Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued a total of 763 invitations under the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). The draw required candidates to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 690 to be invited.
In July, the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a record number of Express Entry draws, issuing over 25,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in nine consecutive draws. This was the highest number of draws conducted in a single month since the inception of the Express Entry selection system in 2015, marking a significant increase from the previous month. Among draws conducted in the July month, four were based on specific categories, and two of them were specifically for candidates who met the French language proficiency criteria. The draw on July 18 for this category had the lowest Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score requirement of the month, with a score of 400.
In the recent draws, ITAs were issued to candidates in healthcare and commerce domains. Out of the seven draws, two were specific to the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program and the rest were for candidates in the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) category. On 2 July, PNP candidates saw the month's highest CRS score requirement of 739.
Following a year of category-based Express Entry selection and general draws, the increase in program-specific draws demonstrates that the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is successfully prioritizing domestic draws for permanent residence candidates who are living inside territorial Canada. This aligns with the department's goal of reducing the number of temporary residents in Canada while maintaining its target for permanent resident admissions.
A chart depicting the CRS cut-off scores for the last 10 EE draws
Source: Owlspriority Immigration internal, IRCC
The chart illustrates a noticeable pattern in the recent Express Entry draws conducted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), and this trend has been received with enthusiasm. There has been a decrease in the cut-off Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, in each separate category, resulting in a higher number of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) being issued to eligible candidates. This adjustment has been made to ensure that IRCC achieves its multi-year immigration target for 2024-26, aiming to welcome over 485,000 new immigrants by the end of 2024.
Express Entry is an electronic selection system used by the Federal as well as Provincial governments of Canada [to select], as well as designated Canadian employers [to nominate] candidates for Canadian permanent residence under three of its popular economic [skilled] immigration programs:
Candidates eligible for any of the above programs are given a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score in the Express Entry Pool. It is based on their Core/Human capital factors such as age, work experience, education, and language ability in English and/or French, etc. And, based on scores, candidates are periodically invited (or nominated) for permanent residence.
Category-based selection in Express Entry refers to the practice of holding rounds of invitations that specifically target candidates with certain attributes or qualifications. These attributes could include proficiency in French language or work experience in specific occupations facing shortages. In the context mentioned, the categories include:
French-language proficiency: candidates demonstrating proficiency in the French language.
Occupation-specific draws: candidates with work experience in the below five key occupations facing shortages:
The rationale behind category-based EE Selection is to address labour shortages in critical sectors of the Canadian economy. Canada aims to welcome more skilled workers to alleviate these shortages, especially considering the anticipated retirement of up to nine million Canadians by 2030. The Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, emphasizes the importance of skilled immigration in eliminating these shortages.
Check if you qualify for Express Entry. Check out our Settlement Resources to learn how to find employment in Canada, making your initial days stress-free, etc.
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