Candidates for this week’s second Express Entry lottery have received invitations from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
For transport vocations, the department held a category-based draw and sent out 975 invitations to apply (ITAs).
A minimum score of 430 on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) was needed of candidates.
March 12 saw the issuance of ITAs by IRCC. A general draw was held, with 2,850 individuals invited. The CRS serves as the primary qualifying criterion for a general draw, which takes applicants from all three Express Entry administered programs into account.
The minimum CRS necessary for candidates was 525, which is the lowest minimum CRS for a general draw this year and a fall of nine CRS points from the last general draw on February 28.
In February, 16,110 individuals were invited to six lotteries. With category-based selection draws for those with high proficiency in French, the month began and ended. First, on February 1, 7,000 individuals with a minimum CRS score of 365 were invited. The other, which was held on February 29, was open to 2,500 applicants who had a minimum CRS score of 336—the lowest of any draw this year.
Two more category-based drawings were held for the remaining four lotteries. 3,500 applicants in healthcare vocations with a minimum CRS of 422 were invited to one on February 14. The other took place on February 16 and was open to 150 applicants working in the agricultural and agri-food industries. A minimum score of 437 was necessary.
Lastly, in February, the IRCC conducted two general Express Entry drawings. With a minimum score of 535, the department welcomed 1,490 candidates on February 13 and 1,470 candidates on February 28. The CRS score for these candidates was at least 534.
| Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | Minimum CRS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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?
Category-based selection draws specifically target Express Entry applicants with certain in-demand traits, as opposed to general drawings, which evaluate candidates from all Express Entry managed programs based only on their CRS score.
In May 2023, this kind of draw was used to address the labor shortages in important Canadian workforce sectors. An ITA may be issued to qualified individuals for Express Entry under one of the following six categories:
- Jobs in healthcare
- STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics)
- Tradespeople in positions like contractors, plumbers, and carpenters
- Jobs in transportation
- Jobs in agriculture and agri-food
- strong command of French
Candidates who are already in the Express Entry application pool may benefit from these drawings. The average CRS score for category-based drawings this year has been lower than the average for general draws.
For instance, out of the four selection draws based on categories, 437 was the minimum CRS score with the highest value and 336 the lowest.
On the other hand, no general draw in 2024 has had a minimum CRS of less than 534 thus far.
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.
After determining by themselves if they qualify for any of these programs, candidates can upload their profile to the IRCC website to find out their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. Human capital factors including age, language proficiency, occupation, education, and job experience are scored by the CRS.
Based on their CRS ratings, applicants are ranked against one another in the Express Entry application pool. The individuals who score the highest are more likely to be sent an invitation to apply (ITA) for the status of permanent residence.
A applicant has sixty days from the day they get an ITA to send in their completed application to the IRCC.
