Express Entry is the system Canada uses to manage most economic immigration — Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades, and Canadian Experience Class all funnel through it. It isn't itself a program you apply to; it's a pool you enter, and then rank inside.
Once you submit a profile, you're scored under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which weighs age, education, language ability, and work experience — plus extra points for a provincial nomination, a valid job offer, or French-language ability. Periodically, IRCC draws candidates from the pool, starting from the highest score down, and issues Invitations to Apply (ITAs).
The score that gets an invitation moves around draw to draw, and by category in recent years — some draws now target specific occupations or French speakers rather than pulling from the general pool. That's the part a lot of people miss: a 'good' CRS score six months ago might not be competitive for this month's draws, and vice versa.
Getting an ITA isn't the finish line. You then have a limited window to submit a full application with supporting documents, and errors or missing evidence at that stage can cause delays or refusals even for a strong profile.
If your CRS score isn't where you'd like it, a provincial nomination is often the fastest way to add meaningful points — but each province has its own streams and criteria, and picking the wrong one can cost months.
This is a general overview, not an assessment of your specific eligibility — CRS math and draw patterns change often enough that it's worth a real conversation before you build a plan around any of it.