IRCC invites 648 candidates in recent PNP Express Entry draw

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has recently issued 648 invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residency in Canada. This latest Express Entry draw was held specifically for candidates within the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). In this round, the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required was 791, reflecting the competitive nature of this particular draw.

This draw marks the second PNP-specific draw this month, following one that took place on October 7, which invited 1,613 candidates with a CRS score of at least 743. IRCC has developed a consistent trend of conducting multiple draws every other week, with at least one focused on PNP applicants. Since May 30, IRCC has issued a total of 12,815 ITAs through PNP-specific draws, illustrating their growing emphasis on inviting candidates who are already residing in Canada and contributing to its economy as temporary residents.

IRCC's strategic approach serves a dual purpose: reducing the number of temporary residents while also meeting their annual permanent residency goals, as outlined in Canada's Immigration Levels Plan. With the upcoming release of the new Immigration Levels Plan for 2025-2027 on November 1, IRCC aims to continue welcoming more immigrants to Canada. The previous plan for 2024 set a target of admitting 110,770 new permanent residents through various economic immigration programs, though no official updates have been provided yet to confirm whether IRCC has met that goal for the year.

Candidates who receive an ITA during the second half of 2024 are more likely to be admitted in 2025, given IRCC’s six-month processing standard for Express Entry applications. This means that many of the successful candidates from recent draws are expected to be counted among the new permanent residents in the coming year.

The Express Entry system is Canada's primary method of managing applications for three of its main economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). These programs aim to attract candidates who can fill vital gaps in Canada’s labour force and contribute to its economy.

Candidates are ranked based on various factors such as age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and more. The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is used to assign points for these factors, with candidates who score the highest being most likely to receive an ITA. CRS scores are typically higher in PNP-specific draws because candidates who receive a provincial nomination are automatically awarded 600 additional points, making them more competitive in the selection process.

Express Entry draws vary in their focus, sometimes targeting candidates with specific skills, language proficiency, or provincial nominations. The draws help Canada manage its immigration system efficiently while meeting the country’s economic needs and immigration goals.