The Express Entry system serves as the gateway for skilled workers aiming to immigrate to Canada permanently. This system utilizes the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to assess candidates based on various factors like education, skills, work experience, and language proficiency. However, a common question arises: Can one have more than one Express Entry profile?

The Single Profile Rule

According to the Government of Canada’s immigration law, individuals are restricted to having only one active Express Entry profile at any given time. The rationale behind this rule is to maintain fairness in the selection process for permanent residence.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) highlights that creating multiple profiles will not enhance your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residency. Moreover, having additional profiles will not enable applicants to be invited under a different immigration program.

Duplicate Profiles in the Express Entry Pool

A recent Strategic Policy and Planning report, dated early 2023, sheds light on the issue of duplicate profiles in the Express Entry pool. While candidates can’t have more than one active profile simultaneously, the report reveals a surge in the creation of duplicate profiles in 2022.

As of January 9th, 2023, there were 29,945 duplicate Express Entry profiles associated with 10,229 unique candidates. Furthermore, 70% of these duplicates showed no change in CRS scores, suggesting that many individuals weren’t attempting to manipulate the system. Additionally, over half of the duplicates had been inactive for 100 days, indicating that numerous profiles were abandoned.

The report speculates that the spike in duplicate profiles in November 2022 was likely a response to the November 16th deadline to update profiles with NOC 2021 information. While no clear integrity concerns were identified, the sheer number of duplicate profiles prompted considerations for a cleanup effort by IRCC.

Eligibility for Express Entry

To be eligible for Express Entry, candidates must qualify for at least one of the three federal economic immigration programs:

Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP):

• One year of continuous full-time or equivalent paid work experience in a skilled occupation.
• Validated intermediate or better language ability in English or French.
• Educational credential and Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for candidates educated outside of Canada.
• Minimum of 67 points under the points grid.

Canadian Experience Class (CEC):

• One year of skilled, professional, or technical work experience in Canada within 3 years.
• Relevant language proficiency criteria.

Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP):

• Two years of full-time work experience in a skilled trade within the last 5 years.
• Meeting job requirements of the skilled trade.
• Full-time job offer in Canada for at least 1 year or possession of a certificate of qualification.

Eligibility for More Than One Program

Yes, candidates can be eligible for more than one program under Express Entry. However, the system follows a specific order when issuing invitations: Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

The system automatically invites candidates to apply for the highest-ranked program they qualify for. If an individual declines the invitation, they will return to the pool, and any subsequent invitation will follow the same order. While the single profile rule applies, the system’s flexibility allows candidates to be considered for multiple programs based on their qualifications and the established priority order.