By For most skilled newcomers, the path to a Canadian permanent resident (PR) card runs through Express Entry — the online system Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses to manage applications for three federal economic immigration programs. It is fast, points-based, and entirely digital. But it changed meaningfully in 2025 and 2026, and a lot of guides online still quote rules and fees that no longer apply. This guide walks through how the system actually works today.
Quick Answer: How does Express Entry work?
Express Entry is a pool-and-ranking system. You create an online profile, get scored out of 1,200 points by the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), and wait in a pool. Every couple of weeks IRCC holds a "draw" and sends an Invitation to Apply (ITA) to the highest-scoring candidates. Once invited, you have 60 days to submit a full PR application, and IRCC aims to process most complete applications within about 6 months. The government fee for a single applicant is $1,590 (a $990 processing fee plus the $600 Right of Permanent Residence Fee).
You do not pay to enter the pool — fees come only after you are invited.
The three programs under Express Entry
Express Entry doesn't have its own eligibility rules — it manages three separate federal programs. You must qualify for at least one.
Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) — for skilled professionals, usually working abroad. You need at least one year of continuous full-time (or equal part-time) skilled work in the last 10 years in an occupation classified NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3, language ability of at least Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7, and a passing score of 67 out of 100 on the separate FSW selection grid (a different test from the CRS).
Canadian Experience Class (CEC) — for people already in Canada on a work permit. You need one year of skilled Canadian work experience in the last three years. There is no FSW-style points grid. Language is CLB 7 for TEER 0/1 jobs and CLB 5 for TEER 2/3 jobs.
Federal Skilled Trades (FST) — for qualified tradespeople. You need two years of full-time skilled-trade experience in the last five years, plus either a valid job offer or a Canadian certificate of qualification in your trade. Language is lower: CLB 5 for speaking and listening, CLB 4 for reading and writing.
Summary: FSW is the route for skilled workers abroad, CEC for those already working in Canada, and FST for tradespeople. CEC and FST have lighter language thresholds; FSW alone has the 67-point grid.
How the CRS score works
Your CRS score (maximum 1,200) decides where you sit in the pool. It splits into two halves.
Core human capital and skill transferability (up to 600). Without an accompanying spouse, you can earn up to 500 points across age, education, language, and Canadian work experience, plus up to 100 points for skill-transferability combinations. With a spouse, the principal applicant earns up to 460 and the spouse up to 40, plus the same transferability points.
- Age: highest in your twenties, declining after 30.
- Education: more for a master's; the most for a PhD.
- Language: the largest single lever — strong results in your first official language are worth the most points, and a second language (usually French) adds more.
- Canadian work experience: rewarded directly and again through skill transferability.
Additional factors (up to 600). This is where scores jump:
- Provincial nomination: 600 points. A nomination from a province effectively guarantees an ITA.
- Strong French: up to 50 points on top of language points, and French-category draws often have far lower cut-offs.
- Canadian study experience and a sibling who is a Canadian citizen or PR add smaller amounts.
The big 2026 change: job-offer points are gone
This is the single most important update, and many older guides still get it wrong. As of March 25, 2025, IRCC removed all arranged-employment CRS points. A job offer — whether backed by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or LMIA-exempt — used to add 50 or 200 points. It now adds zero CRS points. A job offer can still help you qualify for the Federal Skilled Trades program or a provincial stream, but it no longer boosts your ranking. If you are planning around an old "+50/+200 for a job offer" assumption, rebuild your strategy.
Summary: Language and a provincial nomination are now the highest-leverage factors. Don't count on a job offer for points — that lever was removed in 2025.
Category-based draws
Alongside general draws, IRCC runs category-based draws that invite candidates with specific attributes, often at much lower cut-offs. For 2026 the categories include French-language proficiency, healthcare and social services, STEM occupations, trades, education, plus newer Canadian-experience categories for physicians, senior managers, and researchers. A notable shift: as of 2026 most categories require at least 12 months of qualifying experience, up from six months previously. General-draw cut-offs have hovered around the 500s, while category draws can dip far lower — a 2026 physicians draw landed at a record-low CRS of 169. Because these change every draw, check the live results rather than any fixed number quoted online.
