IRCC invites 1,121 Provincial Nominee Program candidates in latest Express Entry Draw

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has just held its latest Express Entry draw, inviting 1,121 candidates from the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). To qualify for an invitation, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 694.

This draw marks the fourth Express Entry event in August. The previous draws included an August 15 event for French-speaking candidates, and two draws on August 13 and 14. On August 13, IRCC invited 763 PNP candidates with a minimum score of 690, while the August 14 draw saw 3,200 candidates from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) with a score of 509.

IRCC has been increasing the frequency of these draws, particularly for the PNP and CEC categories. This shift aligns with the department's strategy to manage the number of temporary residents and meet the permanent resident targets set in the Immigration Levels Plan for 2024-2026.

For 2024, IRCC aims to welcome 110,770 newcomers through Express Entry, with a target of 117,500 for 2025. Candidates receiving ITAs later this year will play a crucial role in achieving the 2025 goal, given IRCC’s six-month processing standard for Express Entry applications.

Here’s a snapshot of recent Express Entry draw results:

• August 26: 1,121 ITAs for PNP with a minimum CRS of 694
• August 15: 2,000 ITAs for French language proficiency with a minimum CRS of 394
• August 14: 3,200 ITAs for CEC with a minimum CRS of 509
• August 13: 763 ITAs for PNP with a minimum CRS of 690

Express Entry is the system used to manage applications for three main economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class. Candidates are ranked based on various factors like age, education, work experience, and language ability, which are scored using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Those with the highest scores receive invitations to apply for permanent residency in Canada.

In May 2023, IRCC also introduced category-based draws, focusing on candidates who meet specific criteria based on their occupation or language skills.