What if I am not invited to apply in an Express Entry draw?
While many individuals may receive an invitation to apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence (PR), many more may find their Express Entry profile expiring before this happens. Read on to learn what happens in these cases, and what candidates can do if their profile expires soon.
As of April 2024, there are more than 200,000 profiles in the federal Express Entry candidate pool.
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Will my information be saved when my Express Entry profile expires?
The short answer to this question is no. Once an Express Entry profile expires the system will not save the information therein.
Express Entry candidate profiles are valid for a period of one year—this date is shown on an individual’s profile page. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) notes it had initially planned to save the information of candidates but has found that this is not an option at this time. Though this may change in the future, for the time being once a profile expires within the Express Entry pool, a candidate’s information will be lost.
Thus, if newcomers find that their profile is expiring, IRCC advises them to create a new profile should they wish to stay in the pool. Candidates are further advised to save their profile information (potentially as extra copies, or screenshots), for ease of re-entry.
How can I create a new profile within the Express Entry candidate pool?
Creating a new profile within the Express Entry system is a straightforward process, and identical to creating an initial profile within the pool—however certain rules must be adhered to.
Notably, a candidate cannot have multiple profiles within the Express Entry pool. Thus, if a candidate is in a position where their old profile is expiring, and they would like to remain in the pool, they must first withdraw their old candidate profile, before making a new one.
To withdraw a profile from the Express Entry pool, IRCC advises the following steps:
- Sign in to the account;
- Go to “View the applications submitted” on the main page;
- Click the “Withdraw profile” link; and
- Click the “Continue” button below the “Warning!” text under the heading “What would you like to do today?”.
Once a new profile is submitted, individuals will receive a new Express Entry profile number, and a new job seeker validation code for the Job Bank. A job seeker validation code is a code that is issued to Express Entry profiles so that candidates within the pool may apply for jobs on Canada’s central Job Bank while confirming their inclusion within the Express Entry system.
How can I increase my eligibility while I am in the Express Entry pool?
Increasing the chances of receiving an ITA from IRCC is a major consideration for those in the Express Entry candidate pool
All candidates within the Express Entry pool are assessed according to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The CRS assigns scores to candidates based on their human capital factors, education, work experience and more. Since every draw within the system is connected to a cut-off CRS score, increasing an individual’s score under the system can be a powerful way to increase their eligibility to receive an ITA.
To this end, candidates within the pool who want to increase their CRS score can (among other steps):
- Increase official language ability in English or French;
- Increase level of education by taking an additional credential, or assessing an additional foreign credential;
- Secure a job offer;
- Receive a provincial nomination;
- Increase eligible work experience; and
- Increase eligibility to claim spousal points.
To find out more about how to increase a CRS score, find our dedicated webpage here.
In addition to increasing their CRS scores, candidates may also be eligible (or build their eligibility) for category-based selections, under the Express Entry system. These are draws that invite candidates primarily for their official language ability, or professional experience in in-demand positions.
To determine eligibility for category-based selections, find our dedicated online tool here.
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