Quick Overview

Express Entry is Canada’s main online system for managing permanent residence applications from skilled workers. It is not a program by itself it’s a selection system that manages three federal economic immigration programs:

1. Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
2. Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
3. Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

Some provincial nominee programs (PNP) are also linked to Express Entry and can give you an extra 600 points through a provincial nomination.

In 2025, Express Entry is more targeted and competitive than before. IRCC now runs different types of draws:

1. General draws (all programs)
2. Program-specific draws (for example, only CEC or only PNP)
3. Category-based draws that focus on:
4. Strong French language skills
5. Work experience in healthcare and social services
6. Work experience in skilled trades
7. Work experience in education (a new education category added in 2025)

Key 2025 changes you must know:

1. No more CRS points for job offers as of March 25, 2025. Job offers are still required for some programs (like FSTP) and can still matter for eligibility, but they no longer increase your CRS score.
2. Updated proof of funds amounts (settlement funds) for FSW and FST as of July 2025 profiles that don’t meet the new amounts can be removed from the pool.
3. PTE Core is now accepted along with CELPIP, IELTS General Training, TEF Canada and TCF Canada.

At a high level, the Express Entry process looks like this:

1. Check which program you qualify for (CEC, FSW or FST).
2. Take an approved language test and, if needed, get an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).
3. Create an online Express Entry profile and enter the pool.
4. Get a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score out of 1,200 points based on age, education, language, work experience and other factors.
5. Wait for an invitation to apply (ITA) in a draw.
6. If invited, submit your permanent residence application (e-APR) within 60 days, pay your fees, and upload documents.

IRCC aims to process about 80% of complete Express Entry PR applications within 6 months, but actual timelines can be longer or shorter depending on workload, security checks and the quality of your file.

If you want tailored help building a competitive Express Entry strategy, LMRT Immigration in Montreal can review your profile, calculate your CRS score, and design an improvement plan before you enter the pool.

Full Guide 

1. What Is Express Entry?

Express Entry is Canada’s flagship application management system for skilled workers who want to become permanent residents. It manages applications for:

1. Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
2. Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
3. Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

Some Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams are also “Express Entry–aligned,” meaning candidates can receive a provincial nomination worth 600 additional CRS points, which almost always leads to an invitation to apply (ITA).

Express Entry is points-based. IRCC uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to rank profiles in the pool, then invites the highest-ranked candidates in different types of draws.

In 2025, Express Entry is more targeted:

1. Category-based draws focus on French speakers and candidates with work experience in healthcare and social services, trades, and education, including a new education category.
2. There is a strong emphasis on Canadian work experience (CEC) and French, especially outside Quebec.

2. How Express Entry Works in 2025 – Step by Step

Step 1 – Confirm You Qualify for at Least One Program

You must first qualify for CEC, FSW, or FST (and, if relevant, a PNP stream). Each program has its own rules for work experience, language, and (for FSW) minimum points out of 100.

We’ll detail the requirements by program in Section 3.

Step 2 – Get Your Key Documents Ready

For most candidates, you will need:

1. Language test from an approved provider:
2. English: CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training, PTE Core
3. French: TEF Canada, TCF Canada
4. Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) if your highest education is from outside Canada (mandatory for FSW; optional but helpful for CEC and FST).
5. Passports and civil status documents
6. Proof of work experience (reference letters confirming duties, hours, pay, and NOC code)
7. Proof of funds, if required (more on this below)
8. Later in the process: police certificates, medical exam, and biometrics

You don’t have to upload every document to enter the pool, but you must be sure you can obtain them quickly after you’re invited. Otherwise, you risk missing the 60-day deadline.

Step 3 – Create Your Express Entry Profile and Enter the Pool

Once you know you’re eligible and have your language test (and, if required, ECA), you can create an Express Entry profile through your IRCC online account.

You’ll enter detailed information about:

1. Age
2. Education and ECA results
3. Work experience (Canadian and foreign)
4. Language test scores
5. Marital status and spouse’s details (if applicable)
6. Any job offers, Canadian study, relatives in Canada, or provincial nominations

IRCC’s system then calculates your CRS score out of 1,200 and places you in the Express Entry pool.

Step 4 – Improve Your CRS Score (Optional but Often Necessary)

Because draws are competitive, many candidates spend months improving their CRS before they receive an ITA. Common strategies include:

1. Retaking language tests to reach CLB 9 or higher
2. Obtaining an ECA for additional degrees or diplomas
3. Gaining more skilled work experience
4. Studying or working in Canada (if realistic for your situation)
5. Learning or improving French, which can give substantial additional points and make you eligible for French-focused category draws
6. Obtaining an Express Entry–aligned PNP nomination, which adds 600 CRS points

Be aware: valid job offers no longer give extra CRS points as of March 25, 2025, even if supported by LMIA. They can still be essential for eligibility in FST and some PNP streams, but they are no longer a shortcut for CRS.

Step 5 – Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA)

IRCC regularly conducts rounds of invitations. In each draw, they choose:

1. The type of draw (general, program-specific, or category-based)
2. The minimum CRS cut-off score
3. The number of ITAs to issue

If your CRS score is at or above the cut-off for that specific draw type, you’ll receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.

