Get the most recent information on ITAs, CRS scores, PNP & CEC selections, and the IRCC’s category-based focus for 2024 immigration targets in relation to Canada’s Express Entry draws.

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates were the sole focus of an Express Entry draw held by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on October 7. Candidates who had obtained a PNP nomination were sent 1,613 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) by the IRCC in this round; in order to be considered, candidates had to receive a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 743.

Only candidates for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) were invited in the previous draw on September 19, which was limited to 4,000 people with a minimum CRS score of 509. In comparison to the CEC-focused draw on August 27, which had a minimum score of 507, this draw shows a modest increase in CRS.

Trends in Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Draws

There have been more CEC-specific draws since July; 21,800 ITAs have been given to these candidates. This is in line with the IRCC’s plan to help the department meet its annual residency goals while increasing the number of domestic candidates who obtain permanent residency.

There are usually a lot of draws in October, as seen by the four draws that were held last year and which attracted a total of 9,173 candidates. The IRCC’s dedication to giving priority to candidates who are currently making a positive impact on Canada’s workforce and economy is evident in the recent CEC-focused draws.

Understanding Express Entry

The Express Entry system was introduced in 2015 with the purpose of processing applications for economic immigration. The CRS is used to evaluate candidates who qualify for any of the three primary programs: Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Federal Skilled Worker Program. Candidates are scored based on a variety of criteria, including age, occupation, education, language proficiency, and job experience.

Having high CRS scores is crucial since it raises your chances of getting an ITA. It may increase a candidate’s chances of selection if they obtain extra points from PNP nominations or category-specific lotteries.

Category-Based Selection: A Targeted Approach

The category-based selection draws implemented by the IRCC in May 2023 cater to certain labor market demands. Candidates from industries like Healthcare, STEM, skilled trades, transportation, agriculture, and those with fluency in French are given preference in these draws.

The CRS cut-off in category-based drawings is frequently lower than in general draws, which reflects the high demand for applicants in these domains. The labor market conditions were studied and extensive consultations were held before deciding on the categories, which prioritized the development of French-speaking towns outside of Quebec.

Summary of 2024 Express Entry Draws

Date	Draw Type	Number of ITAs	Minimum CRS
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 Language 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 Language 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	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

An overview of the Express Entry draws conducted so far in 2024 can be found in the table above. A different applicant pool is targeted by each draw, and the minimum CRS scores vary according to program or category requirements.

The Express Entry system continues to be a mainstay of Canada’s immigration framework, offering avenues for applicants with a variety of skill sets and disciplines through frequent drawings and focused approaches. As the year proceeds, IRCC is likely to maintain these concentrated draws, increasing the pathways to permanent residency for skilled persons willing to contribute to Canada’s economy and society.