Express Entry
Canada's primary system for managing permanent residence applications from skilled workers — covering three federal economic immigration programs.
What is Express Entry?
Express Entry is Canada's primary system for managing applications for permanent residence from skilled workers. IRCC uses Express Entry to manage three federal economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). Candidates who meet the minimum requirements for at least one program are placed in the Express Entry pool and assigned a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. IRCC holds regular draws — typically every two weeks — and issues Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to the highest-ranking candidates.
How Express Entry Works
Create an Express Entry Profile
Submit your profile through your IRCC secure account. You must be eligible for at least one of the three Express Entry programs to enter the pool.
Enter the Pool & Receive a CRS Score
Once in the pool, you are assigned a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on your age, education, language scores, work experience, and other factors.
Wait for a Round of Invitations
IRCC holds regular draws. In each draw, the highest-ranking candidates — either overall or within a specific category — receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.
Submit Your Application Within 60 Days
If you receive an ITA, you have 60 days to submit a complete application for permanent residence. Incomplete applications may be returned.
Receive a Decision
IRCC reviews your application for program eligibility, accuracy of profile information, category eligibility (if applicable), and admissibility. Standard processing is 6 months.
Three Programs Under Express Entry
You must be eligible for at least one of these three programs to enter the Express Entry pool:
Federal Skilled Worker Program
For skilled workers with foreign work experience. Requires a minimum 67-point score on the FSW selection grid, CLB 7 language, and an ECA for foreign credentials.
67/100 on FSW grid + 1 yr foreign work exp
CECCanadian Experience Class
For skilled workers who already have at least 1 year of Canadian work experience within the last 3 years. No education requirement. No minimum points grid.
1 yr Canadian work experience (last 3 years)
FSTPFederal Skilled Trades Program
For qualified tradespeople with 2 years of skilled trade experience. Requires a job offer or certificate of qualification in Canada.
2 yrs trade experience + job offer or certificate
2026 Changes to CRS Points and Job Offers
As of November 3, 2026, IRCC is changing how Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points are awarded for Canadian work experience and job offers, and removing the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) requirement for all Express Entry job offers.
The CRS has a new Labour Market Integration factor. It awards up to 150 points for either your Canadian work experience or a qualifying job offer — whichever gives you more points. You cannot receive points for both.
Labour Market Integration Factor — Maximum 150 Points
| Score option | With spouse/partner | Without spouse/partner |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian work experience | 140 points (70 work-length + 70 high-wage) | 150 points (80 work-length + 70 high-wage) |
| Qualifying job offer | 100 points | 100 points |
IRCC compares both options and gives you whichever is higher — not both.
Canadian Work Experience — Work-Length Points
Work-length points are the same points awarded today for Canadian work experience in any TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupation. The eligibility requirements for Canadian work experience are not changing.
| Canadian work experience | With spouse | Without spouse |
|---|---|---|
| None or less than 1 year | 0 | 0 |
| 1 year | 35 | 40 |
| 2 years | 46 | 53 |
| 3 years | 56 | 64 |
| 4 years | 63 | 72 |
| 5 years or more | 70 | 80 |
Canadian Work Experience — High-Wage Occupation Points
Extra points, on top of work-length points, for at least 1 year (12 months or 1,560 hours) of qualifying Canadian work experience in one or more eligible high-wage occupations. The experience can be continuous or not, full-time or an equal amount of part-time, and combined across more than one high-wage job.
| 12+ months of Canadian work in a… | Extra points |
|---|---|
| Level 1 — at least twice the average median wage | 70 |
| Level 2 — at least 1.5 times the average median wage | 40 |
| Level 3 — at least 1.3 times the average median wage | 20 |
| Less than 12 months in a high-wage occupation | 0 |
Job Offer Points
Job offer points are returning to the CRS. To earn them, your job offer must be valid under Express Entry and be for a position in an eligible high-wage occupation.
| Job offer in a… | Points |
|---|---|
| Level 1 — at least twice the average median wage | 100 |
| Level 2 — at least 1.5 times, but less than twice | 70 |
| Level 3 — at least 1.3 times, but less than 1.5 times | 50 |
| Not a high-wage occupation | 0 |
No More LMIA Requirement for Job Offers
Skills transferability points still use the length of your Canadian work experience only — high-wage points do not apply there. Your spouse or partner's Canadian work experience points are also unchanged.
IRCC will recalculate the scores of profiles already in the pool when the changes take effect. This can take up to two weeks, and invitation rounds are paused until it is complete.
IRCC's online profile system has not yet been updated to reflect the new job offer rules, so job offers without an LMIA must be entered in a specific way. If you have a job offer — or are not sure how these changes affect your score — contact our office and we will be happy to assist you.
Category-Based Draws
In addition to general and program-specific draws, IRCC holds category-based rounds of invitations. In these draws, IRCC targets candidates who meet criteria for a specific economic goal — such as work experience in a priority occupation or French language proficiency. Candidates invited through category-based draws must still be eligible for at least one of the three Express Entry programs. Category-based draws allow candidates in priority occupations to receive an ITA even if their CRS score is below the general draw cutoff.
Policy Disclaimer
Immigration policies, category lists, and eligible occupations are established by the Minister of Immigration and are subject to change at any time without notice. The information on this page reflects IRCC's published guidelines as of February 20, 2026. Always verify current categories and requirements at canada.ca before making any immigration decisions.
Current Categories (10)
Important: The categories and eligible occupations listed above are established by the Minister of Immigration and may be updated, added, or removed at any time. Asteco Immigration Consulting maintains this page as a general reference only. Always consult an RCIC and verify current categories at canada.ca before making any immigration decisions.
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Disclaimer: This page is for general information only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Immigration policies are subject to change by IRCC at any time. Consult our RCIC before making immigration decisions.