Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently conducted an Express Entry draw, issuing Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates.
A total of 400 ITAs were issued in a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw, with candidates requiring a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 539 to qualify.
This draw follows a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw on November 18, which invited 174 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 816. It also marks the second consecutive week of Express Entry draws. Last week, IRCC issued 1,933 ITAs to candidates in the CEC, PNP, and French-language proficiency streams.
According to IRCC’s latest Immigration Levels Plan, federal immigration targets through the Express Entry system are set to rise in the coming year. The department aims to welcome 124,680 Express Entry candidates in 2025.
Of this total, over 82,000 admissions will focus on a new “In-Canada Focus” category, primarily targeting CEC candidates but also including those in the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and PNP-aligned Express Entry streams.
The remaining 41,700 permanent resident admissions will be allocated to the “Federal Economic Priorities” category, which prioritizes candidates with experience in high-demand occupations across the Canadian labor market.
What is Express Entry?
Express Entry is the system used to manage applications for three key economic immigration programs: the CEC, FSWP, and FSTP. Candidates in these programs are evaluated through the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which assigns scores based on factors such as age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and occupation.
Additional points are awarded for factors like having a sibling in Canada, applying with a spouse, or combining education and work experience in Canada and abroad. Those with a provincial nomination through an enhanced PNP stream receive an extra 600 CRS points, significantly boosting their chances of receiving an ITA.
Candidates with the highest CRS scores are most likely to receive ITAs in upcoming Express Entry draws, provided they meet the specific criteria of the draw.
Express Entry in 2024
This year, IRCC has consistently focused on draws targeting various categories, aligning with its strategy to meet Canada’s economic and labor market needs.
| Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | Minimum CRS |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 19 | Canadian Experience Class | 400 | 539 |
| November 18 | Provincial Nominee Program | 174 | 816 |
| November 15 | French language proficiency | 800 | 478 |
| November 13 | Canadian Experience Class | 400 | 547 |
| November 12 | Provincial Nominee Program | 733 | 812 |
| October 23 | Trade occupations | 1,800 | 433 |
| October 22 | Canadian Experience Class | 400 | 539 |
| October 21 | Provincial Nominee Program | 648 | 791 |
| October 10 | French language proficiency | 1,000 | 444 |
| October 9 | Canadian Experience Class | 500 | 539 |
| 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 |