The time it takes to get permanent residence (PR) through Canada’s Express Entry system can vary a lot. Some people complete the whole process in a few months, while others may take much longer; sometimes even a few years.
There is no single answer for everyone. Your timeline depends on your personal situation, your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, your eligibility for different Express Entry options, and other factors.
This article explains the main stages that affect how long it may take for you to obtain Canadian PR through Express Entry. Understanding these stages will help you know what to expect and how to prepare.
So, without further ado, let us begin!
Time Needed To Meet Minimum Eligibility
Express Entry manages three federal immigration programs. All three programs use an Expression of Interest (EOI) system. The programs are:
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
For most people, the time needed to meet the minimum eligibility mainly depends on the amount of required work experience. IRCC requires that work experience be gained within a specific period of time. This means you cannot speed up this part. You must complete the actual months or years of required work.
Below is the minimum work experience needed for each program:
| CEC | FSWP | FSTP |
| One year (of Canadian work experience) | One year (of full-time work) | Two years (of full-time work in the skilled trade of their choosing) |
You may also need extra time to meet other requirements, such as language tests, education assessments (ECA), or proof of funds.
Below is an overview of the eligibility criteria for each Express Entry program:
Express Entry Minimum Eligibility Criteria
| Eligibility Factor | Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) | Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) |
| Basic work experience requirement | At least 1 year of skilled continuous, full-time (or equivalent part-time) paid work experience within 10 years of the application date | At least 2 years of full-time (or equivalent part-time) work experience in the skilled trade in the 5 years before applying. | At least 1 year (12 months) of skilled, paid work experience in Canada within 3 years of the application date. |
| Where work experience must be gained | Work can be outside or inside Canada. | Work experience can be either in or outside of Canada, but must be in an eligible skilled trade occupation (see NOC groups below). | Work experience must be in Canada. |
| NOC / occupation requirements | Work experience must be in a skilled occupation classified under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3. | Skilled work experience must be in an eligible NOC 2021 group | Skilled, professional or technical work experience in Canada in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 jobs. |
| Language requirements | Minimum CLB 7 in all four abilities | Minimum CLB 5 for speaking and listening and CLB 4 for reading and writing | Minimum CLB 5 for NOC TEER 2 or 3 jobs;
CLB 7 for NOC TEER 0 or 1 jobs. |
| Education requirements | Must have either:
– a Canadian educational credential; or – a foreign credential with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). |
No minimum education requirement | No minimum education requirement |
| Job offer / certificate requirements | No job offer required. | Must have either:
– A valid job offers of continuous, paid, full-time employment (at least 30 hours/week) from up to two Canadian employers for at least one year, OR – A certificate of qualification from a provincial or territorial body proving the person is qualified to work in the trade. |
No job offer required. |
| Points / selection model | Must score at least 67 out of 100 points on the FSWP selection grid to submit a candidate profile (in addition to the CRS) | No extra points selection model | No extra points selection model |
| Settlement funds | Must meet settlement funds criteria, unless authorized to work in Canada with a valid job offer in the country. | Must meet settlement funds criteria, unless authorized to work in Canada with a valid job offer in the country. | No settlement funds requirement |
Time Spent Inside The Express Entry Pool
If you wish to obtain Canadian PR through Express Entry, then another thing you need to know is about the time spent inside the Express Entry pool.
Well, once you meet the basic requirements, you can create your EOI profile and enter the Express Entry pool. At this point, you become an Express Entry candidate.
For many people, this waiting period is the longest part of the entire process. You will wait until Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) holds a draw that matches your score or category, and then issues you an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
During this time, many candidates try to improve their CRS score by:
- Taking another language test
- Getting more work experience
- Completing higher education
- Improving French-language ability
- Obtaining a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) nomination
For occupational categories, candidates usually need six months of relevant work experience in an eligible job. This can be on top of, or counted within, the basic work experience needed for Express Entry programs.
For the French-language category, candidates must show French skills equal to NCLC level 7 in all abilities.
You must also note that Express Entry profiles are valid for one year. After one year, candidates must submit a new profile to stay in the pool and continue being considered for draws.
Whether your CRS score is strong or not, it is usually a good idea to enter the Express Entry pool as early as possible, because draw types and draw sizes change often and are not predictable.
While it is impossible to say exactly how long someone will stay in the pool, looking at past trends may help. You can check:
- how often draws happen for your program or category
- how the latest CRS cut-off compares to your score
Below is the table showing the number of Express Entry draws in 2025 (so far) and the latest CRS cut-off for each type:
| Draw Type | Number Of Draws In 2025 (as of time of writing) | Latest CRS Cut-Off Score |
| Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 21 | 738 |
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 12 | 533 |
| French-language proficiency | 7 | 416 |
| Healthcare and social services | 6 | 462 |
| Education | 2 | 462 |
| Trade | 1 | 505 |
IRCC can change draw types, sizes, and frequency at any time. Because of this, candidates are encouraged to enter the pool as soon as they are eligible, even if their score does not seem competitive yet.
