Express Entry for US Residents

Express Entry is Canada’s online system for managing applications for permanent residence under its major economic immigration programs. It was introduced in 2015 by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The system ranks candidates using a points-based formula, the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), and issues Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to the highest-ranked candidates.

Express Entry covers three federal immigration streams: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). It also works with the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) where provinces
nominate individuals to receive bonus CRS points, increasing their chances of getting an ITA.

For US residents seeking to move to Canada, Express Entry is often the fastest and most popular
immigration pathway, especially for those with skilled work experience or higher education. Many US-based professionals use Express Entry to transition
from temporary work or study status in the US to permanent residence in Canada.

Express Entry has several types of draws and categories through which candidates may be invited. Among them:

Program-specific draws

Draws that target one of the three Express Entry programs, e.g., CEC only.

Category-based selection rounds

Introduced in 2023 and refined in 2025. These focus on candidates meeting specific labour-market criteria or language skills. As of 2025, these categories include:

• French-language proficiency
  
• Healthcare & social services occupations
  
• STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) occupations
• Trade occupations
• Agriculture & agri-food occupations
  
• Education occupations (new in 2025)
  

PNP candidates

Candidates nominated by provinces and territories. These receive a large CRS boost for nomination. So, broadly: 3 Express Entry programs + PNP pathway + multiple category-based selection criteria. Trends show that cut-offs fluctuate and that having strong French skills, being in-Canada applicants, or achieving PNP nomination still offer advantages.

Eligibility Criteria for Express Entry

To be eligible, a candidate must meet minimum requirements under one of the three Express Entry programs (FSWP, FSTP, or CEC). Some of the core criteria include:

Work experience:

• For CEC: at least one year of full-time skilled work experience in Canada in the past 3 years.
  
• For FSTP: experience in a skilled trade.
  
• For FSWP: one year of continuous full-time work (or equivalent) in a skilled occupation in the past 10 years.
  

Language ability:
Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in English or French via approved tests. CLB levels required vary by program and occupation. For example, CEC: CLB 7 for TEER (NOC) 0 or 1, CLB 5 for TEER 2 or 3.

Education credentials:
Applicants educated outside Canada need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to show their education is equivalent to a Canadian credential.

Proof of funds:
Unless you have a valid job offer or are applying under CEC in many cases. Funds must demonstrate ability to settle in Canada.

Other factors:
Age, adaptability, additional points for French proficiency, siblings in Canada, or previous study/experience in Canada. Also, for category-based draws, having an eligible occupation under the relevant category.

Removal of job-offer points:
As of March 25, 2025, points for arranged employment (job offers) were removed for most candidates. This is a key change affecting how CRS scores are calculated.

For US residents, Express Entry can be particularly beneficial since they often already meet many eligibility factors, such as high English proficiency, North American work experience, and recognized education. Moreover, IRCC processing times for US-based applicants tend to be faster due to ease of document verification and smoother background checks.

In summary, Express Entry remains Canada’s primary and most efficient immigration system, allowing qualified individuals including skilled US residents to become permanent residents and build a future in Canada.