Moving toward the launch of Express Entry

09/11/2014

On July 14, 2014, Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander met with key stakeholders and business leaders in Toronto to discuss Express Entry, Canada’s new system for managing economic immigration applications which will be launched in January 2015.

The Government of Canada, in partnership with provincial and territorial governments, hosted a number of information sessions on Express Entry with employers across the country this past spring. Additional outreach activities are planned for the fall.

Starting January 2015, Canadian employers will be able to consider Express Entry candidates when there are no Canadians or permanent residents available for the job.

Express Entry candidates are those who complete an online profile indicating their interest in immigrating to Canada and who meet the criteria of at least one of the three federal immigration programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program or Canadian Experience Class. Provinces and territories will also be able to nominate Express Entry candidates for their provincial nominee programs.

Candidates are ranked against others within the Express Entry pool based on criteria that lead to economic success once in Canada. Citizenship and Immigration Canada will only invite the highest-ranked candidates, including those with valid job offers or provincial or territorial nominations, to apply for permanent residence. Note that jobs offered to Express Entry candidates will be subject to the Labour Market Impact Assessment in place at that time.

For more information on Express Entry, see the Express Entry Web page.

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