The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has sent out invitations to apply (ITAs) to Express Entry candidates in the second draw of this week. In this category-based selection draw, the department granted 1,400 ITAs to candidates showcasing proficiency in French. To be eligible for consideration, candidates needed to attain a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 410.
Today's draw, following a general draw on April 23, saw IRCC inviting 2,095 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 529, representing a 20-point decrease from the previous draw's cut-off score of 549 on April 10, the highest minimum score of the year. Additionally, on April 11, the first draw of the year for Express Entry candidates eligible for STEM occupations occurred, with the department inviting 4,500 candidates with a minimum CRS of 491.
Summary of Express Entry draw results in 2024
Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | Minimum CRS |
French proficiency | 1,400 | 410 | |
General | 2,095 | 529 | |
STEM occupations | 4,500 | 491 | |
General | 1,280 | 549 | |
French language proficiency | 1,500 | 388 | |
General | 1,980 | 524 | |
Transport occupations | 975 | 430 | |
General | 2,850 | 525 | |
French language proficiency | 2,500 | 336 | |
General | 1,470 | 534 | |
Agriculture and agri-food occupations | 150 | 437 | |
Healthcare occupations | 3,500 | 422 | |
General | 1,490 | 535 | |
French language proficiency | 7,000 | 365 | |
General | 730 | 541 | |
General | 1,040 | 543 | |
General | 1,510 | 546 |
Category-based selection was introduced by IRCC in May 2023 to target Express Entry candidates with specific highly sought-after attributes like language proficiency or occupation. The categories for selection, including healthcare, STEM professions, trades, transport, agriculture, and strong French proficiency, were finalized after consultations in 2023 and retained for 2024. Candidates in occupation-based categories must demonstrate at least six months of continuous full-time work experience in an eligible occupation within the past three years to qualify.
For French proficiency eligibility, candidates must attain a minimum score of 7 in all four language abilities on the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens.
Express Entry is a system managing applications for economic immigration candidates in programs like the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). Eligible candidates create a profile on the IRCC website and receive scores based on factors like age, language proficiency, education, work experience, and occupation. These scores contribute to their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. Candidates with higher CRS scores have better chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency in Canada. Upon receiving an ITA, candidates submit their final applications to IRCC, which aims to process them within six months.