency
Your proficiency in English or French must be on the higher side as well.
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In-Demand Profession
Your profession must be on the Canadian Skill Shortage NOC list.
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Work Experience
You must possess a minimum of 3 years of work experience in professions that fall under the skill shortages in Canada.
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Sibling Connections
If you have siblings already residing in Canada, providing their information can automatically improve your CRS score.
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Job Offer
An appointment letter or job offer from a Canadian company can significantly boost your CRS score.
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Provincial Nomination
If you’ve been nominated by any Canadian provincial immigration program, your CRS score will improve.
Express Entry Profile Submitted – What’s Next?
Once you’ve submitted your Express Entry profile and obtained your CRS score, the next step is to understand what comes next. The Canadian Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducts draws every two weeks to rank candidates in the Express Entry pool based on their CRS scores. Selected candidates receive invitations to apply (ITA).
If you’re fortunate enough to receive an ITA from IRCC, you’ll be well on your way to immigrating to Canada through the Express Entry program.
CRS Score Required for ITA from IRCC
The minimum CRS score required to receive an ITA from IRCC varies with each Express Entry draw. There is no fixed standard for a minimum CRS score; it changes every two weeks. Here’s a glimpse of the latest Express Entry draw results to provide you with an idea:
CRS Cutoff Scores for Canadian Express Entry
Express Entry Draw Numbers | Draw Date | Draw Category | Total ITA | CRS Cutoff Score |
267 | 28-Sep-23 | Agriculture and agri-food | 600 | 354 |
266 | 27-Sep-23 | French language proficiency | 500 | 472 |
264 | 20-Sep-23 | Transport Occupations | 1,000 | 435 |
261 | 02-Aug-23 | Trade occupations | 1,500 | 388 |
260 | 02-Aug-23 | French language proficiency | 800 | 435 |
258 | 12-Jul-23 | French language proficiency | 3,800 | 375 |