Step by Step Guide to Apply for Express Entry PR for Canada

The Express Entry program is the most popular and efficient immigration program for skilled workers who wish to become permanent residents of Canada. It is a points-based system that selects candidates based on their age, education, language skills, work experience, and other factors. In this article, we will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to apply for permanent residency through the Express Entry program.

Step 1: Determine Your Eligibility

Before applying for permanent residency through the Express Entry program, you must ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria. To be eligible, you must:

have at least one year of full-time work experience in a skilled occupation
have language proficiency in English or French
score a minimum of 67 points on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)
meet the eligibility criteria for one of the three economic immigration programs managed by Express Entry: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), or the Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

If you meet these requirements, you can proceed to the next step.

Step 2: Create an Express Entry Profile

To apply for permanent residency through the Express Entry program, you must create an Express Entry profile on the Government of Canada’s website. The profile will require you to provide information about your work experience, education, language proficiency, and other personal information.

Once you have completed your profile, you will be given a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on your qualifications. The CRS score is a points-based system that ranks candidates based on their age, education, language skills, work experience, and other factors. If your CRS score is high enough, you may receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency.

Step 3: Improve Your CRS Score

If your CRS score is not high enough to receive an ITA, you can improve it by:

Improving your language skills: You can take a language proficiency test such as IELTS or CELPIP to improve your language score. The higher your language score, the more CRS points you will receive.
Obtaining a job offer: If you have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer, you can receive additional CRS points.
Increasing your education: If you have a higher education degree or diploma, you can receive additional CRS points.
Obtaining a provincial nomination: If you have a provincial nomination from a Canadian province or territory, you can receive an additional 600 CRS points.

Step 4: Wait for an Invitation to Apply (ITA)

If your CRS score is high enough, you may receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency through the Express Entry program. The ITA will be sent to your online account, and you will have 60 days to submit your application for permanent residency.

Step 5: Submit Your Application

Once you have received an ITA, you can begin the process of submitting your application for permanent residency. You will be required to provide the following documents:

A copy of your passport
Educational transcripts and diplomas
Language proficiency test results
Work experience letters
Police certificates
Medical exams

You will also be required to pay the application fee, which is currently $1,325 CAD per person. You can pay the fee online or at a Canadian bank.

Step 6: Wait for a Decision

After you have submitted your application, you will need to wait for a decision from the Canadian government. The processing time for Express Entry applications is typically six months or less, but it can vary depending on the volume of applications and the complexity of your case.