Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued invitations to apply (ITAs) in the latest Express Entry draw. This draw, conducted on July 2, 2024, saw 920 ITAs issued to candidates in a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw, with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 739 required.
Recent Draws and CRS Scores
This draw follows three program-specific draws in the past month. On June 19, IRCC invited 1,499 candidates in another PNP-only draw, requiring a minimum CRS score of 663. On May 30, a PNP-only draw invited 2,985 Express Entry candidates, the first such draw since May 2023. Additionally, a draw on May 31 invited 3,000 candidates from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
Understanding Program-Specific Draws
Program-specific draws only consider candidates who have applied through an Express Entry program such as the CEC, the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), or the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). PNP-only draws consider candidates nominated through an Express Entry-aligned stream of a PNP, known as enhanced nomination.
Focus on Temporary Residents
Since January, IRCC has focused on stabilizing the high levels of temporary residents in Canada by offering more pathways to permanent residency. Many temporary residents who apply for permanent residency do so through the CEC or PNP, helping IRCC meet its yearly targets for “Federal High Skilled Workers” while reducing the number of temporary residents.
Summary of 2024 Express Entry Draws
- July 2: PNP, 920 ITAs, CRS 739
- June 19: PNP, 1,499 ITAs, CRS 663
- May 31: CEC, 3,000 ITAs, CRS 522
- May 30: PNP, 2,985 ITAs, CRS 676
- April 24: French Proficiency, 1,400 ITAs, CRS 410
- April 23: General, 2,095 ITAs, CRS 529
- April 11: STEM Occupations, 4,500 ITAs, CRS 491
- April 10: General, 1,280 ITAs, CRS 549
- March 26: French Proficiency, 1,500 ITAs, CRS 388
- March 25: General, 1,980 ITAs, CRS 524
- March 13: Transport Occupations, 975 ITAs, CRS 430
- March 12: General, 2,850 ITAs, CRS 525
- February 29: French Proficiency, 2,500 ITAs, CRS 336
- February 28: General, 1,470 ITAs, CRS 534
- February 16: Agriculture and Agri-food Occupations, 150 ITAs, CRS 437
- February 14: Healthcare Occupations, 3,500 ITAs, CRS 422
- February 13: General, 1,490 ITAs, CRS 535
- February 1: French Proficiency, 7,000 ITAs, CRS 365
- January 31: General, 730 ITAs, CRS 541
- January 23: General, 1,040 ITAs, CRS 543
- January 10: General, 1,510 ITAs, CRS 546
What is Express Entry?
Introduced in 2015, the Express Entry application management system targets candidates with in-demand human capital attributes, overseeing applications from the FSWP, FSTP, and CEC. The CRS evaluates eligibility based on factors such as age, work experience, occupation, and language ability.
Category-Based Selection
In 2023, IRCC introduced category-based selection draws to focus on candidates with specific attributes for Canada’s workforce or to strengthen the French-speaking demographic. Six possible categories include healthcare occupations, STEM professions, trades occupations, transport occupations, agriculture and agri-food occupations, and French-language proficiency.