EXPRESS ENTRY / PNPS
Express Entry & PNPs
Economic immigration in Canada refers to the programs and pathways designed to attract individuals who can contribute to the country's economy through their skills, work experience, and entrepreneurial abilities. The goal is to address labor shortages, support economic growth, and foster innovation by bringing in skilled workers, businesspeople, and investors. The main programs in this category are express entry, provincial and Atlantic immigration programs.
Express Entry is a points-based system used to manage applications for three main federal immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class. Candidates are assessed based on factors such as age, education, work experience, and language proficiency. High-scoring candidates are invited to apply for permanent residency through regular draws from the pool of applicants.
Federal Skilled Worker Class
Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) applicants can apply online if they meet the minimum requirements for work experience, language proficiency, education, and other criteria to achieve at least 67 eligibility points. Eligible applicants are entered into a pool of candidates and must await an invitation to apply, which is issued based on their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score surpassing the cut-off scores in the rounds of invitations.
Federal Skilled Trades Class
Experienced tradespeople may be eligible to apply under this category if they meet the required work experience, language scores, and other criteria.
Canadian Experience Class
Individuals with at least one year of work experience in Canada may be eligible to enter this pool. Additionally, students who have graduated and worked for a Canadian company for a minimum of one year can also apply through this stream.
PNPs
Provinces and territories in Canada have their own immigration programs designed to address specific regional labor market needs. Through PNPs, provinces can nominate individuals who meet their criteria and have skills that are in demand locally. Successful nominees can then apply for permanent residency.
Atlantic Immigration Programs
This program is specifically designed for skilled workers and international graduates who wish to settle in one of the Atlantic provinces—Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, or New Brunswick. It focuses on attracting and retaining talent to support regional economic development.