Canada holds first Express Entry draw of 2023

 Canada holds first Express Entry draw of 2023

 

Today's all-program round of invitations is the first since the November 23 Express Entry draw.

Canada held its first Express Entry draw of the year today and the first since November 23.


Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued invitations to 5,500 candidates with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 507. Eligible candidates are invited from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). All of these are programs that run under the Express Entry system.

The draw marks an increase in the number of ITAs issued and is the largest program-wide Fast Track draw since it resumed last July. In the November 23 draw, 4,750 candidates were invited with 750 additional invitations, and CRS scores are also higher than they have been since the September 28 draw.

Express Entry in 2022

Last year was a unique one for Express Entry. Ministerial directions show that 46,538 ITAs were issued to Express Entry candidates out of 23 draws in 2022. This figure includes draws between January and July, which are exclusively for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates. Beginning December 2020, Express Entry draws for all programs were suspended for more than 18 months. The suspension is due to a backlog of applications due to travel restrictions related to COVID-19. During this period, only candidates from the CEC or PNP will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA). However, in September 2021, IRCC has also suspended the CEC draw. The total ITA for all program draws beginning in July and spanning the remainder of the year is 35,750.

The lowest Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score in the previous Express Entry draw was 491.

Express Entry getting ready for changes

In the second half of 2022, IRCC laid the groundwork for the expected changes to the Fast Track in 2023. For example, in November, IRCC implemented NOC 2021, an update to NOC 2016. Use the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system to determine the occupation and skill level of Express Entry candidates.

IRCC moved from classifying skills as a 0-D scale to a Training, Education, Experience and Responsibility (TEER) based system. The new TEER system modifies the NOC 2016 skill levels 0-E and creates an equivalent of five TEERS. Under NOC 2021, 16 new occupations are now eligible to apply for economic immigration programs administered by Express Entry, such as FSWP or CEC.

Candidates who have submitted their profiles to the IRCC Express Entry pool are invited to independently switch their NOC to the new NOC 2021. Must be updated for each position (job) included on their IRCC profile. Failure to do so will disqualify candidates from receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

Canada will also increase the number of candidates it invites through its Express Entry program, under its Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025, released Nov. 1. By 2023, 82,880 immigrants will enter Canada under Express Entry to become permanent residents. This would increase to 109,020 in 2024 and 114,000 in 2025, accounting for about one-fifth of Canada's total permanent resident enrollment target. These higher goals underscore the importance Canada places on economic immigration in the face of a persistent labor shortage. Immigrants account for 90 per cent of Canada's workforce growth and approximately 75 per cent of population growth.

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry is the application management system for three Canadian immigration programs: the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates in the Express Entry pool are already eligible for at least one of these programs.

Express Entry uses a points-based system, the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), to rank candidate profiles. Candidates with the highest scores receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and can then apply for permanent residence.

After a candidate applies, IRCC officers review the application and decide whether to approve it. Once completed and approved, the candidate is now a permanent resident of Canada, one step closer to becoming a Canadian citizen.