What is an Express Entry Draw and How Does it Work?

The Express Entry stream is an immigration option that selects skilled workers for immigration to Canada. Under various federal programs, applicants can submit their personal profile online and be entered into the Express Entry Pool. In conjunction with the Canada Job Bank, job offers are directed at the candidates who present career profiles that are attractive to potential employers.

Applicants who have received an approved job offer are invited to further submit an application for Canadian permanent residency. This may also include candidates whose profiles were selected from the pool by a specific province or who were nominated under a Provincial Nominee Program. Clearly, the profiles with better skills and experience are the ones that receive the most attention.

An approved job offer is of definite benefit to an applicant, but not necessarily required. Beyond those who have received a job offer, there’s also a “point system” that can qualify a candidate. Here, various factors are considered in order to rank an applicant:  education level; language proficiency; and work experience. Here again, high-ranking applicants can apply through periodic draws.

Statistics show that the applicants with job offers or provincial nominations will have the best chance of success. However, others should also do well, since most “economic class” entries into Canada will be flowing through the Express Entry stream. Importantly, most applicants through this stream will be immigrants residing outside of Canada, as opposed to those who are in Canada.

With improvements being made on a regular basis, the Express Entry system makes every effort to appropriately match candidates with employers. But with typical government bureaucracy and unfortunate time delays, it’s sometimes advisable to work with professional immigration specialists who understand the ins and outs. They can often streamline the entire process.