Restrictions over the past 2 years due to COVID-19, have forced many students to study online through remote learning or distance learning. Now, Canada has relaxed rules for the Express Entry applicants who studied online during the pandemic.

Normally, under the Express Entry system, candidates are not awarded any Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for Canadian education credentials, if more than 50% of the program was completed through distance learning.

But on July 26, 2022, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), updated the rules to allow Express Entry candidates to be awarded CRS points for Canadian educational credentials for programs completed fully online, through distance or remote learning, between March 2020 and August 2022.

The IRCC website says

If you earned a Canadian degree, diploma or certificate and completed any part of your program of study or training between March 2020 and August 2022, you’re now eligible for Canadian educational credential points even if you completed the program entirely

• through distance learning;
• from outside Canada; or
• through part-time studies.

Update your Express Entry profile to ensure you have the best possible chance to be invited to apply through Express Entry.

Candidates need to update their Express Entry profile. Candidates in the pool may have already received a letter from IRCC notifying them of the change.

IRCC has asked candidates to update their Express Entry profile by August 2, 2022, to ensure candidates have the best possible chance to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in the next Express Entry draw.

Candidates invited through the ITAs issued can apply for Permanent Residence to Canada.

Need a hand with your application, contact us today for a free assessment.  Turningstone Immigration Consulting is a full-service Immigration consultancy. Our services are provided by a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC).

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