Express Entry: IRCC Invites 5,000 Canadian Experience Class Candidates

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently held an Express Entry draw, inviting 5,000 candidates from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) to apply for permanent residency. To qualify, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 510.

Busy Month for Express Entry

This draw marks the ninth one in a very active month for Express Entry. In total, IRCC has issued 25,125 invitations to apply (ITAs) throughout July.

Draws this month have alternated between program-specific and category-based selections. Program-specific draws include the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Category-based draws focus on specific skills, like French language proficiency, healthcare, and trade occupations.

July’s Express Entry Highlights

• 5,000 ITAs were issued to French-speaking candidates over two draws.
• On July 5, 3,750 ITAs went to healthcare candidates.
• On July 4, 1,800 ITAs were given to candidates in trade occupations.
• IRCC has invited 11,300 CEC candidates and 3,275 PNP candidates as of July 31.
  
  

Return to Program-Specific Draws

After a year without program-specific draws, IRCC resumed them on May 30, aligning with its goal to hold more domestic draws. This move supports the department’s new objective of reducing and stabilizing the number of temporary residents in Canada while meeting permanent resident targets set in the Immigration Levels Plan.

Express Entry Draw Results in 2024

Here's a summary of some key Express Entry draws in 2024:

• July 31: CEC - 5,000 ITAs, CRS 510
• July 30: PNP - 964 ITAs, CRS 686
• July 18: French proficiency - 1,800 ITAs, CRS 400
• July 17: CEC - 6,300 ITAs, CRS 515
• July 16: PNP - 1,391 ITAs, CRS 670
• July 8: French proficiency - 3,200 ITAs, CRS 420
• July 5: Healthcare - 3,750 ITAs, CRS 445
• July 4: Trade occupations - 1,800 ITAs, CRS 436
  
  

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry is Canada’s application system for three major economic immigration programs:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Canadian Experience Class
• Federal Skilled Trades Program
  
  

Candidates are assessed using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which scores them on factors like age, education, occupation, language skills, and work experience. Higher scores increase the chances of receiving an ITA. Express Entry aims for faster processing, with a service standard of six months for applications.

What is Category-Based Selection?

Introduced in May 2023, category-based selection targets candidates with specific skills or attributes needed in Canada. Categories, chosen after consultations, include:

• Healthcare occupations
• STEM professions
• Trades occupations
• Transport occupations
• Agriculture and agri-food occupations
• French-language proficiency

These categories will continue throughout 2024 and may change next year.