How to Immigrate to Canada?
Canada has set targets to welcome 485,000 new permanent residents in 2024, 500,000 in 2025, and maintain this level in 2026. There are various pathways for immigrating to Canada and obtaining permanent residence status.
Canada has set targets to welcome 485,000 new permanent residents in 2024, 500,000 in 2025, and maintain this level in 2026. There are various pathways for immigrating to Canada and obtaining permanent residence status.
Express Entry
Express Entry is an online system that we use to manage immigration applications from skilled workers.
There are 3 immigration programs managed through Express Entry:
- Canadian Experience Class
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
Express Entry
Who can apply (Immigration programs)
Express Entry is an online system that we use to manage immigration applications for 3 programs:
- Canadian Experience Class
For skilled workers with eligible Canadian work experience
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
For skilled workers with eligible foreign or Canadian work experience
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
For skilled workers who are qualified in a skilled trade
Express Entry
Canadian Experience Class
The Canadian Experience Class is for skilled workers who have Canadian work experience and want to become permanent residents.
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program is ideal for candidates who have recent Canadian work experience and are seeking permanent residence Canada. CEC is also one of the fastest routes to Canadian permanent residence, taking as little as three to four months to process!
What is the Canadian Experience Class program?
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program is an immigration stream under the Express Entry system in Canada, specifically designed for certain temporary foreign workers and foreign student graduates who have already gained skilled work experience in Canada. This program aims to help these individuals transition from temporary to permanent residence status.
Who is eligible for Canadian Experience Class Program?
To be eligible for CEC, a candidate must have at least 12-months of full-time (or an equivalent amount of part-time), skilled work experience in Canada. The Canadian work experience must have been acquired within the previous three years from the date of the application.
CEC is not an option for foreign nationals who do not have recent Canadian work experience.
Canadian Experience Class requirements
To count your 12 months of Canadian work experience towards your CEC application, it must meet the following conditions:
- Be obtained in Canada within the 36 months before the date of submission of the electronic Application for Permanent Residence
- Your work experience in Canada can be classified into one of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) categories: TEER 0, TEER 1, TEER 2, or TEER 3, based on your training, education, experience, and job essential duties.
- Be lawfully obtained, paid work experience in Canada.
Can I apply to the Canadian Experience Class program from outside of Canada?
Yes. If you meet the basic eligibility requirements for CEC as mentioned above, you can apply from anywhere in the world.
The Express Entry program in Canada includes two more immigration streams: the Federal Skilled Workers Program, suited for skilled professionals with foreign work experience, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program, designed for skilled tradespeople.
Additionally, Express Entry also offers specific category invitations based on various criteria.
The current categories for these targeted invitations include individuals with French-language proficiency, healthcare occupations, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) occupations, trade occupations, transport occupations, and agriculture and agri-food occupations.
Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Program
The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program is one of the three programs contained within Canada’s Express Entry system for processing immigration applications. The FSW program allows candidates with foreign work experience and no connections to Canada to apply for permanent residency.
Canada immigration opens numerous opportunities for skilled professionals worldwide, and the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Program is a prime gateway for those seeking to contribute their expertise and build a future in Canada.
Express Entry
Federal Skilled Worker Program
The Federal Skilled Worker Program is for skilled workers who have foreign work experience and want to become permanent residents.
Skilled workers
We choose skilled workers based on education, work experience, language skills, and other criteria. They include:
- managers and supervisors
- people in jobs that usually need:
- a university degree
- a college diploma, or
- apprenticeship training
Who is eligible to apply under the FSW program?
To qualify for the FSWP, a candidate must meet certain minimum requirements regarding years of experience, level of education, age, and English or French language proficiency:
If a candidate meets the requirements listed above, they must also demonstrate that they score a minimum of 67 out of 100 points on the FSW eligibility points grid.
If a candidate meets these requirements, they will be eligible to apply to move forward
- Language skills (maximum 28 points)
- Education (maximum 25 points)
- Skilled work experience (maximum 15 points)
- Age (maximum 12 points)
- Arranged employment in Canada (maximum 10 points)
- Adaptability (maximum 10 points)
How can I apply under the FSW program?
Interested candidates must submit an Express Entry profile to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Submitting an Express Entry profile does not guarantee a candidate will receive Canadian permanent residence.
Application Processing Fees:
What are the processing fees for the FSW program?
Applicants must remit government processing fees when applying for permanent residence through the Federal Skilled Worker program. These fees are distinct from settlement funds, which must be demonstrated as part of the Federal Skilled Worker eligibility criteria.
The processing fees to apply for the Federal Skilled worker program are listed below:
Principle applicant (processing fees and right of permanent residence fees) $1525
Spouse, common-law partner or Conjugal partner $1525
(with right of permanent residence fees)
A dependent child under the age of 22 who is not a spouse or common-law/Conjugal partner, or a dependent over the age of 22 who is unable to support themselves financially due to a physical or mental condition Add $ 260 each dependent
Do you need to provide language test results for the FSW Program?
To apply under the FSW program, candidates must provide results from an approved language exam. To meet the minimum eligibly requirements, Federal Skilled Workers must score at least a CLB 7 or higher in each area of the language exam.
How much money you need
The amount of money you need to support your family is based the size of your family.
This table shows the minimum amount you need to immigrate to Canada. If you have more money, you should list the full amount in your profile or application.
| Number of family members |
Funds you need (CAD) Updated July 7, 2025 |
| 1 | $15,263 |
| 2 | $19,001 |
| 3 | $23,360 |
| 4 | $28,362 |
| 5 | $32,168 |
| 6 | $36,280 |
| 7 | $40,392 |
| If more than 7 people, for each additional family member | $4,112 |
Express Entry
Federal Skilled Trades Program
The Federal Skilled Trades Program is for skilled workers who want to become permanent residents based on being qualified in a skilled trade.
Skilled trade sectors
Skilled trades need specialized knowledge and hands-on work. You’ll need an apprenticeship for most trades.
Skilled tradespeople may work in sectors such as:
- construction
- transportation
- manufacturing and industrial
- natural resources and agriculture
