--- slug: "eligibility-guidance" title: "Eligibility Guidance" template_kind: "custom-update" template_version: "v2" --- # Eligibility Guidance We provide initial eligibility screening and strategy consultations for Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), work permits, family sponsorships, student and visitor routes, business/investor streams, and other immigration pathways. Below is how you start, what we review in an eligibility guidance session, what you should bring/upload for reliable points calculations, and the next steps if you decide to retain us. ## How to start - **Free online assessment (usual first step):** Complete our free assessment form to give us the basic facts we need to screen your case. We use it to decide whether you are likely eligible for Express Entry, a PNP stream, or other pathways—and whether you need a deeper paid consultation. - **Contact channels:** - **Phone:** 416-733-3193 or 416-733-3737 - **Toll-free (U.S.):** 1-888-VISA(8472)-078 - **Email:** canada@moyal.com - **Contact form:** You can also use the contact form on our website to send preliminary information. ## What an eligibility guidance session covers In an eligibility guidance consultation, we will: - Confirm which class(es) you may qualify for (e.g., Express Entry / Federal Skilled Worker / Canadian Experience Class / PNP stream / family route / student or work permit). - Translate your education, work experience, age, and language test results into a **CRS-style points estimate** for Express Entry, and explain how each component affects your ranking. - Explain language test expectations and how to convert your language results to Canadian points ranges. - Review your work experience and advise on documentation or third-party validation typically required to support experience claims. - Identify if you have stronger options through a provincial nominee program or an employer-driven work permit route. - Outline next steps and typical timelines for the route(s) we recommend. ### What we do not do in an initial screening During the eligibility check itself, we do not submit applications on your behalf. If you want application preparation or filing after the assessment, we will outline the scope, pricing, and timeline for those services separately. ## Typical customer flow (what you will do) 1. Complete the free online assessment on our site so we can pre-screen basic eligibility. 2. If the free assessment indicates potential eligibility, we will invite you to schedule a consultation for a detailed review and points calculation. 3. During the consultation, we review documents you upload or bring and provide a recommended pathway and a checklist of evidence you will need to support an application. 4. If you instruct us to prepare an application, we will provide a written engagement letter with scope, fees, and timelines. ## Express Entry overview (how the system works) Express Entry is an online system used by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to manage applications for permanent residence under certain economic immigration programs. At a high level, Express Entry typically works like this: 1. **Confirm you qualify for an Express Entry-managed program.** 2. **Create an Express Entry profile** and enter the candidate pool. 3. **Receive a ranking score** (CRS-style points) based on your profile. 4. **IRCC issues Invitations to Apply (ITAs)** during rounds of invitations. 5. **If you receive an ITA, you submit a permanent residence application** with supporting documents. 6. **IRCC processes the application** and issues a decision. ### Rounds of invitations and ranking - Candidates in the pool are ranked against each other using a points system (commonly referred to as CRS points). - IRCC conducts rounds of invitations and invites the highest-ranked candidates (or candidates who meet the round’s criteria). ### Category-based Express Entry rounds (targeted draws) IRCC may conduct category-based rounds of invitations that target candidates in the Express Entry pool whose **occupation is in demand**, even when their CRS score is lower than typical general draws. To be eligible for an invitation through a category-based round, you must meet **all requirements listed in the instructions for that round**. IRCC then ranks the candidates in the pool who meet the category requirements and invites the **top-ranking candidates** to apply for permanent residence. For 2023, IRCC selected the following in-demand categories: - French-language proficiency - Healthcare occupations - Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations - Trade occupations - Transport occupations - Agriculture and agri-food occupations ## Express Entry CRS update: removal of job-offer points (effective March 25, 2025) Effective **March 25, 2025**, IRCC is implementing changes to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) for both current candidates in the Express Entry pool and future applicants. ### What is changing CRS points for qualifying job offers (arranged employment) are removed. Previously, job-offer points could be awarded as follows: - **200 points:** job offers in occupations classified