Are you eligible for Express Entry?

If you’re interested in becoming a permanent resident of Canada, one of the most common first steps is creating a profile in Express Entry—an online system used by IRCC to manage immigration applications from skilled workers.

After entering your personal information, including your work experience, education, and language test results, you’ll receive a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and be placed in a pool of candidates. IRCC conducts draws regularly to invite the highest-ranking candidates to apply for permanent residence.

To be eligible to create your Express Entry profile, you must meet the minimum requirements of at least one of the three economic immigration programs:

• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

What are the minimum requirements for each program?

Category	CEC	FSWP	FSTP
Primary occupation	TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3	TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3	Major Groups 72 (except 726), 73, 82, 83, 92, 93 (except 932); Minor Group 6320; Unit Group 62200
Work experience	At least 1,560 hours of Canadian work experience in the last 3 years, while authorized to work	At least 1,560 hours of continuous work experience in the same NOC within the last 10 years (can be in Canada or abroad)	At least 2 years (3,120 hours) of full-time work experience in a skilled trade within the last 5 years (in Canada or abroad), while qualified to practice
Language proficiency (CLB/NCLC scores must be within last 2 years)	CLB/NCLC 7 for TEER 0–1; CLB/NCLC 5 for TEER 2–3	CLB/NCLC 7 in all four abilities	CLB/NCLC 5 in Speaking & Listening; CLB/NCLC 4 in Reading & Writing
Education	No requirement; foreign credentials need ECA (issued within last 5 years) to earn CRS points	Minimum high school diploma; foreign credentials need ECA (issued within last 5 years)	No requirement; foreign credentials do not require ECA unless claiming points
Settlement funds	Not required	Required unless exempted (e.g., valid job offer and work authorization)	Required unless exempted (e.g., valid job offer and work authorization)
Intended province	All provinces except Quebec	All provinces except Quebec	All provinces except Quebec
Other requirements	Must be admissible to Canada	Must be admissible to Canada; Must score at least 67 points on FSWP selection grid	Must be admissible to Canada; Canadian Certificate of Qualification in the trade OR valid job offer for at least 1 year

It’s important to understand that meeting the basic eligibility requirements does not guarantee an invitation to apply. Since 2023, IRCC has introduced category-based selection, targeting candidates with specific skills, occupations, or language abilities.

In 2025 so far, nearly all Express Entry invitations have gone to:

• Candidates with strong French proficiency (minimum NCLC 7 in all abilities),

• Candidates in the Canadian Experience Class; and

• Provincial nominees

Creating a profile in Express Entry is only the first step. To improve your chances, you’ll need the right strategy tailored to your unique profile. Whether that means improving your language scores, exploring provincial nominee programs (PNPs), or exploring other pathways —we’re here to help you plan your next move.

📩 Let’s talk! If you want to create your Express Entry profile or explore your immigration options, we’d love to hear from you.Email us at info@valancyimmigration.ca or book a consultation here:👉 https://wix.to/Ai9AnLt