Economic Immigration
Express Entry
Express Entry (EE) is Canada’s main system for managing permanent residence applications for skilled workers. It covers three federal programs and uses a points-based ranking system (CRS) to invite top-ranked candidates to apply for permanent residence.
EE - Federal Skilled Worker
The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW) is an economic immigration program managed through Express Entry for skilled workers seeking permanent residence in Canada. Candidates are assessed based on education, skilled work experience, language ability, and other selection factors.
Applicants must:
- Have at least 1 year of continuous paid skilled work experience (1,560 hours total) within the last 10 years
- The work must be in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation, in Canada or abroad
- Provide approved language test results
Have eligible educational credentials
Key Requirement
Applicants must score at least 67 out of 100 on the Federal Skilled Worker selection factors to qualify and enter the Express Entry pool.
EE - Canadian Experience Class
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is an economic immigration program managed through Express Entry for skilled workers with Canadian work experience seeking permanent residence.
Applicants must:
- Have at least 1 year of paid skilled work experience (1,560 hours) in Canada within the last 3 years
- The work must be in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation
- Have obtained the experience while authorized to work in Canada
Meet the required language proficiency
Important Requirement
- The qualifying work experience must be gained in Canada while authorized to work
Self-employment and most work experience gained while a full-time student do not count toward the minimum requirement.
EE - Federal Skilled Trades
The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST) is an Express Entry pathway for skilled tradespeople seeking permanent residence in Canada. Candidates are assessed based on skilled trade experience, language proficiency, and program criteria.
Applicants must:
- Have at least 2 years of paid full-time work experience (3,120 hours total) in a qualifying skilled trade within the last 5 years
- Work in a trade that meets the National Occupational Classification (NOC) job requirements
- Hold either a valid full-time job offer (minimum 1 year) or a Canadian certificate of qualification in their trade
Eligible trade sectors include construction, manufacturing, transportation, natural resources, and agriculture.
Key Requirement
- Job offer or Canadian certificate of qualification is mandatory
No formal education requirement is needed under the FST program.
Further Permanent Residence Options
In addition to Express Entry, Canada provides further permanent residence options through provincial, regional, and community-driven immigration programs.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) enables Canadian provinces and territories to nominate individuals with the skills, education, and work experience needed to contribute to their local economies for permanent residence. Each province and territory has its own streams and eligibility criteria, and nominations are allocated annually based on regional labour market and economic priorities. Applicants can apply through an Express Entry–aligned stream, where a nomination adds 600 CRS points to improve chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA), or through a non–Express Entry stream, which requires a separate permanent residence application after nomination.
Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is an employer-driven pathway to permanent residence for skilled workers and eligible international graduates seeking to live and work in Atlantic Canada, including New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Applicants must obtain a full-time, non-seasonal job offer from a designated employer in the region and meet the program’s eligibility criteria, including relevant work experience (at least 1 year within the past 5 years) unless exempt as a qualifying Atlantic graduate, as well as the applicable education and language requirements. Applicants must also demonstrate sufficient settlement funds, unless they are already working in Canada with valid status.