The Canadian government has outlined three Express Entry programmes available to skilled workers seeking permanent residence in Canada. Each programme targets a different category of applicant, from those with Canadian work experience to those qualified in a skilled trade. Applicants must understand three key terms — CLB, NOC, and TEER — before comparing their eligibility across the programmes.
Canada’s Three Express Entry Programmes
According to the official Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) guidance, Express Entry is an online platform used to process applications across all three programmes. Eligibility requirements differ depending on a worker's background and qualifications.
The three programmes available through Express Entry are:
- 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.
Key Terms Every Applicant Must Know
Before comparing programmes, the Canadian government says applicants should be familiar with three core concepts that shape eligibility decisions.
The first is the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB), the national standard used to measure the English language ability of immigrants. The second is the National Occupation Classification (NOC), a comprehensive list covering all occupations in the Canadian labour market. The third is the Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) category system, which is embedded within the NOC and classifies occupations into six groups based on the level of education and training each one requires.
Understanding these terms is essential because each of the three programmes uses them to define who qualifies and at what level. For instance, the type of work experience accepted, the language score required, and the TEER category of a worker's occupation can all determine which programme a candidate is eligible to apply under.
How to Review Eligibility and Recent Invitations
Prospective applicants can review the full eligibility criteria for all three programmes on the IRCC's official Express Entry page.
In a related story, Legit.ng reported that Canada had outlined the professions it is looking to fill via its Express Entry program. Canada also invited 250 senior managers to apply for permanent residence. The latest Express Entry selection by IRCC targeted candidates in senior management occupations who already have Canadian work experience. Candidates were required to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 389 to qualify for an invitation.
