June 8, 2023

Exciting news for Canada Immigration Applicants! The IRCC has just issued 4800 invitations through the express entry draw. This points-based system is the fastest and most popular way for skilled workers to obtain Canadian permanent residency. If you haven’t already, now is the time to create your profile and enter the express entry pool. Keep an eye out for future draws. Good luck!

The fourteenth Express Entry draw of 2023 has been conducted by Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), where they invited a total of 4,800 candidates across all programs. To be eligible, the candidates were required to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 486.

Submit the Assessment Form to Discover your Eligibility

Following the recent draw on May 24 where a total of 4,800 candidates were invited across all programs with a minimum CRS score of 488, this latest draw marks the first one for the month of June. It’s worth noting that the minimum CRS score requirement in the May 24 draw was higher than that of the April 26 all-program draw, which required a minimum score of 483.

The Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that category-based selection draws are set to commence during this summer season.

A news release was issued by the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on May 31, stating that the department has introduced six new category-based selection criteria for candidates applying through Express Entry.

The Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced six new category-based selection criteria for candidates applying through Express Entry. The new categories aim to attract candidates who possess specific attributes that align with Canada’s economic objectives.

Out of the six categories, five are focused on individuals who have work experience in certain fields. The categories are as follows:

  • Healthcare
  • Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) professions
  • Trades such as carpenters, plumbers, and contractors
  • Transport
  • Agriculture and Agri-food

The last category is designed for candidates who possess strong French language proficiency.

While an exact date is not yet announced, the department has stated that it plans to conduct category-based draws during the summer. To be eligible for targeted draws, candidates must already be in the Express Entry pool. According to IRCC, Express Entry candidates who satisfy the category requirements will still be ranked based on their scores, and ITAs will be issued to those with the highest rankings.

Aside from category-based draws, IRCC will continue to hold program-specific and all-program draws as necessary.

Express Entry in 2023 | Latest Figures

Since the start of 2023, IRCC has conducted a total of 13 draws and has invited a considerable number of candidates amounting to 49,948. This is substantially higher compared to the period between July and November in 2022. It’s worth noting that IRCC did not conduct any all-program draws until July 2022 due to a temporary suspension caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in the invitation of 31,000 candidates.

In May, there were two draws conducted for the Express Entry program. The first draw, which occurred on May 10, was exclusively for candidates who were nominated by a provincial government and were already in the Express Entry pool. A total of 589 candidates were invited to apply through this Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw.

In April, two all-program draws were conducted by the Express Entry program, which shared similarities in terms of the number of candidates invited. Both draws invited a total of 3,500 candidates to apply. However, there was a difference in the required Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for each draw. In the first draw on April 12, candidates needed a minimum CRS score of 346, while in the second draw on April 26, the minimum CRS score requirement increased to 483.

March stood out in terms of the number of draws and the total number of candidates invited by the Express Entry program. During the month, a total of four draws were conducted, inviting 21,677 candidates altogether. Out of these four draws, three were all-program draws, each inviting 7,000 candidates. The fourth draw was PNP-only and extended invitations to 667 candidates through the Provincial Nominee Program.

In February, the Express Entry program conducted four draws, but each draw was specific to a certain program. Three of the draws were for candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), while the fourth one was for those applying through the Federal Skilled Worker Program. The latter draw marked the first time in the history of Express Entry that such a specific draw was held.

In January, there were two all-program draws conducted by the Express Entry program, and both invited 5,500 candidates each.

Later this year, there is an anticipation that IRCC will shift its focus from solely prioritizing a high CRS score to targeting candidates based on specific attributes that are currently in demand in Canada’s economy.

Book an Appointment with Sahil for any Immigration related Queries

May 25, 2023

The Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has invited candidates for the 13th Express Entry draw of 2023.

The draw is open to all three programs managed by the Express Entry application management system: The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).

Candidates must have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 488 to be considered for the draw. This is the first all-program draw since April 26.

Submit the Assessment Form to Determine your Eligibility

This draw follows the most recent draw on May 10, where 589 candidates received ITAs in a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) specific draw. In a PNP only draw, candidates are only considered if they are in the Express Entry pool and have also been nominated by a Canadian province.

Express Entry Draws 2023

Throughout 2023, Express Entry has yet to establish a consistent pattern in terms of the number of candidates invited, the frequency of draws, or the specific type of draw.

