IRCC Conducts First Express Entry Draw of December

Canada's immigration system is buzzing with activity as Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held its first Express Entry draw for December. This draw saw 676 candidates invited to apply for permanent residency under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). To qualify, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 705.

A Look Back at November's Express Entry Activity

November was a busy month for Express Entry, with six draws and 5,507 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) issued. These included targeted draws for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and PNP candidates, continuing the trend of prioritizing these streams. This focus aligns with Canada’s new "In-Canada" category, which highlights candidates in programs like CEC and other regional pathways. Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) applicants may also benefit from this approach.

Immigration Targets for the Future

Under Canada’s latest Immigration Levels Plan, the "In-Canada" category is set to welcome 82,980 permanent residents next year, representing over 40% of total planned admissions. Additionally, IRCC is enhancing opportunities for French-speaking candidates outside Quebec, with 29,235 PR spots allocated for 2025. This number will increase in subsequent years as part of Canada’s Francophone immigration strategy.

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry is the system used to manage applications for three federal immigration programs:

1. Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
2. Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
3. Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
   
   

It also manages applications for Express Entry-aligned PNP streams, where a provincial nomination can add 600 points to a candidate's CRS score, boosting their chances of receiving an ITA.

How Are Candidates Selected?

Candidates are ranked based on their CRS scores, which consider factors such as:

• Age
• Work experience
• Education
• Language skills
• Additional points for having a sibling in Canada, applying with a spouse, or a combination of Canadian and international experience.
  
  

Recently, IRCC has also introduced category-based draws targeting candidates with specific skills or language abilities that meet Canada’s labor market needs. These draws often have lower CRS cut-offs than general or program-specific rounds.

Summary of Recent Express Entry Draws

Here’s a snapshot of the most recent draws:

For a full list of draws in 2024, see the table above.

Planning for Your Express Entry Journey

With the evolving immigration landscape, staying informed is key to improving your chances of receiving an ITA. Whether you’re targeting category-based draws, enhancing your CRS score, or exploring PNP options, the opportunities for Canadian permanent residency remain robust.