How to Immigrate to Canada from Brazil: The Express Entry Pathway Explained

Canada is the top destination for Brazilian skilled professionals right now. The combination of social safety nets, merit-based immigration, and a clear path to citizenship makes it more structured than Portugal and more accessible than the US. But the Express Entry system was designed around a North American administrative framework, and a lot of what you have accumulated in Brazil — your Carteira de Trabalho, your diplomas from a federal university, your criminal record certificate from the Polícia Federal — needs to be translated into a language that IRCC can evaluate.

This guide walks through the full pathway from Brazil to Canadian permanent residency via Express Entry, with attention to where Brazilian applicants specifically hit obstacles.

What Is Express Entry and Which Program Applies to You?

Express Entry is Canada's main system for managing applications for skilled worker permanent residency. It is not a visa — it is a pool of candidates who have been invited to apply for one of three federal programs:

Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP): For skilled workers with at least one year of full-time (or equivalent part-time) work experience in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation in the past 10 years, who have never worked or studied in Canada. Language proficiency (CLB 7 minimum), an educational credential assessment, and sufficient CRS points are required.

Canadian Experience Class (CEC): For people who already have at least one year of Canadian work experience in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation in the past three years. No WES credential evaluation is required for CEC (though it helps your CRS score). This is the program for Brazilians who came to Canada on a work permit and are transitioning to permanent residency.

Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP): For licensed tradespeople in specific eligible trades with a job offer or provincial certification. Less commonly used by Brazilian applicants.

Most Brazilians applying from Brazil use FSWP. The process outlined below covers that pathway.

Step 1: Check Eligibility

Before starting any documentation, confirm you meet the minimum requirements:

• Language: CLB 7 or higher in all four skills (reading, writing, speaking, listening) in English or French. Take IELTS General Training, PTE Core, CELPIP, TEF Canada, or TCF Canada.
• Work experience: At least one continuous year of full-time work (1,560 hours) in a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation within the past 10 years.
• Education: At minimum a one-year post-secondary credential that took at least one year to complete. A Bacharelado easily meets this threshold. Tecnólogo degrees (2-3 years) qualify, though the WES equivalency may affect your CRS points.
• Funds: Sufficient settlement funds in liquid assets (see Step 5 for amounts). You are exempt if you have a valid Canadian job offer.

If you meet all four, you are eligible to create an Express Entry profile.

Step 2: Get Your Credential Evaluated by WES

The Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is the step that Brazilian applicants most commonly underestimate in terms of time.

World Education Services (WES) is the most widely used designated credential evaluation organization. They require your Brazilian university to send your transcripts directly to WES — you cannot mail them yourself. This is where the process gets complex.

For federal universities (USP, UNICAMP, UFRJ, UFPE): Many now transmit digitally through secure channels or email to WES. Processing after documents arrive typically takes 20 to 35 business days.

For private faculdades: Physical sealed envelopes sent by mail. Add international shipping time (2 to 4 weeks) on top of the 20 to 35 business day evaluation period.

From the moment you contact your university to request the transcript transmission, budget 8 to 12 weeks for the complete WES evaluation. Start this process first, before completing your language test, because it is the longest lead item.

Apostille requirement: Your university diploma must be apostilled before WES will accept it. Take your original diploma to a Cartório authorized to issue Apostilas da Haia. The cost varies by state: São Paulo charges approximately R$130 to R$150 per document, Minas Gerais around R$175, and some states significantly less.

Sworn translation: Any document not in English must be accompanied by a sworn translation by a Tradutor Juramentado — a translator registered with the Junta Comercial of their state. IRCC does not accept translations done by friends, family, or informal translation services.

Step 3: Take Your Language Test

For English: IELTS General Training and PTE Core are the most common choices among Brazilian applicants. PTE Core results are typically released within 48 hours, compared to 5 to 7 days for IELTS. Both are available multiple times per week in major Brazilian cities.

For French as a strategy: TEF Canada and TCF Canada are available through Alliance Française on a quarterly schedule. If you are considering the French route for the 50-point CRS bonus and category-based draw access, plan your test registration 3 months ahead. Portuguese speakers have a structural advantage in French acquisition — reaching NCLC 7 (B2 level) typically requires 600 to 800 hours from zero, often less for applicants with any prior French exposure.

You can hold scores in both languages simultaneously and claim points for both in your Express Entry profile.

Step 4: Find Your NOC Code

The National Occupational Classification (NOC) code you select determines your Express Entry stream eligibility, your points, and what your employer reference letters must contain.

Your CTPS job title is irrelevant to this choice. What matters is the main duties of the work you actually performed. Find the NOC code whose lead statement and main duties most accurately describe your role. Use the Job Bank search tool at jobbank.gc.ca.

You will need a separate reference letter from each employer where you are claiming work experience. The letter must be on company letterhead, signed by your supervisor or HR, and must list the specific duties that match your chosen NOC code. IRCC views the CTPS as supporting evidence only — it is not sufficient on its own.

Step 5: Gather Settlement Funds Proof

If you do not have a valid Canadian job offer, you must demonstrate that you have sufficient liquid, unencumbered funds to support yourself and your family upon arrival. As of July 2025, the requirements are:

"Liquid and unencumbered" means you can withdraw the funds today. CDBs with a grace period (carência) do not count until the carência expires. Tesouro Direto bonds are acceptable — they can be liquidated within 24 hours. Nubank and Banco Inter accounts are acceptable but require a formal "Declaração de Saldo" showing the 6-month average balance, which must be obtained by contacting customer support.

If a family member is providing part of the funds as a gift, a notarized gift letter is required and the money must be transferred to your account before you submit your application.

Step 6: Create Your Express Entry Profile

Once you have your language test results, WES ECA, and NOC code confirmed, you create a profile in the IRCC portal. The profile captures:

• Personal information (use your name exactly as it appears in the machine-readable zone of your passport)
• Education history and WES reference number
• Work history with NOC codes
• Language test scores
• Settlement funds amount
• Family members included in the application

The system calculates your CRS score automatically and places you in the pool.

Step 7: Wait for an Invitation to Apply (ITA)

IRCC runs draws from the Express Entry pool at irregular intervals — typically every 2 to 3 weeks. Each draw invites candidates above a certain CRS threshold. The threshold varies by draw type:

• General draws: Recently 500–540+. Competitive without strong language and education.
• Category-based draws (STEM, Healthcare, French-language, etc.): Lower thresholds, often 379–480, targeting specific skill sets.

The typical wait time for a Brazilian FSWP applicant with a CRS score in the 430–470 range is 6 to 18 months, depending on whether category-based draws apply.

Step 8: Apply Within 60 Days of Your ITA

If you receive an ITA, you have 60 days to submit a complete e-APR (Electronic Application for Permanent Residence). This is when all documents must be ready:

• Police clearances (Certidão de Antecedentes Criminais from the Polícia Federal, valid for 90 days)
• Passport copies
• Employment reference letters
• WES ECA
• Language test results
• Settlement funds documentation
• Medical examination results (from a panel physician)
• Family civil documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates) apostilled and translated

The 60-day window is not long. Documents that expire quickly — the police certificate has a 90-day validity — must be timed so they remain valid throughout the application review process, which can take 6 months after submission.

For a complete step-by-step walkthrough of each document, including which Brazilian documents require apostille, which require sworn translation, and how to handle edge cases like multiple employers, see the Brazil → Canada Express Entry Guide.

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