What is Express Entry and What is Category Based Selection

 

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry is a system that helps Canada manage applications for three important immigration programs:

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

These programs use a scoring system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to rank candidates. The CRS gives points based on:

• Age
• Work experience
• Language skills
• Job type
• Education

If you have a spouse or partner, their details can also earn you more points. All these points together make up your CRS score.

Candidates with the highest CRS scores get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency. If you get an ITA, you have 60 days to send your full application to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

What is Category-Based Selection?

In May 2023, IRCC started a new way to choose Express Entry candidates called category-based selection. This helps pick candidates who can best help Canada's economy. There are six categories:

1. Healthcare occupations
2. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
3. Trades occupations (like carpenters, plumbers, contractors)
4. Transport occupations
5. Agriculture and agri-food occupations
6. French language proficiency

This year, most category-based selections will be for candidates who speak French (30%). Healthcare jobs will be 15%, STEM jobs 25%, and the other categories will be 5% or less.

Summary

Express Entry helps Canada choose skilled workers for permanent residency using a points system. In 2023, a new method called category-based selection started, focusing on specific job types and French speakers to support Canada's job market and economy.