Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has conducted a new draw through the Express Entry system, inviting candidates to apply for permanent residence (PR) in Canada.
In this latest draw, IRCC issued 1,470 invitations to apply (ITAs) to candidates from all Express Entry programs, with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score requirement of 534.
This draw follows several others held in February, including targeted draws for healthcare and agriculture occupations. The recent draws reflect IRCC’s ongoing efforts to manage immigration applications efficiently and address specific labor market needs.
While IRCC introduced category-based selection rounds in May 2023 for certain occupations and language proficiency, the department has confirmed that these categories will remain unchanged in 2024. These categories include healthcare, STEM professions, trades occupations, transportation, agriculture, agri-food occupations, and strong French proficiency.
Express Entry is a management system designed to expedite immigration applications for economic candidates across various programs. It assesses candidates based on factors like occupation, education, language ability, work experience, and age. Those with the highest CRS scores are more likely to receive an ITA for PR status.
Furthermore, candidates who receive a nomination through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) can earn an additional 600 CRS points, significantly boosting their chances of receiving an ITA.
Looking ahead, IRCC aims to welcome 110,770 new PRs in 2024 through Express Entry, a notable increase from previous years. Additionally, Canada plans to prioritize provincial pathways as the main route for welcoming new economic immigrants, with the allocation for new permanent residents through the PNP set to increase to 120,000 by 2025. These initiatives underscore Canada’s commitment to attracting skilled workers and addressing labor market demands through its immigration system.
