The Express Entry System of Canada is the chief pathway for skilled workers to apply for Canada PR Visa from India. Canada Express Entry is not an immigration program in itself but an application management system. It consists of 3 federal economic immigration programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
- Canadian Experience Class
The eligibility for Canada PR Visa under each of these programs is different. Only those candidates who fulfill the minimum requirements can file an application through the Express Entry system.
The Express Entry system has been designed to choose the candidates with the highest scores. The allocation of points is according to several factors like education, work experience, age, job offer, and language proficiency.
If you wish to create a profile in the Express Entry System, you have to fulfill eligibility requirements for any of the 3 federal economic immigration programs.
Federal Skilled Worker Program
The minimum requirements for FSWP are as follows:
Work Experience
You must possess a minimum work experience of 12 months which is full-time and paid in the past 10 years (corresponding part-time work is also accepted). It must be in a skill level B, A, or 0 under the NOC - National Occupational Classification.
Language Proficiency
You are required to have language proficiency of at least 7 CLB - Canadian Language Benchmark in English or French language demonstrated through accredited test results like IELTS score.
Education
You must possess a Degree, Diploma, or Certificate on par with Post-secondary or High School level in Canada. Education obtained overseas is subject to ECA - Educational Credential Assessment.
Federal Skilled Trades Program
The minimum requirements for FSTP are as follows:
Work Experience
You must possess a minimum work experience of 24 months which is full-time and paid in the past 5 years (corresponding part-time work is also accepted) in a skilled trade.
NOC
The occupation in which you have work experience must fulfill the criteria for skilled trade according to the National Occupational Classification.
Job Offer
You must possess a:
- Offer of job with a minimum validity of 12 months; or
- Certificate of Qualification in a skilled trade offered by an authority in Canada
Language Proficiency
You must have proficiency in English or French language corresponding to the following CLB Levels:
- Listening - 5
- Speaking - 5
- Writing - 4
- Reading - 4
Canadian Experience Class
The minimum requirements for CEC are as follows:
Work Experience
You must possess a minimum work experience of 12 months in Canada which is full-time and paid in the past 10 years (corresponding part-time work is also accepted). It must be in a skill level B, A, or 0 under the NOC - National Occupational Classification.
You must have gained work experience in Canada as a lawful Temporary Resident on a Work Permit.
Language Proficiency
You are required to have language proficiency of at least 7 CLB - Canadian Language Benchmark in English or French language demonstrated through accredited test results like IELTS score. This is for NOC A or 0 jobs. CLB 5 is required for NOC B occupations.
Proof of Funds
If you are filing an application under FSWP or FSTP, you are required to prove that you possess adequate funds except if you possess an authentic employment offer and authorization to work in Canada. This criterion is to ensure that the applicants possess adequate funds for settling in Canada.
Evidence of funds is not needed for CEC applicants.
Points to Note
The above requirements are only basic criteria for Express Entry programs. The system has been designed in a way that only those applicants having the highest scores get the ITA for PR Visa. So it is recommended that you include all the details in your profile about the following areas:
- Work experience and skills
- Language Proficiency
- Educational Credentials
- Language Proficiency of your common-law partner or spouse
- Presence of an employment offer backed by an affirmative LMIA - Labor Market Impact Assessment
- Presence of a nomination from a Canadian Province
- A blend of work experience, education, and language proficiency that can offer greater prospects of getting a job
- Presence of a sibling in Canada
Express Entry Application Process
The application process under Express Entry has three stages:
Stage I
In the first step, you have to create a profile that needs the following documentation:
- Results of Language test
- ECA - Educational Credential Assessment Report
- Travel Document or a passport
Stage II
You will be offered a score based on the strength of your profile and entered into a pool of candidates who have a profile in Express Entry. Once you get the score it is crucial to keep your profile updated and explore opportunities to increase your score and get ITA.
Stage III
If you are selected you will get the ITA for a Canada PR Visa. For submitting a complete application you will require several documents for supporting the information in your profile. It is inclusive of extra ID proofs, Reference Letters, results of Medical exams, and Clearance Certificates from the Police.
You are not required to make payment of fees to the Government of Canada for creating a profile in Express Entry. This is required after you get ITA for PR Visa. Additionally, you may have to pay a fee to the Government of the Province if you are applying through a PNP.
Further, you must note that unless you are filing an application under CEC or have an authentic employment offer in Canada, you must prove possession of adequate funds for relocating to Canada. These are known as settlement funds and are not fees to be paid to the Government. However, you must have access to these funds to get approval for PR Visa.
If you wish to apply for Canada PR Visa from India or check eligibility for Canada PR Visa, connect with ICCRC-Accredited Immigration Experts at Nationwide Visas.
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