Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has recently announced the latest round of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in the Express Entry system. This draw resulted in the issuance of 1,613 ITAs, specifically for candidates who have received a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) nomination.
To be considered in this draw, candidates needed to achieve a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 743.
In the previous draw on September 19, 2023, IRCC invited 4,000 candidates, exclusively from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). For this draw, candidates were required to have a minimum CRS score of 509, which is a slight increase from the August 27 draw, where the cut-off was 507.
During the summer months, IRCC significantly ramped up the number of CEC-focused draws, issuing a total of 21,800 ITAs to CEC applicants since July. This strategy aligns with IRCC’s objective to concentrate on “domestic” draws and reduce the influx of temporary residents in Canada, which also aids in meeting the country’s annual targets for permanent residency.
Today’s draw marks the first one for October. In contrast, IRCC conducted four draws in October last year, inviting a total of 9,173 candidates.
Understanding Express Entry
Launched in 2015, Express Entry is an online platform designed by IRCC to manage applications for economic immigration. Its main purpose is to select candidates who can effectively address the urgent labor shortages in Canada.
The system manages three key immigration programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Candidates applying through Express Entry are evaluated based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which takes into account various human capital factors, including:
- Work experience
- Age
- Language skills
- Education
- Occupation
Candidates can earn additional points for factors such as immigrating with a spouse or partner, having a sibling residing in Canada, or possessing work experience or educational qualifications from Canada.
A higher CRS score increases a candidate's chances of receiving an ITA in future Express Entry draws, depending on the type of draw.
Category-Based Selection
In May 2023, IRCC introduced category-based draws, which typically feature lower CRS score thresholds than program-specific or general draws. These targeted draws aim to prioritize candidates capable of filling essential workforce needs or addressing demographic challenges.
The six categories identified by IRCC for these draws include:
- Healthcare
- STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields
- Skilled trades
- Transportation
- Agriculture and agri-food
- Proficiency in the French language
These categories were determined after thorough consultations with stakeholders and an assessment of labor market conditions. Furthermore, IRCC aims to ensure that at least 6% of newcomers are welcomed into French-speaking minority communities outside of Quebec.
While CRS scores in category-based draws are generally lower, candidates still need to be part of the Express Entry pool. A higher CRS score remains advantageous and increases the likelihood of receiving an ITA.
Summary of Express Entry draw results in 2024
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