Those who meet the above criteria for a federal immigration program will be accepted into a pool of candidates. Candidates in the pool are ranked using a point-based system called Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Upon entering the pool, candidates are assigned a CRS score based on factors including education, work experience, language ability, and other criteria. The highest-ranking candidates are selected from a draw and invited to apply for permanent residence. Once an invitation to apply has been issued, you have 90 days to submit your application for permanent residency. The Express Entry program has one of the most efficient processing times, with most permanent resident applications being processed in approximately 6 months.