General information about the Express Entry immigration system to Canada
Want to move to Canada? You'll most likely need to register for Express Entry.
Express Entry is a system for selecting skilled immigrants as permanent residents based on their ability to settle in Canada and contribute to the country's economy.
Potential candidates submit their applications online through the Express Entry system, where they document their eligibility (language skills, education, occupation, etc.). After completing their profile, candidates enter a general selection pool. Winners are determined based on the number of points they've earned.
How Express Entry Works
To register in the Express Entry assessment system, you must meet the requirements of one of Canada's three federal immigration programs:
The first step is for potential candidates to fill out an Express Entry online profile. They are then awarded points according to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Candidates with the highest scores enter the selection pool. Finally, immigration draws are held where applicants with the highest scores receive invitations to apply for permanent residence in Canada.
Candidate Assessment
The Comprehensive Ranking System evaluates:
- human capital factors, including spouse factors — maximum 500 points;
- skill transferability factors — maximum 100 points;
- additional factors — maximum 600 points.
The maximum possible score is 1,200 points, and the minimum passing score varies from draw to draw.
Human Capital and Spouse Factors
Human capital factors are awarded different point values depending on whether a single candidate or a family is applying. In the second case, both the principal applicant and their spouse are assessed.
Maximum points for human capital factors are as follows:
- age — 110 points for a single candidate, 100 for a candidate with a spouse;
- education — 150 points for a single candidate, 140 for a candidate with a spouse;
- official language proficiency — 160 points for a single candidate, 150 for a candidate with a spouse;
- Canadian work experience — 80 points for a single candidate, 70 for a candidate with a spouse.
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The principal candidate's spouse is evaluated separately on the following factors:
- education — maximum 10 points;
- language proficiency — maximum 20 points;
- Canadian work experience — maximum 10 points.
Skill Transferability Factors
Up to 100 additional points can be earned through combinations of criteria. There are several types of combinations:
- language proficiency plus education;
- Canadian work experience plus education;
- foreign work experience plus language proficiency;
- foreign work experience plus Canadian work experience.
Additional Factors
Additional points can be earned for relatives living in Canada, knowledge of both languages (English and French), Canadian education, a skilled occupation, and a provincial nomination.
The maximum number of points (600) goes to candidates with a nomination. A provincial nomination is issued to those who have applied through one of the Provincial Nominee Programs and received an invitation. By the way, if you're scoring low in Express Entry, it's a good idea to look into the provinces. Often you can qualify through their programs with much lower scores.
How Many Points You Need
From time to time, Canada conducts immigration draws through Express Entry, selecting candidates who have earned the most points. The minimum score changes from draw to draw, but in recent years it's been quite high — over 500. Few people manage to score that much.
The Express Entry system is quite complex, so it's easy to get confused when calculating points on your own.
We've developed a free Express Entry points calculator. With it, you can quickly calculate how many points you'll score in the system.
Priority Categories
In 2026, Canada announced updated priority categories for applicants who are of particular interest to the country. For them, passing scores can be significantly reduced. While general draws require over 500 points, priority applicants may have passing scores starting from 300-400. This is a huge difference that can be decisive.
So if you're scoring low in Express Entry but fall into one of the priority categories, you'll have high chances of receiving a permanent residence invitation. As of 2026, the following categories are considered priority:
- candidates with French language proficiency;
- healthcare and social services professionals;
- skilled trades workers;
- physicians with Canadian work experience (new category, introduced in late 2025);
- researchers and senior executives with Canadian work experience (new category as of 2026);
- transportation workers, including pilots, aircraft mechanics, and inspectors (new category as of 2026);
- highly skilled foreign military personnel recruited by the Canadian Armed Forces for key positions — military doctors, nurses, and pilots (new category as of 2026).
The first category — candidates with French language proficiency — requires French at a level no lower than CLB 7 in all four language skills. In 2026, Canada continues to actively attract French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec. The other categories require at least 6 months of work experience in the last 3 years in one of the eligible occupations (the physician category with Canadian experience requires at least 12 months of work experience in Canada). See the list of occupations for each category in our separate article.
Important change for 2026: Canada has focused on attracting specialists already working and living in the country.
Canadian Experience Class draws continue in priority mode, meaning more opportunities for those already in Canada as temporary residents. The new categories for researchers, military specialists, and transportation workers reflect Canada's strategy to strengthen defense capabilities and economic competitiveness in the context of the global competition for talent.
Express Entry Draw History
Every two weeks, several thousand lucky people in the Express Entry system receive invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residence. We recommend following the draw history to stay updated on changes in passing scores and the number of invitations sent.
