IRCC issues ITAs to Express Entry candidates in second draw this week

Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued invitations to candidates in the second Express Entry draw of the week.

The department issued 1,500 invitations to apply (ITAs) in a category-based selection draw for French language proficiency.

Candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 388.

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Yesterday’s draw was general (meaning candidates were considered from all Express Entry programs, regardless of their eligibility for category-based selection) and invited 1,980 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 524. 

This represented a one-point decrease from the last general draw on March 12 in which 2,850 candidates with a minimum CRS of 525 received ITAs.  

There has been one other draw this month. On March 13 IRCC held a category-based selection draw for candidates in transport occupations. The department invited 945 candidates with a 430 minimum CRS score. 

Summary of Express Entry draw results in 2024

Date	Draw Type	Number of ITAs	Minimum CRS
July 18	French language proficiency	1,800	400
July 17	Canadian Experience Class	6,300	515
July 16	Provincial Nominee Program	1,391	670
July 8	French proficiency	3,200	420
July 5	Healthcare occupations	3,750	445
July 4	Trade occupations	1,800	436
July 2	Provincial Nominee Program	920	739
June 19	Provincial Nominee Program	1,499	663
May 31	Canadian Experience Class	3,000	522
May 30	Provincial Nominee Program	2,985	676
April 24	French proficiency	1,400	410
April 23	General	2,095	529
April 11	STEM occupations	4,500	491
April 10	General	1,280	549
March 26	French language proficiency	1,500	388
March 25	General	1,980	524
March 13	Transport occupations	975	430
March 12	General	2,850	525
February 29	French language proficiency	2,500	336
February 28	General	1,470	534
February 16	Agriculture and agri-food occupations	150	437
February 14	Healthcare occupations	3,500	422
February 13	General	1,490	535
February 1	French language proficiency	7,000	365
January 31	General	730	541
January 23	General	1,040	543
January 10	General	1,510	546

What is category-based selection?

Category-based selection draws were introduced in May 2023, as a means for IRCC to identify Express Entry candidates with the in-demand skills and attributes and issue ITAs.

The department created six categories that will remain in place throughout 2024. They are:

• Healthcare occupations
• Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
• Trades occupations, such as carpenters, plumbers, and contractors
• Transport occupations
• Agriculture and agri-food occupations
• Strong French proficiency

The categories reflect many of Canada’s acute labour shortages as well as IRCC’s mandate to promote the French language outside of Quebec. French-speaking candidates have received the highest number of ITAs since the categories were introduced.

What is Express Entry

Express Entry is an application management system for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program.

Candidates from all programs are ranked against each other within the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The system assigns points to candidates based on their human capital attributes such as language ability, education, occupation, work experience and age.

Those who obtain the highest overall scores are the most likely to receive an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent resident status to IRCC.

Once a candidate submits their final application to IRCC, they should receive a final decision within six months (the department’s published service standard).

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