Permanent residence Canada
Express Entry: Federal Skilled Worker Program
Run by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
Skilled workers anywhere in the world with a year of skilled work, a language test and enough savings, who want to settle in Canada outside Quebec. You must score 67 points or more and then be invited from the Express Entry pool.
- Job offer
- Not required. A valid job offer earns points and removes the need to show funds if you can already work legally in Canada.
- Language
- CLB 7 (NCLC 7 in French) in all four abilities in your first official language. Below CLB 7 you are not eligible.
- Education
- A Canadian certificate, diploma or degree, or a completed foreign credential with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for immigration.
- Work experience
- At least 1 year of continuous paid work or 1,560 hours total (30 hours a week) in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3, within the last 10 years, in Canada or abroad.
- Government fee
- CAD 1,590 per adult (processing fee CAD 990 + right of permanent residence fee CAD 600). Biometrics CAD 85 per person.
- Processing time
- Not stated on the official page
- Money you must show
- CAD 15,263 for 1 person, CAD 19,001 for 2, CAD 23,360 for 3, CAD 28,362 for 4 (table updated July 7, 2025). Not needed if you can work legally in Canada and have a valid job offer.
- When and to whom you pay
- Paid online to IRCC when you submit your permanent residence application after an invitation to apply. The CAD 600 right of permanent residence fee can be paid then or when the application is approved, and is refunded if you withdraw or are refused.
Checked on 18 October 2026. What the page says
Read on canada.ca on 2026-10-18: "be at least 1 year of continuous work or 1,560 hours total (30 hours per week)"; "If you score 67 points or higher, you may qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker Program"; language table: "Below CLB level 7" "Not eligible to apply". Fee page (Economic immigration, including Express Entry): "This amount includes the processing fee and the right of permanent residence fee. 1,590.00", "without right of permanent residence fee) 990.00", "Right of permanent residence fee 600.00". Proof of funds page: "$15,263" for 1 family member, "Updated July 7, 2025". Note: the earlier split (CAD 950 + CAD 640) was wrong; the total CAD 1,590 is unchanged. Another official page. Another official page. Another official page.