Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has recently conducted an Express Entry draw, issuing 500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) category.
In this draw, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 539 to be eligible for consideration.
Earlier in the week, IRCC held another draw, issuing 1,613 ITAs to Express Entry candidates with Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) nominations. In that round, candidates were required to have a higher CRS score of at least 739.
Looking back, the most recent Express Entry draw before these occurred on September 19, when 4,000 ITAs were extended to CEC candidates with a minimum CRS score of 509. This was a slight increase from the previous CEC draw on August 27, where the cut-off was 507.
Over the summer, IRCC has been conducting more CEC-specific draws, issuing a total of 21,800 ITAs to Canadian Experience Class candidates since July. This approach aligns with IRCC’s strategy to increase “domestic” draws, aiming to reduce the number of temporary residents and meet the country’s annual permanent residency targets.
Today’s draw is the second held this month, while last October, IRCC conducted four draws, issuing a total of 9,173 invitations.
What is Express Entry?
Launched in 2015, Express Entry is a system designed by IRCC to manage applications for economic immigration. The primary goal of Express Entry is to select candidates who can fill critical labor shortages in Canada.
Three main programs are managed under Express Entry:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
The system uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to evaluate candidates based on various human capital factors such as work experience, age, language proficiency, education, and occupation. Additional points can also be awarded if a candidate is immigrating with a spouse or partner, has a sibling in Canada, or possesses Canadian work experience or education.
The higher a candidate’s CRS score, the better their chances of receiving an ITA in future Express Entry draws, depending on the specific draw type.
Category-Based Selection
In May 2023, IRCC introduced category-based selection draws, where CRS cut-off scores tend to be lower compared to other draw types. These targeted draws aim to address critical labor force gaps and demographic needs. The six key categories are:
- Healthcare
- Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
- Trades
- Transport
- Agriculture and agri-food
- French language proficiency
These categories were chosen based on extensive consultations with stakeholders and an analysis of labor market needs. IRCC also aims to ensure that 6% of all newcomers are admitted to French-speaking minority communities outside Quebec.
Although CRS scores in category-based draws are generally lower, candidates must still have a profile in the Express Entry pool, and a higher score remains an advantage in securing an ITA.
Summary of Express Entry draw results in 2024
| Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | Minimum CRS |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 7 | Provincial Nominee Program | 1,613 | 743 |
| September 19 | Canadian Experience Class | 4,000 | 509 |
| September 13 | French language proficiency | 1,000 | 446 |
| September 9 | Provincial Nominee Program | 911 | 732 |
| August 27 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,300 | 507 |
| August 26 | Provincial Nominee Program | 1,121 | 694 |
| August 15 | French language proficiency | 2,000 | 394 |
| August 14 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,200 | 509 |
| August 13 | Provincial Nominee Program | 763 | 690 |
| July 31 | Canadian Experience Class | 5,000 | 510 |
| July 30 | Provincial Nominee Program | 964 | 686 |
| July 18 | French language proficiency | 1,800 | 400 |
| July 17 | Canadian Experience Class | 6,300 | 515 |
| July 16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 1,391 | 670 |
| July 8 | French proficiency | 3,200 | 420 |
| July 5 | Healthcare occupations | 3,750 | 445 |
| July 4 | Trade occupations | 1,800 | 436 |
| July 2 | Provincial Nominee Program | 920 | 739 |
| June 19 | Provincial Nominee Program | 1,499 | 663 |
| May 31 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,000 | 522 |
| May 30 | Provincial Nominee Program | 2,985 | 676 |
| April 24 | French proficiency | 1,400 | 410 |
| April 23 | General | 2,095 | 529 |
| April 11 | STEM occupations | 4,500 | 491 |
| April 10 | General | 1,280 | 549 |
| March 26 | French language proficiency | 1,500 | 388 |
| March 25 | General | 1,980 | 524 |
| March 13 | Transport occupations | 975 | 430 |
| March 12 | General | 2,850 | 525 |
| February 29 | French language proficiency | 2,500 | 336 |
| February 28 | General | 1,470 | 534 |
| February 16 | Agriculture and agri-food occupations | 150 | 437 |
| February 14 | Healthcare occupations | 3,500 | 422 |
| February 13 | General | 1,490 | 535 |
| February 1 | French language proficiency | 7,000 | 365 |
| January 31 | General | 730 | 541 |
| January 23 | General | 1,040 | 543 |
| January 10 | General | 1,510 | 546 |