01 August, 2014

Gearing up for the launch of Express Entry

Canada's Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander met with stakeholders and business leaders about the January 2015 launch of Express Entry: a faster and more effective way for Canada to welcome skilled economic immigrants.

The Government of Canada, in partnership with provincial and territorial governments, has hosted a number of information sessions on Express Entry with employers across the country in recent months.

The Express Entry electronic application management system will apply to four existing economic programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, Canadian Experience Class, and a portion of the Provincial Nominee Program. Through Express Entry, foreign nationals who meet the criteria for one of the federal immigration programs will be placed into a pool, from which employers will be able to consider candidates who meet their needs when they cannot find a Canadian or permanent resident for the job. The Government of Canada's new and improved Job Bank will help facilitate matches between Canadian employers and Express Entry candidates.

Express Entry candidates who receive a qualifying job offer from a Canadian employer or nomination under the Provincial Nominee Program will be invited to apply for permanent residence soon after - a key distinction between the Express Entry system and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, which is only used to fill temporary labour and skill shortages. Job offers will be subject to Employment and Social Development Canada's Labour Market Impact Assessment in place at that time.

For more information on Express Entry, please see www.canada.ca/ExpressEntry.

Quick facts

• Canada's Economic Action Plan 2014 will invest an initial $14million over two years, followed by $4.7million per year ongoing to ensure the successful implementation of Express Entry.
• Express Entry will transform Canada's immigration system into one that is faster and more responsive to economic and labour market needs.
• Express Entry will allow Citizenship and Immigration Canada to select the candidates who are most likely to succeed economically in Canada, rather than passively process all applicants in a queue.
• Express Entry candidates who are invited to apply for permanent residence can expect faster processing times of six months or less.

www.news.gc.ca