IRCC Issues 648 Invitations in Latest PNP-Specific Express Entry Draw

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has recently invited 648 candidates in its latest Express Entry draw, focusing solely on those nominated through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

In this PNP-only draw, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 791 to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

This is the second PNP-specific draw in October. Earlier, on October 7, IRCC issued 1,613 ITAs to PNP candidates with a minimum CRS score of 743.

IRCC has followed a trend of conducting multiple Express Entry draws bi-weekly, often including at least one PNP-specific draw. Since May 30, the department has issued 12,815 ITAs through PNP-specific draws alone.

This pattern shows IRCC’s focus on transitioning temporary residents already living and working in Canada to permanent residency. It helps balance the reduction of temporary residents while ensuring that the immigration targets outlined in the Immigration Levels Plan are met.

The upcoming Immigration Levels Plan, set to be released by November 1, will outline the immigration goals for 2025-2027. For 2024, the goal was to welcome 110,770 new permanent residents. However, there has been no official confirmation yet on whether IRCC has met this target.

Candidates who receive ITAs in late 2024 are expected to have their applications processed in 2025, given IRCC’s standard six-month processing time for Express Entry applications.

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry is Canada’s system for managing applications under three key economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).

The system uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to evaluate candidates based on various factors like age, education, work experience, language skills, and more. PNP nominees automatically receive an additional 600 points, which significantly boosts their CRS score.

Those with the highest CRS scores are most likely to receive an ITA in future draws.

Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2024:

IRCC continues to prioritize PNP candidates, recognizing the importance of provincial nominees in meeting Canada’s long-term economic goals. Keep an eye on upcoming draws to see if you may be eligible for an ITA.