The provincial route (and BC's 2026 reset)
A Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) nomination is worth 600 CRS points, so it is the most powerful boost available. Most provinces run an "enhanced" PNP stream linked to your Express Entry profile.
If you're settling in Vancouver, note that the BC Provincial Nominee Program was restructured in 2026 under a "Look West" strategy, with an updated Skills Immigration Program Guide effective May 28, 2026. The old "Tech Pilot" framing no longer applies. BC now organizes its program around three objectives — Care, Build, and Innovate — and, with reduced federal allocation, prioritizes select healthcare occupations, certified early childhood educators, veterinary roles, and French-speaking K-12 teachers. Check WelcomeBC for the current priority list before assuming your occupation qualifies.
Fees and costs (2026)
Government fees rose in 2026. For a single economic-class applicant:
| Fee | Amount (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Processing fee (per adult) | $990 |
| Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) | $600 |
| Total, single applicant | $1,590 |
A spouse adds another $990 + $600; each dependent child is a lower processing fee with no RPRF. The RPRF is refundable if you don't become a PR; the processing fee is not. On top of government fees, budget for third-party costs that vary by provider: a language test, an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), the immigration medical exam (roughly $100–$400 per adult through an IRCC panel physician, not a fixed price), police certificates, and translations.
Timeline and documents
- Profile to ITA: anything from days (high score or a nomination) to over a year. Your profile is valid 12 months; language results 2 years; an ECA 5 years.
- After an ITA: you have 60 days to submit a complete PR application with all documents.
- Processing: IRCC's service standard is 6 months for 80% of complete applications, though some streams run a month or so longer.
After your ITA you'll need an upfront medical exam, police certificates from every country you lived in for six months or more since age 18, passport and photos, your ECA report, language results, and detailed employer reference letters (on letterhead, with dates, title, duties, salary, hours, and a supervisor signature). Non-English/French documents need certified translations.
How this fits your settlement to-dos
Express Entry runs in parallel with the practical first steps of landing. You'll still want a Social Insurance Number to work, a Canadian bank account to receive pay and pay fees, and — if you're heading to Vancouver — BC's MSP health coverage once you're eligible. Get these moving early; they don't wait on your PR decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a job offer to apply through Express Entry?
No. A job offer is not required for FSW or CEC, and since March 2025 it adds no CRS points anyway. It can still help you qualify for the Federal Skilled Trades program or a provincial nominee stream.
How much does Express Entry cost in 2026?
The government fee for a single applicant is $1,590 — a $990 processing fee plus the $600 Right of Permanent Residence Fee. Spouses pay the same; children pay a smaller processing fee with no RPRF. Tests, medical exams, and credential assessments are extra.
What CRS score do I need to get invited?
There's no fixed number — it's set each draw by where the cut-off falls. General draws have recently sat in the 500s, but category-based draws (French, healthcare, physicians, trades) can be far lower. A provincial nomination adds 600 points and all but guarantees an invitation.
How long does the whole process take?
From a complete profile to a PR card can be roughly 7 to 18+ months. After you receive an Invitation to Apply, you have 60 days to file, and IRCC aims to decide 80% of complete applications within about 6 months.
Can I improve my CRS score while in the pool?
Yes. Retaking a language test for a higher band is usually the fastest gain. Adding Canadian work experience, completing a credential, learning French, or pursuing a provincial nomination all help. Job offers no longer add points.
Which English and French tests are accepted?
For English: IELTS General Training or CELPIP-General. For French: TEF Canada or TCF Canada. Results are valid for two years.
References
- Express Entry: Rounds of invitations — Canada.ca — official, live draw results and CRS cut-offs.
- Express Entry: Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) criteria — Canada.ca — the official points breakdown.
- Express Entry: Job offer — Canada.ca — confirms job-offer points were removed.
- Citizenship and immigration application fees: Fee list — IRCC — current $990 processing and $600 RPRF.
- Medical exam for permanent residence applicants — Canada.ca — panel physician requirements.
- BC Provincial Nominee Program — WelcomeBC — BC's 2026 program structure and priorities.