Those who want to prove their eligibility for the Express Entry system and submit an application need certain investments.
Express Entry is a digital system in Canada used to handle applications of skilled workers chasing permanent residences in Canada.If you are an immigration enthusiast familiar with the Express Entry system, please share your thoughts about it in the comment box.
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The Express Entry system was established in 2015 and it spans the Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class program (CEC), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). It portrays a route to immigration and has observed huge traffic. It has helped many skilled foreign workers in achieving permanent residence.
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Express Entry is one of the best pathways to Canadian Immigration, nevertheless, it comes with different costs that come along in the immigration process.
Investments to Submit Express Entry Profile
Things you may need in order to set up a profile for Express Entry candidacy are the following:
- A copy of the travel document or Passport
- A Provincial Nomination Letter (if obtained)
- Proof of settlement funds (only for FSWP & FSTP candidates without a valid job offer in Canada).
- Proof of work experience or certificate of qualification in a trade occupation (issued by a Canadian province or territory) or a written job offer letter from a Canadian employer, and
- Proof of Canadian Education or an Education Credential Assessment (ECA) (for those who have completed their education outside Canada)
- Language tests – International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) for English; or the Test d’Évaluation de Français pour le Canada (TEF) and the Test de Connaissance du Français (TCF) for French – to evaluate listening, reading, writing, and speaking ability
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Note that all expenses are listed in Canadian dollars
Language testing – depending on whether you are seeking approval in French or English, (and the location of testing) the test prices will possibly vary:
IELTS testing costs about $300 + tax, depending on the testing location;
TEF testing costs about $440 + tax (according to Alliance-Francaise) with an extra non-refundable $75 charge if the applicant needs to reschedule or cancel before the testing day, and
TCF testing costs about $460 + tax (according to Alliance-Francaise) and includes the same non-refundable $75 charge.
CELPIP testing costs about $280 + tax;
ECA
An ECA is needed if you have studied outside Canada to determine how your education may equate to Canadian education.
The average cost of getting an ECA is about $200, besides the courier fees, according to IRCC. But it may differ based on the Designated Organization (DO) processing the credential assessment.
ECA also shows the charge of getting documents translated into French or English.
You will come across these charges if your documents were not originally in French or English. A board-certified translator is needed for translation in order to be valid for the IRCC application.
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Moreover, there are costs that you don’t need to face but can be very beneficial to your success in the pool of applications.
Hiring an immigration lawyer is one of the most essential things with consideration to this. Although different law firms charge differently, you can expect to pay between $2000 to $5000.
Despite being an extra fee, this can benefit you a lot. You get an experienced and expert immigration figure with the ability to craft an extraordinary application, and you can steer clear of unwanted flaws and misrepresentations in your application which can cost you penalizations and up to five years of being prohibited from applying for immigration. It also saves you time and minimizes your worries during your immigration process. It can increase your potential Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) points. The IRCC evaluates most immigrants for immigration through the CRS.
Although most of these costs may seem very huge, immigrants who receive an Invitation to Apply and get accepted into the Express Entry pool get a potential chance of success in the labour market, as their selection is based on human capital factors that are highly valued by Canadian employers.
The Application Costs
As mentioned by the IRCC, the application process for Express Entry comes with multiple costs.
The application processing costs $850, for an individual applying. The fee is doubled to $1,700 with a spouse or partner. A dependent child will be charged an additional $230.
So a family of three will need to pay $1,930 for the application processing.
But an additional Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) of $515 has to be paid by both adults in order to be successful in their permanent residency bid, increasing the net cost to 2,960.
Additionally, to assemble the application, an additional fee is required that includes fees for multiple official papers and documents.
