Permanent residence
Express Entry
Express Entry is how IRCC manages three permanent residence programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. You make an online profile and get a Comprehensive Ranking System score. IRCC then invites the highest-scoring people to apply in regular draws.
Who qualifies for Express Entry?
- Federal Skilled Worker: skilled workers with work experience abroad or in Canada, language test results and education.
- Canadian Experience Class: people with at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada in the last three years.
- Federal Skilled Trades: tradespeople with a qualifying job offer or a Canadian certificate of qualification.
How does Express Entry work?
- We check which program you qualify for and estimate your score.
- You take an approved language test and, if you studied outside Canada, get an educational credential assessment.
- We build your profile, with each job matched to the right occupation code.
- If you are invited, we prepare the full application within the deadline: reference letters, police certificates, medicals and proof of funds where needed.
- We follow the file to a decision and help you plan your landing.
What documents do you need for Express Entry?
- Language test results.
- Educational credential assessment for education outside Canada.
- Reference letters from employers that list your duties, hours and pay.
- Proof of funds, unless you are exempt.
- Police certificates and medical results after you are invited.
IRCC sets the exact list for each application. We give you a checklist for your own file.
Why are Express Entry applications refused?
- Reference letters that do not describe the duties of the job you claimed.
- Work experience counted under the wrong occupation.
- Differences between your profile and the documents you send after the invitation.
- Proof of funds that falls short for the period IRCC checks.
- Misrepresentation, even by mistake, which can lead to a five-year ban.
How can Blue Chip help?
- We check your points against your documents before your profile goes live.
- We give your employers a reference letter template.
- We look at ways to raise your score, such as a new language test or a provincial nomination.
- We explain the kinds of draws IRCC runs, including draws for certain occupations, so you know where you fit.
Common questions
What score do I need?
There is no fixed number. The cut-off changes with every draw and with the type of draw. IRCC posts recent results on its rounds of invitations page.
Do I need a job offer?
Most people do not. It matters for the Federal Skilled Trades Program. The points for job offers have changed, so we check the current rule for you.
How long is an Express Entry profile valid?
Up to 12 months. If you are not invited by then, you can make a new one.
Official pages
Fees, processing times and income figures change often. Check them on the official pages:
- Express Entry (IRCC)
- Express Entry: who can apply (IRCC)
- Express Entry rounds of invitations (IRCC)
- Check processing times (IRCC)
This page is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different, and no one can guarantee an outcome. Rules checked against canada.ca in October 2026.
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