In this lesson, we will cover the essentials of creating an Express Entry profile, which is one of the first steps in the journey to permanently reside in Canada. With an Express Entry profile, you can apply for different immigration programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, Canadian Experience Class CEC.

There are 2 steps to Express Entry profile creation 1) Create MyCIC account 2) Fill Express Entry profile information.

Step 0: Pre-work

Before you jump into this critical step of creating an Express Entry profile, you must first completely understand the essentials of Canada’s Express Entry system, a selection system that Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses for those who want to immigrate to Canada.

Once you are done filling in the entries in Come to Canada tool, a personal reference code is generated on the screen (It looks like this: JM1234567890 ). You should save this reference number as it will be needed during profile creation.

Personal Reference Code has a validity of only 30 days, so it is possible that it may expire before you have completed your Express Entry profile. If it expires, you can go back to the Come to Canada tool and complete the questionnaire, a new Personal Reference Code will be generated. You can also proceed to GC Key creation without Personal Reference Code, however, you will be asked to generate a personal reference code prior to Step 2.

Ensure that you create your Express Entry profile only after receiving your Language Test results and Education Credential Assessment report.

Step 1: Create a MyCIC account

Assuming that you received a positive result for your eligibility, your next step would be to create a MyCIC account

Once you have completed all entries on this GC-key page, you will be prompted to select continue to leave GC service and return to Gov. of Canada online services, but this time you will need to “sign in”.

Step 2: Filling up all Express Entry online forms

Once you have signed in, your MyCIC account you will see a tab that indicates you to create your Express Entry profile (highlighted in the image below).

Click on this “Express Entry” tab and you will be prompted for a personal reference code. Fill out the personal reference code that you got from Come to Canada tool earlier (or generate a new reference code by completing the Come to Canada tool questionnaire) and enter it in the relevant field. This will automatically populate some of your personal details, work experience, education, etc from the Come to Canada tool to your Express Entry profile.

To create your online Express Entry profile you will need to fill in details of the following :

  1. Your personal reference code from the Come to Canada tool.
  2. Name
  3. Gender
  4. DOB
  5. Country
  6. City of birth
  7. Marital status
  8. ID docs
  9. Number of family members and settlement funds amount
  10. Education history
  11. Your language test results (language proficiencies)
  12. Your Education Credential Assessment results
  13. Your work history details and corresponding National Occupational Classification or NOC codes
  14. Your passport or travel document
  15. If you have a Provincial nomination then details of nomination.
  16. If you have LMIA approved Job offer then details of your Job offer.
  17. Your choice(s) of province (except Quebec)
  18. Details of your representative (if any)

The Express Entry profile is dynamic and some of the information/questions that is requested from you depend on the information that you have already provided in previous sections. Once you start, you have 60 days to complete your Express Entry profile. You do not have to complete everything in one stretch. You can save the forms and return to them later.

Once completed, you have to “Submit” your profile.

How to update or check my Express Entry profile?

To check or update your Express Entry profile before submitting it; follow these steps:

  1. Visit MyCIC account login page
  2. You’ll have to go to the section “Continue my profile / application, not yet submitted”
  3. Choose the line with your Express Entry Profile. This will take you to your Express Entry Profile Login page.

After arriving on the Express Entry profile login page:

  1. Click the “Update form” button for the “Form Name” you want to update
  2. Make the necessary changes
  3. Click the “Save and exit” button at the bottom of page to go back to “Express Entry Profile” page.

How to withdraw Express Entry profile?

  1. Visit MyCIC account login page
  2. You’ll have to go to the section “View the applications you submitted”
  3. Click on the “Withdraw profile” button
  4. Click on the orange “Continue” button

Once you withdraw your express entry profile, you will need to create a new one to be able to enter the Express Entry pool. The Express Entry requirements in place at that time have to be met by you.

I was found ineligible for Express Entry and I can’t change my profile. What do I do?

Once you’ve been found not eligible for express entry, you will need to create a new profile. The earlier profile will cease to be valid and you won’t be able to edit/modify any information you provided there.

While creating a new profile, you’ll still have to meet all the Express Entry requirements that are in place. So, it is ideal to make a profile if you want to correct a mistake or your language test results have improved or you have better skilled work experience. Unless your circumstances have changed in your favor, there is a good chance that you’ll be found ineligible again for Canadian immigration.