under **Major Group 00** of the National Occupation Classification (NOC) matrix (for example, senior management positions) - **50 points:** job offers in any other skilled occupations ### Who is affected - **If your Express Entry profile currently includes a qualifying job offer:** the additional CRS points associated with this factor will be removed. - **If you do not currently have a qualifying job offer:** you will no longer be able to gain additional CRS points for this factor as of March 25, 2025. ### Timing (when you will see the change) Although the change takes effect on **March 25, 2025**, it may take a few days for your CRS points to be updated accordingly in your Express Entry profile. ### What does not change - This change **does not affect your eligibility to remain in the Express Entry pool**. - **No action is required** on your part. - If you have an **active Invitation To Apply (ITA)** that has **not expired or been declined**, you are **not affected by this change** and will remain eligible for that specific round of invitation. ## Spouse open work permits (two common options) A common question we receive is how to obtain a work permit for a spouse. In addition to normal work-permit requirements, there are programs that may allow a spouse to obtain an **open work permit** that **does not require a job offer** and is **LMIA-exempt**. ### Option 1: SCLPC open work permit pilot (exemption code A74) Under this program, a spouse may be issued an open work permit if they are an applicant in the **Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada (SCLPC)** class **prior to first-stage approval**. Under this pilot program, applicants may apply for an open work permit **with, or any time after**, the submission of their permanent residence application in the SCLPC class. #### Eligibility (A74) Officers will issue open work permits to SCLPC class applicants if they meet the following requirements: - A complete permanent residence application has been submitted under the SCLPC class and is currently being processed, or has been received by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for processing. - A Canadian citizen or permanent resident spouse has submitted a sponsorship application on their behalf. - The SCLPC class applicant resides at the same address as the sponsor. - The SCLPC class applicant has valid temporary resident status, **or** their application for restoration of status with authorization to work has been received and the officer is satisfied that the SCLPC class applicant is eligible for restoration. #### Who does not qualify (A74) The following do not qualify for an open work permit under this program: - Applicants who have applied for permanent residence under the SCLPC class and have been refused, or have withdrawn that application, before submitting the open work permit pilot application. - Applicants whose application for permanent residence is being processed under the **spousal public policy** (subcategory “PP” in the Global Case Management System (GCMS)) on the basis that they do not have a valid temporary resident status. (These applicants must wait until they receive approval in principle to be eligible to apply for an open work permit.) - Applicants who have applied as members of the overseas family class, including those living in Canada. - Applicants applying for the work permit pilot program at a port of entry. ### Option 2: Public policy (starting January 30, 2023) Starting **January 30, 2023**, spouses and dependent children of most work permit holders at all skill levels may be issued open work permits. #### Eligibility (public policy) To be eligible for an open work permit, you must be a spouse, common-law partner, or dependent child of: - A work permit holder who: - works in a job of any Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) category (**0 to 5**), **or** - is the principal applicant and has an open work permit (for example, post-graduation work permit holders at all skill levels) - An economic-class permanent residence applicant who holds a work permit #### Who is not eligible (public policy) The following are not eligible: - Spouses and dependents of workers in a **TEER 4 or 5** job under the **low-wage stream** of the **Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program** and the **Agricultural Stream** of the **Temporary Foreign Worker Program**. ### General information notice The above information is general advice only and is not intended to act as a legal document. ## Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) — overview Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are immigration programs run by Canadian provinces and territories. Through a PNP, a province/territory can nominate candidates for permanent residence based on that province/territory’s economic and labour-market needs. ### How PNPs generally work At a high level, the process typically looks like this: 1. You apply to a province or territory (or you receive an invitation from a province/territory under one of its streams). 2. If the province/territory approves you, you receive a nomination. 