Canada invites candidates in Express Entry draw for STEM occupations

Edana Robitaille
Published: April 10, 2024

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

The department issued 4,500  invitations to apply (ITAs) in a category-based selection draw for candidates in STEM occupations.

Candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 491 to be considered.

Get a Free Express Entry Assessment

This was the first draw for candidates in STEM occupations so far this year. Today’s draw follows a general draw from yesterday, April 10. IRCC invited 1,280 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 549, the highest minimum CRS score of any draw in 2024.  

The first general draw this year, on January 10, required a CRS score of at least 546 to be considered and general draw scores continued to decrease over the past few months.  

The last general draw on March 25 invited 1,980 candidates with a CRS score of 524.  

General draws consider candidates from all three Express Entry-managed programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). Unlike category-based selection draws, a high CRS score is the main deciding factor in a candidate’s likelihood of receiving an ITA. 

Summary of Express Entry draw results in 2024

DateDraw TypeNumber of ITAsMinimum CRS
December 3French language proficiency800466
December 2Provincial Nominee Program 676705
November 20Healthcare occupations3,000463
November 19Canadian Experience Class400539
November 18Provincial Nominee Program 174816
November 15French language proficiency800478
November 13Canadian Experience Class400547
November 12Provincial Nominee Program 733812
October 23Trade occupations1,800433
October 22Canadian Experience Class400539
October 21Provincial Nominee Program648791
October 10French language proficiency1,000444
October 9Canadian Experience Class500539
October 7Provincial Nominee Program1,613743
September 19Canadian Experience Class4,000509
September 13 French language proficiency1,000446
September 9Provincial Nominee Program911732
August 27Canadian Experience Class3,300507
August 26Provincial Nominee Program1,121694
August 15French language proficiency2,000394
August 14Canadian Experience Class3,200509
August 13Provincial Nominee Program763690
July 31Canadian Experience Class5,000510
July 30Provincial Nominee Program964686
July 18French language proficiency1,800400
July 17Canadian Experience Class6,300515
July 16Provincial Nominee Program1,391670
July 8French proficiency3,200420
July 5Healthcare occupations3,750445
July 4Trade occupations1,800436
July 2Provincial Nominee Program920739
June 19Provincial Nominee Program1,499663
May 31Canadian Experience Class3,000522
May 30Provincial Nominee Program2,985676
April 24French proficiency1,400410
April 23General2,095529
April 11STEM occupations4,500491
April 10General1,280549
March 26French language proficiency1,500388
March 25General1,980524
March 13Transport occupations975430
March 12General2,850525
February 29French language proficiency2,500336
February 28General1,470534
February 16Agriculture and agri-food occupations150437
February 14Healthcare occupations3,500422
February 13General1,490535
February 1French language proficiency7,000365
January 31General730541
January 23General1,040543
January 10General1,510546

What is category-based selection?

Category-based selection draws were introduced in May 2023 as a means for IRCC to better target Express Entry candidates with in-demand skills or human capital attributes.

The department introduced six categories in 2023 and confirmed earlier this year that the same categories will be used 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

Candidates must already have an application in the Express Entry pool to be considered for category-based selection.

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry is an application management system for three of Canada’s most prominent economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).

Through these programs, applicants are evaluated based on their human capital factors such as their work experience, occupation, language ability, age and education.

Each factor is assigned a score and added together for a final Comprehensive Ranking System score. Those with the highest scores are the most likely to receive an invitation to apply for permanent resident status.

One of the major benefits of Express Entry is, as the name implies, that a candidate’s final applications for PR will be processed more quickly than other economic immigration programs. IRCC has a published service standard of six months for 80% of all Express Entry applications. The remaining 20% may take longer in complex cases.

Get a Free Express Entry Assessment

Share this article
Share your voice
Did you find this article helpful?
Thank you for your feedback.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Did you find this article helpful?
Please provide a response
Thank you for your helpful feedback
Please contact us if you would like to share additional feedback, have a question, or would like Canadian immigration assistance.
  • Do you need Canadian immigration assistance? Contact the Contact Cohen Immigration Law firm by completing our form
  • Send us your feedback or your non-legal assistance questions by emailing us at media@canadavisa.com
Related articles
December 2024: State of the Express Entry pool
A group of people on the sky bridge located in Jasper, Alberta.
IRCC invites Express Entry candidates in first French-language draw of December
A picture of Montreal's Old Port on a sunny autumn day.
Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and PEI select candidates
A picture of the British Columbia coast on a fall day
ANALYSIS: How many Express Entry ITAs can we expect to see in December?
A young woman crosses her fingers in anticipation and hope that she may receive some good news.
Top Stories
How to prepare for your Canadian citizenship test
Useful Tips to Save Money for Newcomers in Canada
Five things newcomers can do to succeed in the Canadian job market, according to a new report
Join our free newsletter. Get Canada's top immigration stories delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe
More in Work
Five things newcomers can do to succeed in the Canadian job market, according to a new report
Four people sit on chairs while waiting to be interviewed
Can I get Ontario health coverage on a work permit?
A doctor examines a patient who likely is on his work permit in Ontario.
These industries have the highest retention rates for work permit holders who become permanent residents
A hand holding a briefcase
Work permit options for international student graduates no longer eligible for PGWPs
International student graduates no longer eligible for PGWPs have other work permit options.
Link copied to clipboard