What is the Express Entry Program?

The Express Entry system allows foreign skilled workers to apply for permanent residence in Canada. The categories of applications that fall within the Express Entry include: Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Category, Federal Skilled Trades Category, and Provincial Nominee Programs. In order to apply under these categories, qualified foreign applicants must first register an expression of interest with the Express Entry then wait to see if they are invited to apply for permanent residence.

How long does the Express Entry process take?

Once the Express Entry application has been submitted, processing times can take about one year, depending on the workload and priorities of the immigration authorities. Those who wish to remain working in Canada while the application is being processed may be able to apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP).

What is the minimum score required to qualify for the Express Entry program?

Previous rounds of invitations (express entry draws), and the score needed to get an ITA can be viewed here. The score required to receive an ITA depends on the number of people in the pool, the qualifications of those people, and the number of invitations being given out. For example, in the September 14, 2021 round of invitations, 2000 invitations were issued for the Canadian Experience Class. The lowest ranking candidate invited had a CRS score of 462. In the January 5, 2022 round of invitations, 392 invitations were issued for the Provincial Nominee Program. The lowest ranking candidate invited had a CRS score of 808. There may be several ways for you to improve your score. You can even improve your score while waiting in the pool and updating your profile with your new information.

How the TEER System works in the Express Entry Program

On November, 2022, Canada replaced its National Occupation Classification (NOC) with the 2021 version. The new NOC system groups jobs into categories: training, education, experience, and responsibilities (TEER). This new TEER system is based on the type of work and duties an employee does.

There are many qualifying occupation groups, depending on whatever Express Entry program you are interested in. Prospective Express Entry applicants can check their job title, code, and TEER category on the Government of Canada's website to determine if their employment is listed under the acceptable classification categories.

TEER Categories and Examples of Jobs

TEER Category	Job Type	Job Examples
TEER 0	Management occupations	Restaurant managers Marketing & public relations manager Financial managers
TEER 1	Occupations that usually require a university degree	Doctors Dentists Engineers
TEER 2	Occupations that usually require either a college diploma or apprenticeship training of 2 or more years	Web technicians Medical laboratory technologists Heavy equipment operators
TEER 3	Occupations that usually require either a college diploma, apprenticeship training of less than 2 years, or more than 6 months of on-the-job training	Bakers Plumbers Clerks
TEER 4	Occupations that usually require a high school diploma or several weeks of on-the-job training	Couriers & messengers Retail salespersons Property administrators
TEER 5	Occupations that usually need short-term work demonstration and no formal education	Cashiers Pet groomers & animal care workers Receptionists

How The TEER System Affects Express Entry Applicants

The TEER system will change the eligibility requirements for Express Entry categories such as the Federal Skilled Worker Class, the Canadian Experience Class, and the Federal Skilled Trades Class. The new method permits individuals to advance to higher TEER categories based on their work experience, even if they lack the necessary educational credentials. Long-term experience can be considered equivalent to a degree/certification in several instances. However, because the skill categories have been enlarged, potential candidates may now fall into another skill group and be ineligible for some programs.

It is the responsibility of every applicant who enters the Express Entry pool to ensure that their job classification is current. The qualifications for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada's (IRCC) Express Entry programs have already been updated. Applicants for the Federal Skilled Worker Program must have the required work experience for TEER 0, 1, 2, and 3 which is also similar to the Canadian Experience Class program. Applicants for the Federal Skilled Trades Program must have at least TEER 2 or 3 work experience in specified skilled trades professions.

Because of these changes to the occupational classification system, 16 previously disqualified occupations are now eligible for Express Entry. TEER 3 now includes the newly added occupations. Payroll administrators, dental assistants, teaching assistants, correctional officers, estheticians, and transport truck drivers are among those who fall under this category.

How Can We Help

If you want to apply for permanent residence through one of the Express Entry programs, the Immigration Law Firm of Matthew Jeffery has over 20 years of experience with these types of applications. Use our FREE Express Entry CRS Calculator to see if you qualify.