IRCC invites PNP applicants in the recent Express Entry draw

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued 174 invitations to apply (ITAs) in its most recent Express Entry draw, which was specifically for candidates in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). To be eligible for consideration in this draw, applicants needed to have a minimum score of 816 on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which evaluates candidates based on factors like education, work experience, language proficiency, and more.

This is the second consecutive week that the IRCC has held Express Entry draws. Last week, a total of 1,933 ITAs were issued to candidates from various programs, including the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), PNP, and those with French-language skills.

The Canadian government has set ambitious targets for immigration through the Express Entry system in the upcoming year, as outlined in the IRCC’s new Immigration Levels Plan. According to the plan, the government aims to welcome 124,680 Express Entry candidates to Canada in 2024. A significant portion of this intake, over 82,000 candidates, will be dedicated to a new category called the In-Canada Focus category. This category will primarily include CEC candidates, but may also extend to individuals in the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and PNP-aligned Express Entry streams.

Furthermore, the government plans to allocate 41,700 permanent residence spots to the "Federal Economic Priorities" category, which will focus on candidates with professional experience in high-demand occupations in Canada. This aligns with Canada’s ongoing need for skilled workers in various sectors.

Express Entry is an application management system that processes applications for three key immigration programs: the CEC, the FSWP, and the FSTP. These programs are designed to attract skilled workers to Canada. The system uses a point-based CRS, with candidates being assigned scores based on factors such as their age, work experience, language skills, and level of education. Candidates can also earn additional points if they have a family member living in Canada if they apply with a spouse or partner, or if they have work or educational experience in Canada.

Candidates who receive a provincial nomination through an enhanced PNP stream are awarded an additional 600 CRS points, which significantly boosts their chances of receiving an ITA. The highest-ranking candidates are most likely to receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence in future Express Entry draws, assuming they meet the specific criteria of the draw.

The latest draw is part of a broader trend of Express Entry draws in 2024. The previous week’s draw targeted those with French-language proficiency and PNP candidates, while earlier draws included selections for CEC and trade occupations. For example, in the November 15 draw, 800 ITAs were issued to French-language candidates with a minimum CRS score of 478, while the November 13 draw invited 400 CEC candidates with a minimum CRS score of 547.