You can review the requirements to see which ones you did not meet. This will be helpful in finding what you need to do to meet the requirements so you can apply again.

Where to find my Express Entry profile number/Job Seeker validation code?

Follow these steps to find these numbers as a message:

  1. Open “View my submitted applications or profiles” once you log in to your account.
  2. Click on “Check status and messages”
  3. Go down to the “Correspondence” table
  4. Clicking on the arrow in front of the message will open a drop-down menu containing another link
  5. Follow that link to open the PDF message containing the required details

The express entry profile number is located at the top of the PDF letter while the Job Seeker Validation Code is under the section “To register with Job Bank”.

In case you don’t get a profile number, you should fill the Case Specific Enquiry form.

When I complete all details my Profile shows ineligible. What could be the reason?

There could be several reasons :

Other reasons may include:

  • Expired IELTS reports (2 years validity)
  • Expired ECA report (5 years validity in general)
  • For FSW applicants, work experience under Primary NOC does not meet “continuous” for at least 1 calendar year requirement.

If nothing else helped and you are sure that you are eligible the give the below option a try:

You should also consider contacting CIC via one or more options mentioned on this page : How do I contact CIC or IRCC if I have issues?

CICs twitter account, Telephone number: 1-888-242-2100 (if you are in Canada) or try Report a technical issueform from MyCIC. You will find this button at the top corner of your MyCIC account page.

In case my Express Entry profile expires, will the system keep my information?

If your online express entry profile expired your information will not be stored in the system. So, if your profile is about to expire, you must complete and submit a new one in order to stay in the Express Entry pool.

Another good idea is to save screenshots of your profile to make it easier to re-enter your data. Please note that creating and submitting a new profile before your existing one expires, requires you to withdraw your express entry profile first.

I was found ineligible for Express Entry and I can’t change my profile. What do I do?

Once you’ve been found not eligible for express entry programs based on the points-based system, you will need to create a new profile. The earlier profile will cease to be valid and you won’t be able to edit/modify any information you provided there.

While creating a new profile, you’ll still have to meet all the Express Entry requirements that are in place. So, it is ideal to make a profile if you want to correct a mistake or your language test results have improved or you have better work experience.

Unless your circumstances have changed in your favor, there is a good chance that you’ll be found ineligible again as you will still fall short of passing the Express Entry draws for the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) that the immigration program in Canada uses.You can review the requirements to see which ones you did not meet. This will be helpful in finding what you need to do to meet the requirements so you can apply again.

Important Timelines related to Express Entry Profile

A lot of information that you enter in IRCC systems expires after a certain duration. Please be aware of the following common timelines for different type of information

Place in processHow long your information stays in the system
Completed Come to Canada tool and got a Personal Reference Code30 days from the day you’re issued a Personal Reference Code.
Profile started, but not submitted60 days from the date you first started your profile
Profile submitted (but waiting for Job Bank registration, confirmation of a nomination from a province or territory, or confirmation of a valid job offer) and got an Express Entry Profile Number30 days from the date you submit your Express Entry Profile.
Complete profile submitted (includes registering with job bank, a nomination from a province or territory, or a valid job offer)One year from the date you submit, or until you’re invited to apply or withdraw your profile — whichever comes first.
Invitation to apply (ITA)90 days from the date you’re invited to apply.
Invitation to apply: declinedYour profile is placed back into the pool for the time left in the original one year since completing your profile. You can update your information.
Invitation to apply: within 90 days (didn’t submit an electronic application for permanent residence, and didn’t formally decline the ITA)The ITA will expire and your profile will no longer be in the Express Entry pool. (To enter the pool again, you’ll have to complete and submit a new profile in your account.)
Profile submitted but expiredIf you still want to come to Canada as a skilled immigrant, you must complete and submit a new profile. If you meet minimum entry criteria, you’ll get a new Express Entry Profile Number.

How Many Express Entry Profiles Can I have?

As per IRCC help page, you cannot have more than one Express Entry profile. Moreover, creating multiple profiles makes no difference to your chances of getting your invitation to apply ITA for permanent residence. It is important to remember that completing a profile for Express Entry Canada is only the first step towards your immigration. It does not guarantee that you would receive a Invitation to Apply.

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