Express Entry Draw: Canada Invited 7,000 Candidates for PR on February 1, 2024

At the start of 2024, the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted the first Express Entry draw. They invited 7,000 individuals to apply for Canadian permanent residency on February 1st.

This draw was special. It focused on candidates with a proficiency level of 7 in French and a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 365 or higher.

The standout feature of this draw is its unprecedented CRS score cutoff. With a cutoff score of 365, this draw marks the lowest CRS score cutoff ever recorded in a francophone Express Entry draw. Candidates with a CRS score of 365 or above were eligible for an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

Furthermore, this draw also witnessed the highest number of invitations ever issued in a single targeted round. A staggering 7,000 invitations were sent out, providing a significant opportunity for skilled individuals seeking Canadian permanent residency.

Overview of Previous Express Entry Draws

On January 31, 2024, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) granted just 730 invitations for applying in a regular draw. The selected candidates needed to have a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 541 or more.

Before this, on January 23, 2024, IRCC distributed 1,040 invitations during a general invitation round. These invitations were open to all profiles with a CRS score of 543 or higher.

Earlier, on January 10, the first general Express Entry draw of 2024 provided 1,510 invitations for application—the selected candidates in this draw needed to have a CRS score cutoff of 546 or above.

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry is a Canadian immigration system designed to manage the application process for skilled workers who wish to become permanent residents of Canada. It offers a shared platform for both federal and provincial governments. Moreover, it allows employers to choose prospective candidates from the Express Entry pool. This Pool consists of such candidates, who stand eligible for any one of the mentioned below “Federal Economic Immigration Programs”.

1. The Federal Skilled Trades Program
2. The Federal Skilled Worker Program
3. Canadian Experience Class

The candidates may receive an invitation to apply (ITA) for Canadian immigration. However, such candidates must hurry to complete their application form and submit it along with the required documents. The time for applying is 60 days and it takes six months from the date of receiving the application to complete the process.

The IRCC introduced a fresh set of selection criteria on May 31, 2023, placing a stronger emphasis on distinct professional and demographic attributes of candidates, going beyond their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. As a result, six new categories have emerged for Express Entry candidates:

1. Healthcare
2. STEM Professions (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
3. Trades
4. Transport

Agriculture and Agri-Food