Create an Express Entry profile

If you want to come to Canada as a skilled immigrant, your first step is to create your profile and submit it to the Express Entry pool.

If you’re eligible, we’ll:

• place you in a pool with others who are also eligible
• give you a score and rank you using several factors
• invite you to apply to be a permanent resident of Canada (if you’re one of the top candidates)

Completing an online Express Entry profile or entering the pool doesn’t guarantee that we’ll invite you to apply for permanent residence. You can only apply if we send you an invitation.

Step 1: Check if you’re eligible

Use one of our online tools to find out if you’re eligible to apply through Express Entry. It'll take you about 15 minutes.

If you’re married or have a common-law partner, one of you must be the main or principal applicant. This person will submit a profile and list the spouse or partner.

The principal applicant should be the one of you most likely to:

• meet the eligibility requirements
• earn the most points in the selection factors (if applying under the Federal Skilled Workers Program)
• earn the most points in Express Entry’s Comprehensive Ranking System

To check if you’re eligible, you have 2 options.

Find out if you’re eligible using the Come to Canada tool

Answer a few questions using an online tool to assess your eligibility.

The tool gives you a number at the end (a personal reference code) similar to this: JM1234567890. You will use this number to move your information from the tool to your Express Entry profile.

Fill out the questionnaire in your secure account

1. Sign in to your account and choose Apply to come to Canada under Start an application.
2. Choose “Express Entry” under I do not have a Personal Reference Code.
3. Answer the questions.

Step 2: Create your Express Entry profile

If you used the online tool

If you’re eligible, the online tool will send you to your online account to fill out an Express Entry profile.

1. Follow the instructions to create an account (if you don’t already have one).
2. Enter your personal reference code when it prompts you (only if you have one).
3. Enter your personal details.

If you filled out the questionnaire in your secure account

If you’re eligible, enter your personal details to create a profile.

To complete your profile, you’ll need:

• information from certain documents (for example, language test results)
• your NOC job title and code

You may exit the profile at any time. Your information will be saved in your account.

You have 60 days to complete and submit your Express Entry profile. Otherwise, you’ll have to start again.

You won’t be asked to enter information about your dependent children when you create an Express Entry profile. We’ll only ask you for this information if you’re invited to apply for permanent residence.

Step 3: Submit your Express Entry profile

Once you’ve filled out your profile, you can submit it online. Based on the information you enter, we’ll figure out which program(s) under Express Entry you’re eligible for and may be invited to apply to.

You can’t choose the program you prefer when you create your profile.