IRCC is Temporarily Making Remote Learning Eligible for Express Entry Points

Great news! Canada is making the rules for Express Entry candidates who studied online during the pandemic less stringent. Usually, online education does not count toward Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points if more than 50% of the program was completed remotely. However, thanks to the new IRCC update, Express Entry candidates are now eligible for Canadian educational credentials if they completed their studies online between March 2020 and August 2022!

This change applies to those who earned a Canadian degree, diploma or certificate online during this time period. Express Entry candidates may now claim points for studies that was completed online, outside Canada, or through part-time studies. Eligible candidates must:

• Update their Express Entry profile
• Receive a letter from the IRCC notifying them of this change

Candidates who have claimed an educational credential should update their profile by answering three questions in the education history section. If these fields are incomplete, candidates can still claim points.

Express Entry draws are held every two weeks, although there have been times when this schedule has changed. The next Express Entry draw is expected to take place on August 3. The IRCC anticipates that the next draw will be held by August 2, 2022, to ensure they have the best possible chance to be invited to apply for permanent residence in the next round of Express Entry invitations.