Canada Holds First November Express Entry Draw for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Candidates

In the most recent Express Entry draw, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 400 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). This draw required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 547—the highest CRS score for a CEC draw in 2024 so far.

Recent Express Entry Draws and Targets for 2025

This draw follows another Express Entry draw held on November 12, where 733 candidates received ITAs through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) stream. The November CEC draw is the second for the month and comes shortly after the announcement of Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan for 2025. The plan outlines a goal to admit 124,680 Express Entry candidates next year.

Candidates who received ITAs in this draw will be part of next year’s immigration targets. These targets include the new In-Canada Focus for Express Entry candidates, with a goal of admitting 82,980 permanent residents—roughly 40% of Canada’s total economic immigration intake for 2025. Many of these will be CEC or PNP candidates.

Additionally, there is a Federal Economic Priorities target of 41,700 permanent residents. This target aims to select candidates from all Express Entry programs, prioritizing those who can fill critical roles in healthcare, skilled trades, or help meet demographic goals for French-speaking newcomers outside Quebec.

What Is Express Entry?

Express Entry is an immigration application management system overseeing three main economic programs for newcomers seeking permanent residence:

• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
  
  

Candidates are scored based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which evaluates human capital factors like age, occupation, education, language skills, and work experience. Extra points are awarded for having a sibling in Canada, a spouse or partner, or for a combination of Canadian and foreign experience. Candidates applying through enhanced PNP streams can earn an extra 600 points, effectively guaranteeing an ITA.

Summary of Recent 2024 Express Entry Draws

Here's a summary of some key Express Entry draws held this year:

• November 13 - Canadian Experience Class: 400 ITAs, CRS 547
• November 12 - Provincial Nominee Program: 733 ITAs, CRS 812
• October 23 - Trade Occupations: 1,800 ITAs, CRS 433
• October 22 - Canadian Experience Class: 400 ITAs, CRS 539
• October 21 - Provincial Nominee Program: 648 ITAs, CRS 791
• October 10 - French Language Proficiency: 1,000 ITAs, CRS 444
  
  

For skilled workers in Canada, the Express Entry system remains a key avenue for obtaining permanent residency, providing clear, structured pathways tailored to different needs and backgrounds.