Canada's Express Entry system is used to manage the applications of skilled workers who are pursuing permanent residence (PR).
The Express Entry system, which spans the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Workers Program, and Federal Skilled Trades Program(FSTP), was established in 2015. It has been a popular route to immigration. Since its inception, it has helped many skilled foreign workers become Canadian permanent residents.
Express Entry is still one of Canada's most popular routes to immigration. However, it comes with a host of costs.
How to submit a profile: The Investments
You may need the following to create a profile for Express Entry candidacy:
- Copy of a passport copy or travel document
- Language tests: International English Language Testing System and the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program for English. Test d'Evaluation de Francais pour le Canada and the Test de Connaissance du Francais for French - are used to assess listening, reading, and speaking ability.
- For those who have been abroad, proof of Canadian Education (or an Education Credential assessment)
- A Provincial Nomination Letter (if obtained);
- A Canadian employer will send you a written job offer letter.
- Proof that settlement funds (only available to FSWP & FSTP applicants who don't have a job offer in Canada).
*All expenses listed in Canadian dollars
These documents are subject to additional fees. Take, for example:
- Language testing prices will vary depending on whether you are pursuing certification in English or French (and where you are testing).
IELTS Testing is approximately $300 + Tax depending on where one is testing.
CELPIP testing is approximately $280 + tax
TEF testing is approximately $440 + tax according to Alliance-Francaise. There is an additional $75 non-refundable fee if applicants need to cancel or reschedule before the testing day.
TCF Testing is approximately $460 + tax according to Alliance-Francaise and comes with the same $75 non-refundable fee.
An ECA is required for students who have studied abroad to compare their education to a comparable Canadian education.
According to IRCC the average cost to receive an ECA is around $200. However, this varies depending on which Designated Organisation (DO), does the credential assessment.
- ECAs also reveal an additional charge: the cost of having documents translated into English and French.
If your documents are not in English or French, these costs will be incurred. To be eligible for IRCC applications, translations must be done with a board-certified translator.
- There are also costs you don't have to incur, but they can make a huge difference to your chances of success in the applicant pool.
The most important thing in this regard is to hire an immigration attorney. Although fees will vary from one law firm to the next, applicants should expect to pay between $2,000 and $5,000. Although this fee is an additional cost, there are many benefits: expert knowledge in immigration and experience in crafting applications to the highest standards; avoiding mistakes and misrepresentation which can lead to severe penalties including being banned from applying for immigration for up to five years; saving time and giving you peace of mind during your immigration process and maximizing your Comprehensive Rating Score (CRS). The IRCC will evaluate most Canadian immigrants using CRS.
Although many of these costs might seem prohibitive, immigrants who are accepted into Express Entry and receive an Invitation To Apply (ITA), have a good chance of success in the labor market. This is because their acceptance is based upon human capital factors, which Canadian employers highly value.
Application Success and the Cost of Applications
According to Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada, some fees go along with Express Entry application processing.
For each applicant, the application processing fee is $850. The total fee for a spouse/partner is $1,700. Additional charges of $230 will be incurred for any dependent child.
For example, a family of 3 will need to pay $1930 to have their application processed.
If the family of three is successful in their application for permanent residence, each adult will need to pay an additional Right to Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF), which amounts to $515. This brings the total cost up to $2,960.
Additional fees are required to complete an application, which includes a multitude of documents and official papers.