December 20th, 2024 at 05:20 am
Canada Express Entry Good News: New PNP Draw | IRCC Latest Update
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently made headlines by issuing invitations to apply (ITAs) in a new draw. This draw, the first of the week, resulted in 1,085 ITAs exclusively for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates. To qualify, applicants needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 727.
This draw is significant as it marks the third draw this December. It follows a PNP draw on December 2 and a category-based draw for candidates proficient in French on December 3. Last month alone featured six Express Entry draws, resulting in a total of 5,507 ITAs for permanent residency (PR).
The pattern of these draws has become quite familiar. The IRCC alternates between draws for the PNP, Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and candidates with French language skills. This trend is likely to persist, especially with the introduction of the “In-Canada” focus category in the Immigration Levels Plan 2025-2027.
This initiative aims to target candidates from the CEC and other regional programs, potentially including those from the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). In total, the In-Canada category has been allocated 82,980 PR admissions for 2025, accounting for over 40% of all planned admissions for that year.
Overview of Express Entry Draws in 2024
Here’s a summary of the Express Entry draws that took place in December 2024:
Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | Minimum CRS |
December 16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 1,085 | 727 |
December 3 | French language proficiency | 800 | 466 |
December 2 | Provincial Nominee Program | 676 | 705 |
November 20 | Healthcare occupations | 3,000 | 463 |
November 19 | Canadian Experience Class | 400 | 539 |
November 18 | Provincial Nominee Program | 174 | 816 |
November 15 | French language proficiency | 800 | 478 |
November 13 | Canadian Experience Class | 400 | 547 |
November 12 | Provincial Nominee Program | 733 | 812 |
October 23 | Trade occupations | 1,800 | 433 |
October 22 | Canadian Experience Class | 400 | 539 |
October 21 | Provincial Nominee Program | 648 | 791 |
October 10 | French language proficiency | 1,000 | 444 |
October 9 | Canadian Experience Class | 500 | 539 |
October 7 | Provincial Nominee Program | 1,613 | 743 |
September 19 | Canadian Experience Class | 4,000 | 509 |
September 13 | French language proficiency | 1,000 | 446 |
September 9 | Provincial Nominee Program | 911 | 732 |
August 27 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,300 | 507 |
August 26 | Provincial Nominee Program | 1,121 | 694 |
August 15 | French language proficiency | 2,000 | 394 |
August 14 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,200 | 509 |
August 13 | Provincial Nominee Program | 763 | 690 |
July 31 | Canadian Experience Class | 5,000 | 510 |
July 30 | Provincial Nominee Program | 964 | 686 |
July 18 | French language proficiency | 1,800 | 400 |
July 17 | Canadian Experience Class | 6,300 | 515 |
July 16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 1,391 | 670 |
July 8 | French proficiency | 3,200 | 420 |
July 5 | Healthcare occupations | 3,750 | 445 |
July 4 | Trade occupations | 1,800 | 436 |
July 2 | Provincial Nominee Program | 920 | 739 |
June 19 | Provincial Nominee Program | 1,499 | 663 |
May 31 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,000 | 522 |
May 30 | Provincial Nominee Program | 2,985 | 676 |
April 24 | French proficiency | 1,400 | 410 |
April 23 | General | 2,095 | 529 |
April 11 | STEM occupations | 4,500 | 491 |
April 10 | General | 1,280 | 549 |
March 26 | French language proficiency | 1,500 | 388 |
March 25 | General | 1,980 | 524 |
March 13 | Transport occupations | 975 | 430 |
March 12 | General | 2,850 | 525 |
February 29 | French language proficiency | 2,500 | 336 |
February 28 | General | 1,470 | 534 |
February 16 | Agriculture and agri-food occupations | 150 | 437 |
February 14 | Healthcare occupations | 3,500 | 422 |
February 13 | General | 1,490 | 535 |
February 1 | French language proficiency | 7,000 | 365 |
January 31 | General | 730 | 541 |
January 23 | General | 1,040 | 543 |
January 10 | General | 1,510 | 546 |
Understanding Express Entry
Express Entry serves as a comprehensive system for managing applications for three federal economic immigration programs leading to Canadian permanent residency. These programs include the CEC, FSWP, and FSTP. Additionally, candidates may also receive invitations through an Express Entry-aligned PNP stream. This process is known as enhanced provincial nomination.
Applicants undergo evaluation using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). This system assigns scores based on multiple factors. These include age, occupation, language proficiency, education, and work experience. A provincial nomination through an enhanced PNP stream provides an additional 600 CRS points. This boost significantly increases the chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
Candidates can earn extra CRS points by having a sibling in Canada, applying with a spouse or partner, or combining both Canadian and international education and work experience.
The candidates with the highest CRS scores are most likely to receive ITAs in future Express Entry draws. This occurs as long as they meet the specific selection criteria for each draw. Besides selecting candidates based on CRS scores, the IRCC has also introduced category-based selections.
This allows candidates with specific professional or language skills, which align with Canada’s labor market needs, to be issued ITAs. These selections depend on both their category inclusion and their CRS scores. Notably, CRS cut-offs for category-based selections are usually lower than those for program-specific or general draws.
Further Thoughts
In summary, the latest developments in Canada’s Express Entry system highlight a robust immigration pathway. With the recent PNP draw and the expected continuation of alternating draws, candidates have various opportunities to secure their future in Canada.
The emphasis on diverse categories also reflects Canada’s commitment to meeting its labor market needs while welcoming skilled individuals from around the globe.
CRS Score Trends and Predictions for 2025
The CRS score has always played a crucial role in Express Entry invitations. However, the introduction of new category-based draws is expected to diversify CRS score requirements, making the system more accessible to targeted groups.
More Frequent Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Draws
With a focus on temporary residents, CEC draws are anticipated to dominate the “In-Canada Focus” stream. Candidates with Canadian work experience will benefit from:
- Lower CRS Score Cut-offs: Projected cut-offs for CEC-specific draws may hover around 490.
- Increased Draw Sizes: Draw sizes are expected to range from 3,000 to 4,000 invitations per round.
Lower CRS Scores for Priority Occupations
IRCC aims to address critical labor shortages by lowering CRS thresholds for certain occupations. For instance:
- Healthcare: CRS scores may drop to approximately 450 for healthcare-targeted draws.
- Trades: Skilled trades workers may also experience reduced score requirements due to ongoing demand.
Higher CRS Scores for General Applicants
Candidates lacking Canadian work experience or provincial nominations will face heightened competition. CRS scores around 540 are likely to remain the standard for all-program draws. This trend emphasizes the need for applicants to tailor their profiles to align with Canada’s immigration priorities.
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