Are you interested in trying a new life in Canada? Maybe, the Express Entry system of the country will open doors to sweet dreams of living in Canada. This Express Entry-based immigration scheme has been making headlines since its inception in 2015, giving an opportunity to skilled candidates across the world to be a part of this magnificent nation called Canada. However, like in any good adventure, there is a course to be taken and a few tasks to be completed. This application process could be perfect for you whether you’re a tech fan, tradesperson, or simply having Canadian work experience as your strongest card.
Well then, let us start with a cup of tea and move to specifics of the Canadian immigration through Express Entry: how age can influence your eligibility; what steps you have to go through; etc. By the end of it, you’ll be able to face this immigration superhighway as though you were a card-carrying Canadian-in-waiting.
What is Canada Express Entry?
Canada Express Entry is like a super highway for those applicants who wish to migrate to Canada as permanent residents. Picture yourself cueing up at a theme park: there is a special line that citizens with some characteristics get into – that is how Express Entry functions for immigration.
This system was developed in 2015 to make things easier for those who meet the requirements. It’s not just one program, but a way to manage applications for three main economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program and Canadian Experience Class.
How Canada Express Entry Works
Imagine that Express Entry is the large pool of water that everyone wants to jump into. To apply, the first step is to provide an online profile which forms the way to get into the site. This profile is like your party invitation and includes all the details about your work experience, education background, language proficiency and other attributes that justify your chance to immigrate to Canada.
Once you are in the pool, you are not just logging space aimlessly. Every now and then, the Canadian government will go through the pool, sift through all the qualified candidates, and send them an invitation to apply for permanent residency. It’s something like being selected to be amongst a group of people who are to be shipped to Canada to form a new team.
You are selected based on the CRS and the higher your CRS the higher your chances of being selected. I would like to call this your “Desirability Points”. The analysis shows that the likelihood of receiving an invitation increases as your score gets higher.
What are the Express Entry Eligibility Requirements?
To be able to get into the Express Entry pool, one must meet the requirements of any one of the three programs that it handles. Here are some of the things they consider.
- Work experience: Generally though, you will require one year’s qualifying experience in a trade, that is being able to spend your working hours in a skilled employment.
- Language skills: You must demonstrate that in relation to learning English or French, you are able to speak, read, write and listen in some form at least to a specified level.
- Education: A high school education is mandatory, although having some college can improve one’s prospects.
- Proof you can support yourself: You must prove you have sufficient funds for your first several weeks in Canada.
As I have said before, just meeting these bare-bones requirements is all it takes to get into the pool. If you want to be picked then it will be very beneficial if one ranks as high in the ranking system as possible.
Canada Express Entry Age limit
Now, this is where the concepts related to age in the context of Express Entry get really interesting: There is no upper age limit to be met by the candidate, but at the same time, age is an important factor that has an influence on the score that a candidate can receive. The system is biased towards a candidate with age ranging from 20 to 29 years. They get the maximum points for age.
Once you are 29, your scores begin to decrease every additional year that passes. When you are forty-five years old, there are no more bonuses for age. But don’t worry! Age is just one feature that can be taken into consideration. Candidates who are not young can still be given high overall if they perform well in other aspects such as work experience or educational background.
Here’s a breakdown of how age affects Express Entry:
- With a spouse or common-law partner:
- Maximum points for age: 110 points (up to 34 years old).
- Without a spouse or common-law partner:
- Maximum points for age: 110 points (up to 34 years old).
Here’s a breakdown of age points:
| Age | With Spouse/Partner | Without Spouse/Partner |
|---|---|---|
| 20 to 29 years | 100 points | 110 points |
| 30 years | 95 points | 105 points |
| 31 years | 90 points | 99 points |
| 32 years | 85 points | 94 points |
| 33 years | 80 points | 88 points |
| 34 years | 75 points | 83 points |
- Additional Points:
- While there is no strict maximum age limit to apply for Canadian PR, it becomes increasingly challenging to accumulate enough points as you get older.
- The Express Entry system awards maximum points for age to applicants between 20 and 29 years old.
- Remember:
- If you are 47 or over, you will not receive any points under the Age factor of the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). However, you may still earn points for other factors such as job offers, skills, and language abilities.
Keep in mind that age is just one aspect of the comprehensive scoring system. Other factors like education, language proficiency, and work experience also play a crucial role in your overall eligibility.
Canada Express Entry Process
Now, let’s dissect the steps required to go through the Express Entry process:
- Check if you’re eligible: Check that you meet the minimum criteria of at least one of the programs under the Express Entry system.
- Gather your documents: These are the language test scores, academic qualifications and certificate of work experience.
- Create your Express Entry profile: Complete the online form with all necessary information about you.
- Get your profile score: The system will then tally your CRS score on the basis of the inputs entered by you.
- Wait in the pool: The profile is active for up to 12 months since you can post and get matched within this period.
- Receive an invitation (hopefully): If you are among the lucky ones, you and your family will be issued with an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency.
- Submit your application: Upon invitation, applicants are given 60 days to complete and submit their application.
- Wait for processing: If all the boxes are ticked you will be admitted and you can begin to plan your migration to Canada!
Please do not forget that Express Entry is a competition. In theory, it is faster than traditional immigration processes, However the path is not always successful. That is where careful planning comes into play, with the right attributes, you could be well on your way to a new life in Canada.
Good luck!
