IRCC Invites 2,985 Express Entry Candidates After Month-Long Pause

Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) latest draw has been announced after a month.  The draws have resumed and  invitations to apply (ITAs) have been issued for permanent residency through Canada’s Express Entry system after a month-long hiatus. In the latest draw, IRCC issued 2,985 ITAs in a program-specific draw targeting candidates from the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). To receive an invitation in this draw, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 676.

The key highlights of the draw –

• ITA - 2,985
• CRS - 676

This marks the first program-specific Express Entry draw since the introduction of category-based selection draws in June 2023. Unlike general draws that consider candidates from all Express Entry programs, program-specific draws focus on candidates who have applied through a specific permanent residency program.
Today's draw is the first since April 24, following a month-long pause in the issuance of ITAs. While IRCC has not provided an official reason for the pause, a recent Access to Information Request revealed that all draws for this year are planned on a predetermined schedule, which has not been made public. The department noted that the size and frequency of the draws would be influenced by the admissions targets for 2024 and 2025 and the department’s processing capacity.
Before the pause, IRCC conducted four draws in April. The first of these, on April 10, invited 1,280 candidates in a general draw. The following day, 4,500 ITAs were issued in a category-based selection draw focusing on STEM occupations. The remaining two draws took place on April 23 and 24, inviting 2,095 candidates in a general draw and 1,400 candidates in a French proficiency category-based selection draw, respectively.

Summary of the Express Entry Draws 2024

Category Based Selections in 2024

The Access to Information Request also highlighted IRCC’s strategic focus for category-based selection draws in 2024. 

• French proficiency is expected to be a leading category due to the high employment rate for bilingual candidates, who generally have higher CRS scores, thus enhancing their economic integration prospects. 
• STEM occupations are anticipated to receive the second-highest number of ITAs, accounting for 25% of all issued ITAs.
• Healthcare occupations will follow at 15%, with transport, trades, and agriculture and agri-food categories collectively accounting for 5% or less of all ITAs issued this year.
• The remaining 21.5% of ITAs are expected to be issued through general draws. Interestingly, no explicit mention was made regarding the frequency or specifics of future program-specific draws, leaving the community to speculate on the IRCC’s approach moving forward.

The recent Express Entry Draw draw highlights IRCC's continued commitment to managing immigration through strategic and targeted approaches. It continuously looks for the ways for  balancing the needs of Canada's labor market with the goal of integrating skilled immigrants effectively. As IRCC continues to refine its processes and schedules the potential candidates  also need to stay informed and prepared for upcoming opportunities through draws and other measures  within the Express Entry system.