Canada runs two largely separate systems for working there: Express Entry, a points-based route to permanent residence that lets you work once you land, and the employer-sponsored work permit system, a faster but temporary route tied to a specific job. Most applicants eventually touch both — a work permit first, then Express Entry once they’ve built Canadian experience. This guide covers how each actually works, what changed in the 2025–2026 CRS reforms, and the real fees involved.
Route 1: Express Entry (permanent residence)
Express Entry manages three federal economic programs — Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades, and Canadian Experience Class — through a single point score: the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
How CRS scoring works
Per IRCC’s official CRS criteria, your score is built from two blocks:
- Core / Human Capital factors (up to 500 points solo, 460 with a spouse): age, education level, official language ability (English/French test scores), and Canadian work experience. Age and language scores matter more than most applicants expect — a strong IELTS/CELPIP score can outweigh a weaker degree, and points drop off sharply for applicants over roughly 35.
- Skill transferability factors (up to 100 points): combinations that predict long-term success, such as strong language ability plus a foreign credential, or Canadian work experience plus a foreign credential.
- Additional / “additional factors” (up to 600 points): a provincial nomination adds 600 points — effectively a guaranteed invitation — French language ability, a sibling living in Canada, and Canadian post-secondary study add smaller amounts.
Important 2025–2026 change: as of March 25, 2025, IRCC removed job offer points from the CRS entirely — a valid job offer no longer boosts your score directly (it may still help qualify you for a program or a provincial nomination). IRCC’s 2026 consultation is exploring whether to reintroduce limited job-offer points for high-wage occupations and add new points for Canadian work experience, per the 2026 Express Entry reform consultation — treat this as in flux and check the current CRS criteria page before relying on any job-offer assumption.
Getting an invitation
IRCC draws candidates from the pool in regular rounds; the minimum CRS score to be invited (the “cut-off”) moves every round based on who’s in the pool — see rounds of invitations for current and historical cut-offs rather than relying on any fixed number, since it shifts program by program and round by round.
Fees for the PR application
- Processing fee + Right of Permanent Residence Fee: CAD $1,590 per principal applicant
- Spouse/partner: CAD $1,590
- Each dependent child: CAD $270
(Figures per IRCC’s fee schedule.)
Route 2: employer-sponsored work permits
If you have a job offer but not yet enough CRS points (or want to work in Canada sooner), most applicants go through a work permit, which falls into two paths depending on whether the employer needs government labour-market approval:
- LMIA-based work permits: the employer must first get a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment from Employment and Social Development Canada, proving no qualified Canadian was available for the role. This carries its own government processing fee separate from the applicant’s work permit fee — employers should confirm the current LMIA fee directly with ESDC, as it is distinct from and generally higher than the compliance fee below.
- LMIA-exempt work permits (e.g., intra-company transfers, CUSMA/USMCA professionals, some International Mobility Program categories): no LMIA needed, but the employer pays an employer compliance fee of CAD $230 through the Employer Portal when submitting the offer of employment, per IRCC’s fee page.
Applicant-side fees
- Work permit application: CAD $155 per person
- Biometrics: CAD $85 per person
- Combined: roughly CAD $240 for most applicants, per IRCC’s fee schedule.
A work permit is temporary — it doesn’t itself confer permanent residence. Many holders later apply through Express Entry’s Canadian Experience Class, where a year of skilled Canadian work experience becomes a strong CRS asset in its own right (through the human capital and transferability scores above), rather than through job-offer points, which no longer apply.
Which route should you pursue first?
- Strong language scores, a bachelor’s+ degree, under ~35, no job offer yet: Express Entry directly — your core human capital score may already clear recent cut-offs.
- A concrete job offer but a borderline CRS score: pursue the work permit first (LMIA or LMIA-exempt, whichever fits your role), build Canadian experience, then re-enter the Express Entry pool with a stronger profile.
- A provincial connection or in-demand occupation: look at a Provincial Nominee Program stream aligned to your province — the 600-point nomination boost outweighs almost every other factor.
FAQ
Does a job offer still help my CRS score? Not directly as of the 2025 reform — job-offer points were removed. It can still help you qualify for certain programs or a provincial nomination, which does carry points.
How long does Express Entry take once invited? IRCC’s service standard targets processing most complete applications within roughly six months of receiving an invitation, though this varies by case complexity — check current service standards on IRCC’s site for the latest figure.
Can my work permit convert directly into permanent residence? Not automatically — you build eligibility (typically through Canadian Experience Class) and then submit a separate Express Entry profile and application.
This is preparation guidance, not legal or immigration advice — Express Entry and work permit rules are under active review in 2026, so confirm current criteria on IRCC’s website before applying. For structured help checking your CRS-relevant eligibility and organizing your documents, join the VisaMet waitlist.