You then have 60 days to submit your complete e-APR (electronic application for permanent residence).

Step 6 – Submit Your e-APR and Pay Your Fees

Your e-APR includes:

1. Online forms confirming all details in your profile
2. Scanned copies of documents (ID, language test, ECA, work letters, police certificates, proof of funds, etc.)
3. Biometrics payment and appointment
4. Permanent residence processing fees, which as of 2024–2026 for most economic PR programs are:
5. CAD 950 processing fee per adult
6. CAD 575 Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) per adult
7. CAD 260 per dependent child (no RPRF)

Fees can change, so always verify the latest amounts on the IRCC site before you pay.

Step 7 – Wait for IRCC’s Decision and Land as a Permanent Resident

IRCC’s service standard is to process 80% of complete Express Entry applications in about 6 months from the date they receive your full e-APR. Actual timelines vary by program, country of residence, and complexity of your case.

If approved, you’ll receive:

1. A Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR)
2. A visa counterfoil in your passport if you need a visa to travel to Canada

You can then land as a permanent resident (either at a Canadian port of entry or, if you are already in Canada, often through an in-Canada landing process). Your PR card is mailed to your Canadian address afterward.

3. Eligibility Requirements by Express Entry Program

3.1 Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

CEC is ideal if you already have recent skilled work experience in Canada.

Minimum work experience:

1. At least 1 year of skilled work in Canada (TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3)
2. Work must be:
3. Paid (wages or commission)
4. Total 1,560 hours minimum (for example: 30 hours/week × 52 weeks)
5. Gained within the 3 years before you apply
6. Self-employment and work done while you were a full-time student usually do not count, except under a specific temporary policy for some physicians.

Language requirements (CEC):

1. For TEER 0 or 1 jobs: CLB/NCLC 7 in all abilities
2. For TEER 2 or 3 jobs: CLB/NCLC 5 in all abilities

Education:

1. No minimum education requirement, but Canadian or assessed foreign education can increase your CRS score.

Proof of funds:

1. Not required if you’re applying under CEC only.

Where you can live:

1. You must intend to live outside Quebec.

3.2 Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

FSW is for people with foreign skilled work experience who want to immigrate directly from outside Canada (or from inside Canada without qualifying under CEC).

Minimum work experience:

1. At least 1 year of continuous full-time (or equivalent part-time) paid work in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation
2. Within the last 10 years
3. In the same NOC as your primary occupation
4. Can include work you did while a student if it was paid and meets all program conditions

Language requirements (FSW):

1. Minimum CLB/NCLC 7 in all four abilities (reading, writing, listening, speaking)
2. Higher scores give more points under both the 100-point grid and CRS.

Education:

1. At least a completed Canadian high school diploma, or
2. A foreign credential plus an ECA showing it is equivalent to a completed Canadian credential

67-point eligibility grid:

FSW has a separate selection factor grid out of 100 (age, education, work experience, language, arranged employment, adaptability). You must score 67 points or more to qualify for the program, before CRS is even considered.

Proof of funds:

1. Required for FSW unless you:
2. Are currently authorized to work in Canada, and
3. Have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer.

Where you can live:

1. You must plan to live outside Quebec.

3.3 Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

FST is designed for qualified skilled tradespeople.

Eligible trades:

Your work must be in one of a set of specific NOC groups (such as industrial, electrical and construction trades; maintenance and equipment operation trades; supervisors and technical jobs in natural resources, agriculture and related production; processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors and central control operators; chefs and cooks; butchers and bakers).

Minimum work experience:

1. At least 2 years of full-time work (or equivalent part-time) in a skilled trade within the last 5 years
2. Work must be:
3. Paid
4. In a country where you were qualified to practise your trade

Job offer or certificate of qualification:

You must have one of the following:

1. A valid job offer (or offers) for full-time work in a skilled trade for at least 1 year, OR
2. A certificate of qualification in your trade issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial, or federal authority

Language requirements (FST):

1. Speaking and listening: CLB/NCLC 5
2. Reading and writing: CLB/NCLC 4

Education:

1. No formal education requirement, but having Canadian education or an ECA for foreign education increases CRS points.

Proof of funds:

1. Required (similar to FSW) unless you are already working in Canada and have a valid job offer.

4. CRS Score: How You’re Ranked in the Pool

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) gives you a score out of 1,200 points based on four main factor groups:

1. Core / Human Capital Factors
2. Age
3. Education
4. Official language proficiency
5. Canadian work experience
6. Spouse or Common-Law Partner Factors (if applicable)
7. Their education
8. Their language ability
9. Their Canadian work experience
10. Skill Transferability Factors
11. Combinations like education + language, foreign work experience + language, etc.
12. Additional Points
13. Provincial nomination (+600 points)
14. Canadian study
15. Sibling in Canada (citizen or PR)
16. Strong French skills

Until March 2025, a valid job offer could give 50–200 additional points. This is no longer the case. From March 25, 2025, CRS points for job offers have been removed, but job offers remain important for eligibility in FST, some FSW scenarios, and many PNPs.

