Canada Express Entry: permanent residence for skilled workers

Federal Skilled Worker: at least 1 year of continuous skilled work (1,560 hours) in TEER 0 to 3 within the last 10 years, CLB 7 in English or French, education with an educational credential assessment for foreign degrees, proof of funds, and at least 67 of 100 points on the FSW selection grid. Canadian Experience Class: 1 year of Canadian skilled work in the last 3 years, with CLB 7 for TEER 0 or 1 jobs or CLB 5 for TEER 2 or 3. Federal Skilled Trades: 2 years of experience in a listed trade in the last 5 years, CLB 5 for speaking and listening and CLB 4 for reading and writing, plus a 1-year job offer or a Canadian certificate of qualification.

Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades candidates without valid job offers and work authorization in Canada must show settlement funds based on family size (50% of the low income cut-off): CAD 15,263 for 1 person, CAD 19,001 for 2, CAD 23,360 for 3, CAD 28,362 for 4, CAD 32,168 for 5 and CAD 36,280 for 6, as last updated on 7 July 2025. Canadian Experience Class candidates do not need proof of funds but must upload an explanation letter.

The fee is CAD 1,590 for the principal applicant and for an accompanying spouse or partner, each including the CAD 600 right of permanent residence fee (CAD 990 without it), and CAD 270 per dependent child. The right of permanent residence fee is refunded if the application is withdrawn or refused.

Take an approved language test, get an educational credential assessment for education completed outside Canada, and create an Express Entry profile. IRCC invites the highest-ranked candidates in general and category-based rounds; provincial nomination adds points. After an invitation you submit a full application with police certificates, medicals and proof of funds, pay the fees, give biometrics and, if approved, receive a confirmation of permanent residence.

From 3 November 2026 the CRS adds a Labour Market Integration factor worth up to 150 points, based either on Canadian work experience (work-length points plus extra points for experience in eligible high-wage occupations) or on a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation (100 points), whichever gives more. High-wage occupations are those whose median wage is at least 1.3 times the national average median wage. IRCC pauses invitation rounds for up to two weeks while it recalculates existing profiles.