Express Entry for Brits: how the points work and where Ontario fits in

Express Entry is a points race, and in 2026 the people winning it mostly have Canadian work experience, a provincial nomination, good French or a job in a shortage field.

The short version

• Express Entry manages three federal programmes: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) [5][9].
• Your profile is ranked by the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). A provincial nomination adds 600 points, which is why nominee rounds have the highest cut-offs [1][2].
• Recent draws were mostly for people already in Canada, provincial nominees, French speakers and listed occupations [2][3].
• Ontario closed its old Express Entry streams on 25 June 2026. Its new Ontario Workforce Priority stream needs a job offer for almost everyone [7][8].
• Unless you're exempt, you need settlement funds, from CAD 15,263 (about £8,090) for one person [4].

Pound conversions use the Bank of England spot rate of 5 November 2026 (£1 = CAD 1.89).

How Express Entry works

Express Entry isn't a visa itself. It's the online system Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses to manage applications for permanent residence (PR) under three programmes [9]:

"TEER" is Canada's skill level for jobs, from 0 (management) to 5. Express Entry covers TEER 0 to 3.

Most Brits applying from the UK will use the FSWP. The process goes like this:

1. Take an English test. Yes, even if you're from Surrey. IRCC wants an approved test, scored in all four skills. Ontario's pages list IELTS General Training, CELPIP General and PTE Core as accepted for English [7].
2. Get an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for your UK degree or qualifications. The FSWP needs one for foreign education [5].
3. Create your Express Entry profile. If you're eligible, you go into the pool with a CRS score.
4. Wait for an invitation to apply (ITA). IRCC holds rounds of invitations and invites the top-ranked people [2].
5. Apply for PR with your documents, police certificates (in the UK, from ACRO), medical exam, biometrics and fees.

The CRS: where the points come from

IRCC splits the CRS into four parts [1]:

The extras are [1]:

• Sibling in Canada who is a citizen or PR, aged 18 or over: 15 points.
• French: up to 50 points if you score NCLC 7 or better in all four French skills. With good English too, you get the full 50.
• Study in Canada: 15 points for a one- or two-year credential, 30 for three years or more.

November 2026: job offers changed

From 3 November 2026, IRCC changed the points for Canadian work experience and job offers. Job offers no longer need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). A high-wage job offer now scores 50, 70 or 100 points, depending on how far it is above the median wage. You get points for either Canadian work experience or a high-wage offer, not both [1].

IRCC said recalculating existing profiles "could take up to 2 weeks" and that invitation rounds were paused meanwhile [1]. If you're already in the pool, check your score once the recalculation is done.

What recent draws needed

There are three kinds of round: general, programme-specific and category-based [2]. This is what IRCC's own list showed for the autumn of 2026 [2]:

Two things jump out. First, Canadian Experience Class rounds needed about 520 points, which is tough without Canadian work experience. Second, the category rounds for trades, healthcare and transport came in about 475, and French speakers got through with scores in the 400s. There were no all-programme rounds in that run.

Category-based draws

IRCC lists ten categories for these targeted rounds [3]:

• French-language proficiency
• Healthcare and social services occupations
• STEM occupations
• Trade occupations
• Education occupations
• Transport occupations
• Physicians with Canadian work experience
• Senior managers with Canadian work experience
• Researchers with Canadian work experience
• Skilled military recruits

IRCC says it may skip a category round if enough people in that category are already being invited in other rounds [3]. A British nurse, electrician, teacher or engineer with good test scores has a much better chance than someone in a job outside the categories.

Ontario's nominee programme after the 2026 shake-up

Each province runs its own Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and a nomination tied to Express Entry is worth 600 points. For Toronto, that means the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).

Ontario overhauled it in 2026. On 25 June 2026 it closed eight streams, including the three Express Entry streams many Brits used to watch: Human Capital Priorities, French-Speaking Skilled Worker and Skilled Trades [8]. The employer job offer, master's and PhD streams closed at the same time [8].

The replacement is the Ontario Workforce Priority stream, whose online registration opened on 4 August 2026 [8]. In short [7]:

• You need a qualifying full-time, permanent job offer from an Ontario employer. The exception is self-employed doctors with the right Ontario registration.
• For TEER 0 to 3 jobs you need CLB 6 (CLB 5 for some trades), a post-secondary credential with an ECA if it's from abroad, and recent experience, for example six months full-time in the job within the last 12 months.
• You register an expression of interest, which is scored. If you're invited, your employer applies first and you have 17 days to submit yours.
• TEER 0 to 3 applicants can ask to be nominated through Express Entry. Accept it and you get the 600 points.

Ontario says more changes are on the way, so check it before you plan around it [7][8]. Other provinces run their own programmes. A nomination elsewhere usually comes with the expectation that you'll live there, so it's not a back door into Toronto.

Proof of funds and fees

Unless you're applying under the Canadian Experience Class, or you're allowed to work in Canada and have a valid job offer, you must show settlement funds [4]. This is the table IRCC was showing when we checked, last updated on 7 July 2025 [4]:

You need official letters from each bank showing your current balance and the average balance over the last six months [4]. Money borrowed from someone else and equity in your house back home don't count [4]. Selling the semi in Swindon first might work, but the cash needs to be in an account you can show.

The PR fees are CAD 1,590 (about £843) for you and the same for a partner, including the right of permanent residence fee, plus CAD 270 (about £143) per child. Biometrics cost CAD 85 (about £45) [6].

Is Express Entry right for you?

Be honest with your score. If you're under 30, have a degree and score well in your English test, you'll still find the pool competitive without Canadian experience or a shortage job. That's why so many young Brits come over on a working holiday first: a year of skilled work in Canada opens the Canadian Experience Class and boosts your score.

If you're further into your career, look hard at the category list and at a job offer, which now counts without an LMIA. A regulated immigration consultant or lawyer can check your case. Our community group for Brits in Canada is a good place to hear how others did it, and you can join here.

Sources

1. IRCC: Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) criteria
2. IRCC: Express Entry rounds of invitations (modified 16 October 2026; draws data checked 7 November 2026)
3. IRCC: Express Entry category-based selection (modified 16 October 2026)
4. IRCC: Proof of funds for Express Entry
5. IRCC: Federal Skilled Workers (modified 3 November 2026)
6. IRCC: Fee list (modified 21 September 2026)
7. Government of Ontario: Ontario Workforce Priority stream (updated 20 October 2026)
8. Government of Ontario: 2026 Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program updates (updated 16 October 2026)
9. IRCC: Express Entry – who can apply

Keep reading

• Moving to Toronto as a Brit: visa and residence routes
• Canada's working holiday (IEC) for Brits
• Canadian permanent residence and citizenship for Brits
• Moving abroad checklist for Brits