A strong strategy today usually focuses on:

1. Maximizing language scores (especially reaching CLB 9+)
2. Obtaining Canadian work experience where possible
3. Leveraging French for both additional CRS points and access to category-based draws
4. Securing a provincial nomination when appropriate

5. Documents & Fees for Express Entry in 2025

5.1 Main Documents Checklist

For most Express Entry applicants, you should plan for:

1. Language test results (CELPIP-G, IELTS-GT, PTE Core, TEF Canada, TCF Canada)
2. ECA report for foreign education (from a designated organization like WES, IQAS, ICES, etc.)
3. Passports and civil status documents (marriage/divorce, children’s birth certificates)
4. Work reference letters for each job you claim, confirming:
5. Job title and NOC
6. Duties
7. Hours per week
8. Salary and employment dates
9. Proof of funds (if required by your program) bank letters, statements, investments, etc., showing that you meet or exceed the latest IRCC settlement funds table for your family size
10. Police certificates for every country/territory where you have lived 6+ months since age 18
11. Immigration medical exam with a panel physician
12. Biometrics (fingerprints and photo)

IRCC provides detailed guidance under the “Get your documents ready” section for Express Entry.

5.2 Application Fees (IRCC & Typical Extra Costs)

As of 2024–2026, for most economic permanent residence applications (including those via Express Entry), IRCC charges approximately:

1. CAD 950 – PR processing fee per adult
2. CAD 575 – Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) per adult
3. CAD 260 – Processing fee per dependent child

Other costs to plan for:

1. Language tests (varies by country and provider)
2. ECA fees
3. Police certificates
4. Immigration medical exam
5. Biometrics (about CAD 85 per individual or CAD 170 per family, subject to change)
6. Professional representation fees (if you hire an RCIC or lawyer)

Always confirm current fees directly on the official IRCC site before you pay, because IRCC can adjust fees again after April 2026.

6. Processing Times and What to Expect After Applying

Once you submit a complete e-APR and receive an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR), IRCC will start processing your file.

1. IRCC’s service standard is about 6 months for 80% of complete Express Entry applications (CEC, FSW, FST).
2. Some files are processed faster; others take longer due to:
3. Security/background checks
4. Medical or criminal admissibility issues
5. Additional document requests
6. Overall IRCC workload

During processing, IRCC may:

1. Request updated documents or explanations
2. Issue a Procedural Fairness Letter (PFL) if there is a serious concern (for example, about genuineness of work experience, proof of funds, or a non-accompanying spouse strategy)

If everything is approved, you’ll receive:

1. COPR (Confirmation of Permanent Residence)
2. Instructions to finalize landing and obtain your PR card

7. Express Entry, Quebec, and Other Options

Express Entry applies to people who plan to live outside the province of Quebec. Quebec has its own selection system and programs (for example, Quebec Skilled Worker, PEQ), which are not managed through Express Entry.

Even though LMRT Immigration is based in Montreal, our consultants are licensed for both:

1. Federal/Express Entry and IRB matters across Canada, and
2. Quebec immigration, through MIFI-licensed RCIC-IRB consultants (depending on the individual consultant’s authorizations).

For many clients, we analyze both pathways (Express Entry and Quebec programs) and recommend the one that better matches your profile, timeline, and long-term plans.

8. How LMRT Immigration Can Help with Express Entry

Express Entry is simple in theory but complicated in practice especially after the 2025 changes. At LMRT Immigration (head office: 433 Rue Chabanel O, Office 620, Montreal, Quebec, H2N 2J9, Canada), your file is handled by licensed RCIC-IRB consultants, not salespeople.

Here is how we typically assist:

1. Eligibility assessment for CEC, FSW, FST and PNP
2. CRS scoring and scenario planning, including French and PNP strategies
3. Identifying risks (e.g., complex work history, non-accompanying spouse, borderline proof of funds)
4. Preparing accurate, IRCC-compliant reference letters and document packages
5. Monitoring category-based draws that might be advantageous for your profile
6. Representing you with IRCC and, if needed, the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) for complex or refused cases

You can contact LMRT Immigration Services by email at agent@lmrtimmigration.com or by phone/WhatsApp at +1 438 700 6165 to discuss your Express Entry plan.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How can LMRT Immigration help me with Express Entry?

LMRT Immigration’s RCIC-IRB consultants can:

1. Confirm which program(s) you qualify for
2. Build a realistic CRS improvement strategy
3. Assess your eligibility for category-based draws and PNPs
4. Prepare and review your Express Entry profile and e-APR
5. Identify risks (work history, funds, non-accompanying spouse, admissibility) and address them early

Consult with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant before submitting your application.
You can reach LMRT Immigration at agent@lmrtimmigration.com or +1 438 700 6165 to book a consultation and discuss your situation in detail.

Disclaimer: This information is based on current IRCC guidelines as of December 2, 2025. Immigration regulations change frequently. Always verify current requirements with the official sources: