Express Entry is the application management system that handles immigration applications from the following three programs:

1. Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
2. Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
3. Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) 

The above are Canada’s primary method of immigration at the federal government level. 

The CEC is specifically for skilled workers living and working in Canada for at least 12 consecutive months with a work permit.

The FSWP is specifically for skilled workers with a degree or equivalent from a recognized tertiary educational institution.

The FSTP is specifically for skilled tradespeople with a recognized diploma or certified job-specific training. 

These programs assist the federal government with attracting foreign skilled workers to Canada, which Canada requires to maintain a strong level of economic and social development. 

In exchange for the help that immigrants provide by aiding Canada’s workforce, international skilled workers who are interested in immigrating to Canada are given permanent residence in Canada, which affords them certain rights and freedoms as Canadian-born citizens.

To become a Canadian permanent resident through one of the three programs under Express Entry, interested candidates must –

• First self-verify their eligibility for at least one of the three programs under the Express Entry application management system. 
• Then, all eligible candidates can create a profile with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), 
• This will formally enter them into the pool of candidates eligible to receive an Invitation To Apply (ITA) through an Express Entry draw. 

Candidates must wait until IRCC issues their next round of invitations in an upcoming Express Entry draw. Typically, these draws occur once every two weeks. When these draws take place, eligible candidates in the pool who have a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score above the cut-off score (for that particular draw) will receive an Invitation To Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence. 

Receipt of an ITA triggers the transition from Express Entry candidate to Express Entry applicant, at which time candidates will have 60 days to submit an electronic Application for Permanent Residence (eAPR) to IRCC.

If you apply for permanent residence in Canada as a Provincial Nominee, you must settle in the province or territory that nominated you.

The provincial nominee program is for workers who have the skills, education and work experience to contribute to the economy of a specific province or territory, want to live in that province and want to become permanent residents of Canada.

Each province and territory has its own “streams” (immigration programs that target certain groups) and requirements. For example, in a program stream, provinces and territories may target

• students
• business people
• skilled workers
• semi-skilled workers

How you will apply depends on which Provincial Nominee Program stream you’re applying to. You might need to apply using the non-Express Entry process, or through Express Entry.

As part of the process, you will have to pass a medical exam and get a police check (certificate).

Non-Express Entry process

In the non-Express Entry process:

• you apply to the province or territory for nomination under a non-Express Entry stream.
• you need to meet the eligibility requirements of the province that nominates you.
• if you’re nominated, you apply for permanent residence 
• you have to get a
  • medical exam and
  • police check (certificate)
• application processing times are longer than through Express Entry.

Express Entry process

In the Express Entry process, there are 2 ways to apply:

• You contact the province or territory and apply for a nomination under an Express Entry stream.
• If the province or territory agrees to nominate you, you create an Express Entry profile (or update your profile if you already have one) and show you have been nominated.

OR

• You create an Express Entry profile and show the provinces and territories you’re interested in.
• If a province or territory sends a “notification of interest” to your account, you contact them directly.
• You apply to their Express Entry stream.
  • If you’re nominated, the province or territory will send a nomination certificate to your account, and you accept it electronically.

In both cases, you must

• meet the eligibility requirements of the province or territory and
• submit an Express Entry profile and show that you meet the minimum criteria for Express Entry, including being eligible for one of the immigration programs it covers.
  • If you are invited to apply, you submit an electronic application to IRCC.

An individual can sponsor their spouse, partner or dependent child to immigrate to Canada if the individual is:

• At least 18 years old
• A Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act
  • A Canadian citizen living outside Canada must show that they plan to live in Canada when the person they want to sponsor becomes a permanent resident.
  • You can’t sponsor someone if you’re a permanent resident living outside Canada.
• Able to prove that they’re not receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability
• Can provide for the basic needs of any persons they want to sponsor

Income requirement

In most cases, there isn’t an income requirement to sponsor a spouse or partner or dependent child. You only need to show that you have enough money to meet the income requirements if:

• you’re sponsoring a dependent child that has 1 or more dependent children of their own, or
• you’re sponsoring a spouse or partner that has a dependent child, and their dependent child has 1 or more children of their own.

