How do I create an Express Entry profile and what information do I need?
To create an Express Entry profile, you log into the IRCC online portal and answer a detailed eligibility questionnaire. Before you start, gather the following: a valid passport, language test results (IELTS, CELPIP, TEF Canada, or TCF Canada — must be no more than two years old), your education credentials and, if applicable, an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), a detailed employment history covering at least ten years, and proof of any provincial nomination or qualifying job offer.
If your education was completed outside Canada, you will need an ECA from a designated organization to have it recognized in the system. The profile asks you to self-report your details; IRCC verifies everything if you receive an ITA and submit a full application.
Once your profile is submitted, you receive a CRS score and enter the pool. Your profile remains valid for 12 months. If it expires before you receive an ITA, you can create a new one — but your language test results must still be valid at that point. Accuracy matters: misrepresentation on an immigration application can result in a multi-year bar from Canada.
Key takeaways
- A valid language test (≤ 2 years old) is essential before creating your profile.
- Foreign degrees require an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).
- Profiles expire after 12 months if no ITA is received.
- Accuracy is critical — misrepresentation carries serious consequences.