Time Needed To Submit A PR Application
After you receive your ITA, you have 60 days to submit a complete PR application.
In theory, you can submit it quickly. But in real life, most people need several weeks because some documents take time to collect, especially those provided by third parties such as:
- Immigration Medical Exam (IME)
- Police Clearance Certificates
- Reference letters
- Updated passports
- Proof of funds documents
Below is a list of what is typically required:
Documents Needed For An Express Entry Application
| Document Category | Key Documents (with caveats) |
| Identity & Travel | Passport/travel document for you and accompanying family; digital photos (must be valid at time of application). |
| Language Test | Original/official language test results from an approved test provider (must be valid on the date you submit your PR application). |
| Education / ECA | Canadian certificates/diplomas/degrees and/or ECA report + number for foreign education (needed wherever eligibility/points rely on education). |
| Work Experience | Employer reference letters for each job you’re claiming (showing duties, dates, hours, pay); any supporting docs IRCC asks for (e.g., pay stubs, contracts). |
| Police Certificates | Police certificates for you and accompanying family members aged 18+ for required countries; if delayed, upload proof of request + explanation. |
| Medical Exam | Proof of immigration medical exam from a panel physician (information sheet or IMM 1017B). |
| Family & Civil Status | Marriage/common-law/ divorce/ separation/ death certificates as applicable; birth certificates for dependent children; adoption papers if any. |
| Checklist-Specific Items | Any other documents listed in your personalized IRCC document checklist (this controls if something appears above that is not shown for your case). |
Additional Documents For An Express Entry Application (If Needed)
| Document Category | Key Documents (with caveats) |
| Job Offer / LMIA | Written job offer, and LMIA if required |
| Trade Certification | Certificate of qualification from a Canadian province/territory if you’re relying on it (especially for trades/FSTP). |
| Proof of Funds | Bank/financial letters listing all accounts, balances, 6-month averages, and debts; generally required for FSWP/FSTP unless exempt (e.g., CEC or certain job offers). |
| Relative in Canada | Proof of relationship and relative’s status in Canada if you claim CRS points for a qualifying relative. |
| Representative / Info Release | IMM 5476 (Use of a Representative) and/or IMM 5475 (Authority to Release Personal Information), only if you use a representative or designated individual. |
| Provincial Nomination | Nomination certificate/confirmation if you apply as a provincial nominee through Express Entry. |
| Translations & Certified Copies | Certified translations + copy/certified copy of any document not in English or French (applies only if you submit non-English/French documents). |
| Biometrics | Biometrics (fingerprints + photo) given at a collection point after IRCC issues a biometrics instruction letter (you don’t upload these yourself). |
Note: Depending on a person’s situation (such as which Express Entry program they apply under), they may not need to submit every document that is normally required for a standard PR application.
Many applicants choose to hire an immigration lawyer when starting the process to make sure they get proper guidance and submit the strongest application possible.
Time While Waiting For IRCC To Process Your Application
After you submit your PR application, IRCC begins the processing stage. This can take several months or more. During this part, two types of time measurements matter:
- Processing times
- Service standards
Processing times give real-time updates on how long IRCC is currently taking to process recent applications of your type.
Moreover, IRCC has started giving more personalized processing updates for some programs, which helps applicants understand their status better.
On the other hand, service standards are IRCC’s formal target for how quickly they aim to process a specific type of application under normal conditions. Services standards:
- Are a commitment or goal, not a guarantee
- Don’t get updates as frequently as processing times
- Are not present for every program IRCC runs
IRCC’s service standard for all Express Entry programs is 6 months.
Here is IRCC’s recent performance:
| Program | Service Standard | IRCC Adherence To Service Standards | IRCC Targets |
| Canadian Experience Class | 180 days | 85% | 80% |
| Federal Skilled Worker Program | 180 days | 86% | 80% |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program | 180 days (not including provincial/territorial processing, where applicable) | N/A | 80% |
IRCC shares two types of processing times:
- Historical processing times
- Forward-looking processing times
Historical processing times show how long it took IRCC to finish 80% of applications in the past. These numbers come from real applications and are updated every week.
On the other hand, forward-looking processing times are guesses about how long a new application submitted today might take. These are predictions about the future and are updated every month.
These timelines can change based on IRCC’s workload, backlogs, staffing, global events, or new immigration priorities.
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