Candidates for the second Express Entry lottery of the week have received invitations from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
For candidates in STEM occupations, the department sent out 4,500 invitations to apply (ITAs) in a category-based selection draw.
To be considered, candidates had to receive a minimum of 491 points on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
This was the first applicant draw for STEM jobs that happened this year. The general draw from yesterday, April 10, is followed by the draw today. With a minimum CRS score of 549—the highest of any draw in 2024—IRCC invited 1,280 hopefuls.
A CRS score of at least 546 was necessary to be considered in the first general draw of the year on January 10; throughout the following few months, general draw scores have been declining.
1,980 individuals with a CRS score of 524 were invited to the most recent general draw on March 25.
Candidates from the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) are taken into consideration for general drawings, which are overseen by Express Entry. In contrast to selection draws based on categories, a candidate’s probability of being awarded an ITA is mostly determined by their CRS score.
An overview of the 2024 Express Entry draw results
| Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | Minimum CRS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
What is selection based on categories?
In order for the IRCC to more effectively target Express Entry applicants with in-demand skills or human capital traits, category-based selection drawings were implemented in May 2023.
The department introduced six categories in 2023 and confirmed earlier this year that the same categories will be used throughout 2024. They are:
- Healthcare occupations
- Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
- Trades occupations, such as carpenters, plumbers, and contractors
- Transport occupations
- Agriculture and agri-food occupations
- Strong French proficiency
Candidates must already have an application in the Express Entry pool to be considered for category-based selection.
Express Entry: What Is It?
Three of Canada’s most well-known economic immigration programs—the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)—are managed through the Express Entry application management system.
Through these programs, candidates are assessed according to their human capital, which includes things like age, education, occupation, work experience, and language proficiency.
A comprehensive ranking system score is obtained by adding the scores of each factor. It is quite likely that those who score the best will be invited to apply for the status of permanent residence.
