Express Entry or an Ontario nomination? Build an application that holds up.

We check which program you qualify for, test every claim in your profile against your documents, and prepare your permanent residence application once you're invited.

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Ontario nomination (OINP)

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We'll call you during office hours, 9 am to 5 pm, 7 days a week. If your invitation expires in the next few days, call now.

Book a free video meeting now Call (289) 309-3069

Express Entry

Three federal programs, one online system.

Express Entry isn't a program itself. It's how Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) manages applications for three programs. You need to meet the minimum rules of at least one before you can enter the pool.

Canadian Experience Class

For people already working in Canada. You need at least 1 year of skilled work experience in Canada in the last 3 years, in a TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 job.

LanguageCLB 7 for TEER 0 or 1 jobs, CLB 5 for TEER 2 or 3 jobs. No education requirement and no proof of funds.

Federal Skilled Worker

For skilled workers in Canada or abroad. You need at least 1 year of continuous skilled work in the last 10 years, secondary education, and enough points on the program's own selection grid.

LanguageCLB 7. Education from outside Canada needs an educational credential assessment (ECA).

Federal Skilled Trades

For qualified tradespeople. You need at least 2 years of work in a listed skilled trade in the last 5 years, plus a full-time job offer of at least 1 year or a Canadian certificate of qualification.

LanguageCLB 5 for speaking and listening, CLB 4 for reading and writing.

A provincial nomination

A nomination from a province through Express Entry adds 600 points to your score. In Ontario, that now runs through the Workforce Priority stream and starts with an employer.

Usually fits whenYou have a permanent, full-time job offer from an Ontario employer. See Ontario PNP

How you're ranked

Your score decides whether you're invited.

Everyone in the pool gets a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score out of 1,200. IRCC then invites the highest-ranked people in each round. Cut-off scores change from round to round, so check IRCC's rounds page rather than relying on an old number.

Since 25 March 2025, a job offer no longer adds CRS points. IRCC is also consulting in 2026 on wider changes to Express Entry. Nothing from that consultation is in force yet.

Ask us to check your profile

Core factorsAge, education, English and French, and Canadian work experience. Up to 500 points, or 460 if your spouse or partner comes with you.
Your spouse or partnerTheir education, language results and Canadian work experience. Up to 40 points.
Skill transferabilityHow your education and foreign work experience combine with strong language results or Canadian experience. Up to 100 points.
Additional pointsUp to 600: a provincial nomination, strong French, Canadian post-secondary study, or a brother or sister in Canada.

Category-based rounds

Some rounds invite only certain people.

Besides general rounds, IRCC holds rounds for candidates who fit a category. For most work categories, you need at least 12 months of full-time work (or the same amount part-time) in one listed occupation in the last 3 years. It doesn't have to be continuous. The current categories are:

French-language proficiencyNCLC 7 or higher in all four abilities

Healthcare and social servicesListed occupations, in Canada or abroad

STEM occupationsScience, technology, engineering and math

Trades, education and transportThree separate categories, each with its own list

Physicians, senior managers and researchersThree categories that count work in Canada only

Skilled military recruitsWith a qualifying Canadian Armed Forces job offer

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program

Ontario has rebuilt its program.

On 25 June 2026, Ontario closed all of its earlier OINP streams, including Human Capital Priorities and the other Express Entry streams, and the Masters and PhD graduate streams. The new Ontario Workforce Priority stream opened for expressions of interest on 4 August 2026. Ontario calls this the first of two phases, so more changes are expected.

The new stream has a job offer route, with separate rules for TEER 0 to 3 and TEER 4 or 5 jobs, and a route for self-employed physicians. For TEER 0 to 3 jobs, you generally need CLB 6 (CLB 5 for some trades) and recent work in the job you've been offered.

Ask about an Ontario nomination

Your employer goes firstThe employer registers in Ontario's Employer Portal and submits the job offer. You get a job offer ID.
You register your interestYou must register an expression of interest within 30 calendar days of your employer submitting the job offer.
Invitation to applyIf you're invited, your employer has 14 calendar days to submit its part. You have 17 calendar days from the invitation to apply and pay, after your employer has filed.
NominationOntario approves the employer's application and decides yours. TEER 0 to 3 applicants can be nominated through Express Entry for the extra 600 points.
Apply to IRCCThrough Express Entry if invited, or with a direct permanent residence application within 6 months of a standard nomination.

Common problems

Why Express Entry applications get refused.

Most refusals come down to a gap between what the profile claimed and what the documents prove. These are the problems we check for before you submit.

Expired language resultsTest results must be less than 2 years old when you create your profile and when you apply. IRCC refuses applications with expired results.
Work letters that don't matchReference letters need your duties, hours, pay and dates, and the duties need to match the occupation you claimed.
Proof of funds that falls shortFederal Skilled Worker and Trades applicants usually need settlement funds. Borrowed money and home equity don't count.
Education that wasn't assessedForeign education needs an ECA report, which IRCC accepts for 5 years from the date it was issued.
Points you can't proveIf your documents support a lower score than your profile showed, and it drops below the round's cut-off, the application can be refused.
MisrepresentationLeaving out or misstating a material fact can make you inadmissible to Canada for 5 years. Ask before you guess.

Already refused? See refusals, reconsideration and judicial review. The Federal Court deadline can be as short as 15 days.

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“I had an issue with my work permit being rejected that I was able to create a request for reconsideration, file a judicial review, and get approved with Benjamin's help.”

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Questions

Express Entry and the Ontario PNP

Don't see yours? Call (289) 309-3069.

Do I need a job offer for Express Entry?

Not for the Canadian Experience Class or the Federal Skilled Worker Program. The Federal Skilled Trades Program needs a job offer or a Canadian certificate of qualification. Since 25 March 2025, a job offer no longer adds points to your CRS score. Ontario's Workforce Priority stream does need a job offer, unless you're a self-employed physician.

How long do I have after I'm invited to apply?

60 days. If you don't apply or decline in that time, the invitation expires and your profile is removed from the pool. Start gathering documents as soon as you're invited.

What CRS score do I need?

There's no fixed minimum. Each round sets its own cut-off, and it changes from round to round and by category. IRCC publishes the results of every round on its website.

Can Ontario still nominate me through Express Entry?

Yes, but not the way it used to. Ontario closed its Express Entry streams, including Human Capital Priorities, in June 2026. Under the new Ontario Workforce Priority stream, TEER 0 to 3 applicants with an eligible job offer, and self-employed physicians, can be nominated through Express Entry and get 600 extra points.

What happens if my profile has a mistake?

Fix it before you apply if you can. If IRCC finds that you misstated or left out a material fact, it can refuse the application and find you inadmissible for misrepresentation for 5 years. We can go through your profile line by line with you.

Is the first meeting free?

Video meetings are free. In-person meetings at First Canadian Place are $100.

Other immigration matters we handle.

Free video meeting

Planning to apply? Talk to a lawyer before you submit.

By video (free) or in person at First Canadian Place ($100), 7 days a week.

Book a free video meeting Call (289) 309-3069 Send a message

Cohen Murison Law
100 King Street West, Suite 5700
First Canadian Place, Toronto, ON M5X 1C7
Open 7 days, 9 am to 5 pm. Closed on public holidays.