3. You apply for permanent residence to the federal government (IRCC). ### PNP streams and Express Entry PNP streams are often organized into two broad categories: - **Express Entry–aligned streams (enhanced nominations):** If your nomination is linked to Express Entry, you may be able to apply through Express Entry. - **Non–Express Entry streams (base nominations):** If your nomination is not linked to Express Entry, you typically apply to IRCC through a separate (non–Express Entry) process. ### Provinces/territories with PNPs Most provinces and territories run nominee programs. (Quebec has its own immigration programs and is not part of the PNP system in the same way.) ## eTA eligibility expansion for certain countries (including the Philippines) IRCC announced the addition of 13 countries to Canada’s **electronic travel authorization (eTA)** program. The Philippines is one of the countries included. ### What this means (air travel) If you are travelling to Canada **by air**, eligible travellers from these countries may no longer need to apply for a **TRV (Temporary Resident Visa) / visitor visa**. Instead, they can apply online for an **eTA** and pay the **$7** fee. ### Key eligibility condition To qualify under this eTA change, the traveller must: - have **held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years**, or - **currently hold a valid United States non-immigrant visa**. ### Countries included Eligible travellers from the following countries can benefit from the program: - Antigua and Barbuda - Argentina - Costa Rica - Morocco - Panama - Philippines - St. Kitts and Nevis - St. Lucia - St. Vincent and the Grenadines - Seychelles - Thailand - Trinidad and Tobago - Uruguay ### If you already have a valid Canadian visa If you already have a valid Canadian visa, you can continue to use it to travel to Canada. ### Who still needs a visitor visa / TRV You will still need a visitor visa / TRV if: - you are **not eligible** for an eTA under the above condition, or - you are travelling to Canada **by a means other than air** (for example, by **car, bus, train, boat, or cruise ship**). ## Biometrics reuse (TR vs PR) Biometrics reuse rules can affect timing and next steps for temporary-resident and permanent-resident applications. ### Background The reuse of biometrics was first implemented with the bio expansion in 2018, where biometrics collected under the temporary resident (TR) stream would be valid for 10 years and reused for subsequent TR applications. ### Standard rules (outside of pandemic measures) - **TR stream:** You are required to provide biometrics if you are applying for the first time, or if you provided biometrics more than 10 years ago. Biometrics collected in support of a TR application are valid for a 10-year period. - **PR stream:** You are required to provide biometrics in support of any PR application, regardless of whether biometrics were previously collected and are still valid. Biometrics collected in support of a PR application remain valid until that PR application is finalized and closed. ### Reuse scenarios - **TR → TR:** TR biometrics that are still valid can be reused for subsequent TR applications. - **TR → PR:** TR biometrics cannot be reused for a PR application. - **PR → TR:** PR biometrics can be reused for a TR application as long as the PR application remains open. - **PR → PR:** PR biometrics cannot be reused for subsequent PR applications. ### General information notice The above information is general advice only and is not intended to act as a legal document. ## What we need from you for a reliable points calculation Bring or upload copies of the following when you request a detailed consultation: - Passport biographic page(s) and current status documents (if in Canada) - Education credentials (degrees, diplomas) and, when applicable, an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) or transcript details - Detailed work history (employer names, job titles, duties, start/end dates) and any letters of reference or pay stubs you have - Language test scores (IELTS, CELPIP, TEF, or other) or test booking confirmation - Proof of spouse/common-law partner details if you want a spouse-included points calculation If you have the above documents available when you book, we can usually provide a more accurate CRS-style estimate during the consultation. ## Operational details you can act on now - **Free online assessment:** https://moyal.com/free-assessment/ - **Head office address:** 7 Hendon Ave, Toronto, Ontario M2M 4G8 - **Email:** canada@moyal.com - **Phone:** 416-733-3193 / 416-733-3737 - **Toll-free (U.S.):** 1-888-VISA(8472)-078 ## Deliverables and follow-ups - After a detailed consultation, we will summarize the recommended pathway and the documents you need. - If you engage us for preparation and filing, we provide a written engagement letter that lists services, fees, and estimated timelines. ## Our approach We review each case with an eye to choosing the pathway that best fits your qualifications and timeline. Use the free assessment to give us a clear starting point; after that we will invite you to a tailored consultation for a precise points calculation and a documented strategy.