The third Express Entry draw of the week sees 3750 invitations issued. IRCC have sent ITAs in the week’s third Express Entry draw. To qualify for consideration, candidates needed a CRS score of no less than 445.

Following a July 4 draw that selected 1,800 trade occupation candidates, this was the second category-based draw of the week. On July 2, IRCC held a draw exclusively for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates, issuing 920 invitations to those with a minimum CRS score of 739. This week’s total of 6,470 ITAs is the highest since April.

Program-specific draws have been a trend this year, with IRCC conducting four since May 30, three of which targeted PNP candidates.

Only applicants to the Express Entry pool who have applied through CEC, FSWP, or FSTP are taken into account in program-specific drawings. Candidates must have obtained an upgraded nomination through an Express Entry-aligned stream of a PNP in order to be eligible for PNP-only draws.

Since the start of the category-based selection draws in May 2023, these kinds of draws have not occurred. However, the IRCC has been striving to control Canada’s large influx of temporary residents since January. Giving temporary residents—those with work permits, study permits, or visitor visas—more opportunities to become permanent residents is one strategy.

Many temporary residents who are Canadian citizens or who have lived in Canada for some time apply through the CEC. This also holds true for PNP contenders. This lowers the number of temporary residents in Canada while enabling the IRCC to meet its annual goals for “Federal High Skilled Workers” (Express Entry) as outlined in the Immigration Levels Plan.

2024 Express Entry Draw Highlights – Key Results 

  • July 5: Healthcare occupations draw – 3,750 ITAs issued, minimum CRS score of 445.
  • July 4: Trade occupations draw – 1,800 ITAs issued, minimum CRS score of 436.
  • July 2: Provincial Nominee Program draw – 920 ITAs issued, minimum CRS score of 739.
  • June 19: Provincial Nominee Program draw – 1,499 ITAs issued, minimum CRS score of 663.
  • May 31: Canadian Experience Class draw – 3,000 ITAs issued, minimum CRS score of 522.
  • May 30: Provincial Nominee Program draw – 2,985 ITAs issued, minimum CRS score of 676.
  • April 24: French proficiency draw – 1,400 ITAs issued, minimum CRS score of 410.
  • April 23: General draw – 2,095 ITAs issued, minimum CRS score of 529.
  • April 11: STEM occupations draw – 4,500 ITAs issued, minimum CRS score of 491.
  • April 10: General draw – 1,280 ITAs issued, minimum CRS score of 549.
  • March 26: French language proficiency draw – 1,500 ITAs issued, minimum CRS score of 388.
  • March 25: General draw – 1,980 ITAs issued, minimum CRS score of 524.
  • March 13: Transport occupations draw – 975 ITAs issued, minimum CRS score of 430.
  • March 12: General draw – 2,850 ITAs issued, minimum CRS score of 525.
  • February 29: French language proficiency draw – 2,500 ITAs issued, minimum CRS score of 336.
  • February 28: General draw – 1,470 ITAs issued, minimum CRS score of 534.
  • February 16: Agriculture and agri-food occupations draw – 150 ITAs issued, minimum CRS score of 437.
  • February 14: Healthcare occupations draw – 3,500 ITAs issued, minimum CRS score of 422.
  • February 13: General draw – 1,490 ITAs issued, minimum CRS score of 535.
  • February 1: French language proficiency draw – 7,000 ITAs issued, minimum CRS score of 365.
  • January 31: General draw – 730 ITAs issued, minimum CRS score of 541.
  • January 23: General draw – 1,040 ITAs issued, minimum CRS score of 543.
  • January 10: General draw – 1,510 ITAs issued, minimum CRS score of 546.

Express Entry Explained 

The IRCC introduced the Express Entry application management system in 2015 with the goal of processing applications more quickly by identifying individuals who possess desirable human capital traits. Applications from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) are managed by it.

Express Entry evaluates applicants’ eligibility based on human capital indicators such age, work experience, occupation, language proficiency, and education using the CRS. The CRS score of candidates is calculated by adding the scores for each factor. An applicant has a better chance of getting an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in the following draw if they have a higher CRS score.

Program-specific, category-based, and general draws are among the different types of Express Entry draws. All Express Entry candidates are taken into account for general drawings, irrespective of their particular program or occupation.

Understanding Category-Based Selection in Express Entry 

In 2023, the IRCC implemented category-based selection draws in the Express Entry system to target applicants who strategically possessed highly sought-after characteristics that are essential to Canada’s workforce and to strengthen the nation’s French-speaking population. The purpose of these draws is to select candidates from the six different categories that fall under the purview of ITAs: jobs in healthcare, STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), trades (carpentry, plumbing, and contracting), transportation, agribusiness and agriculture, and jobs requiring proficiency in the French language.

Category-based draws seek to increase the diversity of candidates accepted, in contrast to draws focused on specific immigration programs. In comparison to general draws, they usually have a lower average CRS score, which highlights the IRCC’s emphasis on giving preference to those with specific talents or language proficiency that are in line with Canada’s current economic priorities.