Express Entry is the Canadian federal government's application management system for economic skilled immigration. Introduced on 1 January 2015, Express Entry manages the application queue for three federal economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). It also serves as the pool from which Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams that operate through Express Entry draw candidates.

Candidates who meet the minimum eligibility criteria for at least one program create an Express Entry profile. IRCC assigns each candidate a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on human capital factors (age, education, language, Canadian work experience), spousal factors, skills transferability, and additional factors. IRCC holds regular draws from the Express Entry pool, issuing Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to the highest-ranking candidates.

Express Entry is authorised under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR). The selection grid (CRS) and minimum eligibility requirements for each program are set out in the IRPR. IRCC has the authority to conduct category-based draws (by occupation or other criteria) since amendments to the IRPA in 2023.

Step 1 — Eligibility: The candidate must meet the minimum criteria for at least one of FSWP, FSTP, or CEC (including required language scores, education credentials, and work experience). For FSWP, a minimum CRS score of 67 points on the FSWP eligibility grid is required.

Step 2 — Profile creation: The candidate submits an Express Entry profile through the IRCC online portal, providing information on language test results, education, work experience, job offer (if any), and provincial nomination (if any).

Step 3 — CRS ranking: IRCC calculates a CRS score (maximum 1,200 points). Core human capital factors account for up to 500 points; spouse/partner factors up to 40 points; skills transferability up to 100 points; and additional factors (job offer, PNP nomination, sibling in Canada, French) up to 600 points.

Step 4 — Draw: IRCC conducts regular draws (typically every 2 weeks). General program draws invite the highest-ranked candidates above a cut-off CRS score. Category-based draws target specific occupations (e.g. healthcare, STEM, trades, agriculture, education) regardless of overall CRS rank.

Step 5 — Application: Invited candidates have 60 days to submit a complete permanent residence application. Processing target is 6 months from complete application submission.

The CRS cut-off score in general program draws has historically ranged between approximately 430 and 560, depending on the size of the draw and the composition of the pool. Category-based draws introduced in 2023 have significantly expanded pathways for candidates with specific occupational backgrounds, often at lower CRS scores than general program draws.

A provincial nomination (from any PNP stream aligned with Express Entry) adds 600 CRS points — effectively guaranteeing an ITA at the next draw for a nominated candidate. This makes PNP streams an important supplement to federal Express Entry for candidates with lower CRS scores.

French-language proficiency (NCLC 7 or higher in all four components) adds 25 points (or 50 points if the candidate's first official language is French). IRCC has stated that French-language immigration is a policy priority and category-based draws for French-speaking candidates outside Quebec occur periodically.

Express Entry does not manage Quebec immigration — Quebec has its own selection system (Arrima) and its own selection criteria under the Canada-Quebec Accord.