In January, the draws followed the pattern seen before the pandemic, occurring every two weeks and inviting candidates from all programs. However, this changed in February when the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted four program-specific draws between February 1 and March 1. Notably, February marked the first program-specific draw for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP).

February witnessed three draws, and March saw one draw each week. Overall, more than 21,000 candidates received invitations throughout March, making it the second-highest number of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) issued in a single month in the history of Express Entry.

In April, the draw schedule returned to the pre-pandemic pattern of one all-program draw every two weeks.

Later in the year, it is anticipated that the IRCC will start conducting draws targeting Express Entry candidates based on specific attributes rather than solely relying on high Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores. This became possible when Bill C-19 received Royal Assent in June 2022.

The passing of this bill grants the Canadian immigration minister the authority to invite candidates who can best contribute to Canada’s economic goals by addressing the chronic labor shortages in specific sectors.

It’s important to note that Express Entry draws are entirely discretionary, determined by the IRCC and the immigration minister. As per the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, there are no set rules dictating the timing of draws, the program from which candidates will be selected, the number of candidates invited, or the minimum CRS cut-off score. In other words, the IRCC is not obligated to follow a specific pattern or conduct draws at all if the minister deems it unnecessary.

Know more about Express Entry

The oversight of three Canadian economic immigration programs, namely the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class, falls under the management of the Express Entry application system.

Within these programs, candidates undergo evaluation through the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The CRS assesses various human capital factors such as language proficiency, education, work experience, occupation, and age. Based on these criteria, candidates are assigned scores, and those with the highest scores have a greater likelihood of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residency.

As per the Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025, Canada aims to welcome more than 82,000 new permanent residents through the Federal High Skilled immigration program (Express Entry) by the conclusion of 2023.

Book an Appointment with Sahil for any Immigration related Queries

May 11, 2023

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently issued 589 invitations to apply (ITAs) in a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) specific draw. Candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 691 to be considered for the draw. In a PNP specific draw, candidates are already in the Express Entry pool but have also received a nomination from a Canadian province. This is the fourth PNP specific draw of 2023, with the last one occurring on March 1 and inviting 667 candidates. All draws since then have considered candidates from all Express Entry programs.

Proof of funds

On May 2, IRCC announced that the amount of money that Express Entry applicants must have access to in Canada has changed. All Express Entry candidates must show proof of funds to demonstrate that they have enough money to settle in Canada. Proof of funds is not required for candidates in the Canadian Experience Class or for Express Entry candidates who are authorized to work in Canada and have a valid job offer. This is true even for those who apply under the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Federal Skilled Trades Program. To stay eligible for Express Entry, candidates must now update their profiles to reflect that they still have the required amount of settlement funds. IRCC updates the amount yearly, based on 50% of the low-income cut-off totals, and varies depending on how many people a candidate must be able to support.

Number of family members Funds required (in Canadian dollars)
1 $13,757
2 $17,127
3 $21,055
4 $25,564
5 $28,994
6 $32,700
7 $36,407
If more than 7 people, for each additional family member $3,706

Express Entry

This draw follows the April 26 draw in which 3,500 candidates were invited with CRS scores of 483. IRCC also invited 3,500 candidates on April 12 with CRS scores of 486. This number of candidates per draw is half of what was seen over March when IRCC invited more than 21,000 candidates over four consecutive draws, three of which invited 7,000 candidates. The total number of candidates invited in March was the second highest in Express Entry history, only exceeded by a draw in February 2021 in which 27,332 CEC candidates received an ITA.

April also marks a tentative return to a normal draw schedule. Typically, until late 2022 and throughout March 2023, Express Entry draws occur every second week on Wednesdays. Draws occurred weekly throughout March. The March and April draws also showed a return to typical all-program draws. Throughout January and February this year, most draws were program specific for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). However, on February 2, IRCC held the first-ever program-specific draw for the Federal Skilled Workers Program.

The Express Entry application management system oversees three economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. Each program has unique eligibility criteria but are all similar in that candidates require skilled work experience. After a candidate self-evaluates if they are eligible for one of the programs, they must upload a profile on the IRCC website.

Express Entry uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to score and rank candidates according to a score they receive based on their profile. The system takes an individual’s work experience, occupation, language ability, education, age, and other human capital factors into consideration when assigning a score. The highest-scoring candidates are the most likely to receive an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence. Once a candidate receives an ITA, they have 60 days to send in their completed application. Once IRCC receives it, an immigration officer will review the application and decide if the candidate is approved.