You cannot sponsor your spouse, partner or child if:

• you’re less than 18 years old
• you won’t live in Canada when the persons you want to sponsor become permanent residents
• you’re not a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act
• you’re a temporary resident, that is you’re visiting, studying or working in Canada on a visa or permit
• your permanent residence application is still in process
  • You must have permanent resident status at the time you submit your sponsorship application.
• you don’t have enough money to support the persons you want to sponsor (if applicable)

A Convention Refugee or Protected Person is a person who it has been determined would be at risk of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment or at risk to their life and, because of that risk, is unwilling or unable to avail themselves of the protection of their country.

Such determinations are made by the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) or Refugee Appeal Division (RAD) of the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) of Canada.

Protected persons in Canada can apply for permanent residence in Canada and include in the application their dependants who are in Canada and abroad. Protected persons in Canada include:

• Convention refugees
• Persons in need of protection 
• People with positive pre-removal risk assessments (PRRAs)
• Protected temporary residents

Individuals who were deemed a member of the protected temporary residents (PTR) class can apply for permanent residence and must provide their temporary resident permit as proof of their status.

An individual can apply for permanent residence in Canada under humanitarian and compassionate considerations (H&C).

The Start-Up Visa is the fastest investor pathway to Canadian permanent residency. Canada’s start-up visa program targets immigrant entrepreneurs with the skills and potential to build businesses in Canada that:

• are innovative
• can create jobs for Canadians
• can compete on a global scale

Do you have an innovative business idea? We can get support for your idea from one of the designated organizations, then you will be able to immigrate to Canada.

To be eligible for the Start-up Visa Program, you must:

• have a qualifying business
• get a letter of support from a designated organization
• meet the language requirements
• bring enough money to settle

Qualifying business
A qualifying business means you created a business that meets the following conditions.

1. At the time you get a commitment from a designated organization:
   – each applicant holds 10% or more of the voting rights attached to all shares of the corporation outstanding at that time (up to 5 people can apply as owners)
   
   AND
   
   – applicants and the designated organization jointly hold more than 50% of the total voting rights attached to all shares of the corporation outstanding at that time

1. At the time you receive your permanent residence:
   
   – you provide active and ongoing management of this business from within Canada
   
   – an essential part of the operations of the business happens in Canada
   
   – this business is incorporated in Canada

Letter of Support from a Designated Organization
You must get a letter of support from a designated organization (a business group that has been approved to invest in or support possible start-ups).

You’ll need to:

– get assistance in Canada to contact the designated organization and find out how to get its support
– convince the organization that you have a business idea that is worth supporting
– get a letter of support from the designated organization

The process to pitch your idea is different for each organization. Each organization has its own requirements. For example, you may be asked to present your business concept in person or submit a detailed business plan.

If you reach an agreement with a designated organization, you will get a letter of support. This is the proof you need to show that the venture capital fund, angel investor group, or business incubator is supporting your business idea.

The organization will also send a commitment certificate directly to immigration. Immigration will use both your letter of support and the organization’s commitment certificate to assess your application. Immigration may ask you for more business information in order to take a final decision on your application.

If you don’t include the letter of support or meet any of the other requirements, your application will be refused.

Designated organizations

• Venture capital funds – You must get at least one of these groups to agree to invest a minimum of $200,000
• Angel investor groups – You must get one or more investors connected to these groups to agree to invest a minimum of $75,000
• For the Business incubators, you must be accepted into one of their programs.

Language requirements
The ability to communicate and work in English, French or both languages will help your business succeed in Canada.

You must take a language test from an approved agency and include the results with your application.
You must meet the minimum level of the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in either English or French in all of these four areas: speaking, reading, listening, writing.

If you don’t meet the minimum language skills, your application will be refused by IRCC.

Settlement Funds
The Government of Canada does not give financial support to new start-up visa immigrants.

When you apply, you’ll need to give proof that you have the money to support yourself and your dependants after you arrive in Canada. You can’t borrow this money from another person.

The amount you need depends on the size of your family. The amounts are updated every year.