500 invitations to apply (ITAs), reserved only for applicants from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), were distributed during the most recent Express Entry draw conducted by IRCC. Candidates had to have a minimum CRS score of 539 in order to be eligible.

IRCC has recently invited 1,613 Express Entry candidates with a minimum CRS score of 739 to apply for permanent residence. These candidates were nominated through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

Following a previous draw on September 19, where 4,000 candidates from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) were invited with a minimum CRS score of 509, the latest draw indicates a slight increase in the required score. The CEC draws have become more frequent in recent months, with IRCC issuing 21,800 ITAs to CEC candidates since July.

This trend aligns with IRCC’s goal of increasing “domestic” draws and reducing the number of temporary residents in Canada. The strategy also helps IRCC meet its annual permanent resident targets. Today’s draw is the second one this month, and IRCC conducted four draws in October of last year, inviting a total of 9,173 candidates.

Grasping the Concept of Express Entry 

One key method the Canadian government uses to select skilled immigrants for permanent residency is the Express Entry system. This system evaluates applicants based on several important factors, including age, work experience, education, and proficiency in either French or English.

To be eligible for Express Entry, candidates must meet the requirements of one of the three programs it manages: the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program, or the Federal Skilled Trades Program.

Once accepted into one of these programs, IRCC ranks candidates using the CRS, which assigns them a score based on the criteria mentioned above.

A higher CRS score greatly increases the chance of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA), which is an official invitation from the Canadian government to apply for permanent residency.

Additionally, applicants can gain extra CRS points for specific advantages, such as:

  • Having a spouse or common-law partner,
  • Having a sibling who is a resident or citizen of Canada,
  • Acquiring Canadian work experience,
  • Completing studies in Canada.

These additional points can further enhance an applicant’s chances of receiving an ITA, making their journey to permanent residency smoother.

A Summary of Category-Based Selection Draws 

CRS ratings are often lower in category-based selection draws, which the IRCC implemented in May 2023. These draws were put in place to give the government the ability to choose Express Entry applicants with particular qualifications in order to fill important labor or demographic gaps. Trades, healthcare, agri-food and agriculture, transportation, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) professions, and fluency in French are the six areas that the IRCC has designated for these draws.

Following in-depth stakeholder engagements, a thorough examination of the job market, and consideration of the department’s objective of admitting 6% of all newcomers to French-speaking minority areas outside of Quebec, these categories were selected. Even though the CRS cut-off scores in these drawings are typically lower than in program-specific or general draws, candidates must nonetheless be included in the Express Entry pool. A higher CRS score is still beneficial, though.

Express Entry Draw Results for 2024 

  • October 7: PNP Draw – 1,613 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 743
  • September 19: CEC – 4,000 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 509
  • September 13: French language proficiency – 1,000 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 446
  • September 9: PNP Draw – 911 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 732
  • August 27: CEC – 3,300 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 507
  • August 26: PNP Draw – 1,121 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 694
  • August 15: French language proficiency – 2,000 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 394
  • August 14: CEC – 3,200 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 509
  • August 13: PNP Draw – 763 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 690
  • July 31: CEC – 5,000 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 510
  • July 30: PNP Draw – 964 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 686
  • July 18: French language proficiency – 1,800 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 400
  • July 17: CEC – 6,300 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 515
  • July 16: PNP Draw – 1,391 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 670
  • July 8: French proficiency – 3,200 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 420
  • July 5: Healthcare occupations – 3,750 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 445
  • July 4: Trade occupations – 1,800 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 436
  • July 2: PNP Draw – 920 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 739
  • June 19: PNP Draw- 1,499 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 663
  • May 31: CEC – 3,000 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 522
  • May 30: PNP Draw – 2,985 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 676
  • April 24: French proficiency – 1,400 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 410
  • April 23: General – 2,095 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 529
  • April 11: STEM occupations – 4,500 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 491
  • April 10: General – 1,280 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 549
  • March 26: French language proficiency – 1,500 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 388
  • March 25: General – 1,980 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 524
  • March 13: Transport occupations – 975 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 430
  • March 12: General – 2,850 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 525
  • February 29: French language proficiency – 2,500 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 336
  • February 28: General – 1,470 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 534
  • February 16: Agriculture and agri-food occupations – 150 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 437
  • February 14: Healthcare occupations – 3,500 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 422
  • February 13: General – 1,490 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 535
  • February 1: French language proficiency – 7,000 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 365
  • January 31: General – 730 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 541
  • January 23: General – 1,040 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 543
  • January 10: General – 1,510 ITAs – Minimum CRS: 546