The IRCC Express Entry draw is an event that invites candidates to apply for Canadian permanent residence. The draws are held every two weeks on Wednesdays. The number of candidates invited will vary depending on the immigration targets set by the government. It is also based on the quality of new applicants entering the pool. The cut-off score will rise if there is a large influx of high-scoring profiles. The duration between draws also influences the cut off scores.
If you are interested in immigrating to Canada, creating an Express Entry profile is the first step. Once you have your profile, you will need to submit your supporting documents. These include your passport or travel documents, educational credentials and reference letters. You will also need to submit proof of language skills and a medical examination. The more information you provide, the better your chances are of qualifying for a higher CRS score. You can calculate your score using the Comprehensive Ranking System calculator.
The Latest Express Entry Draw 2023
The first Express Entry draw of 2023 took place on January 11 and invited 7,000 candidates to apply for permanent residency. It was an all-program draw, which means that IRCC considered candidates from all three Express Entry programs—the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
The latest Express Entry draw of 2023 took place on May 10, 2023. Here’s the details:
- Draw number: 248
- Draw date: May 10, 2023
- Immigration program: Provincial Nominee Program
- CRS score cut off: 691
- Number of candidates invited to apply: 589 ITAs issued
This draw (number 248) is the 12th Express Entry draw of 2023.
Generally, the IRCC Express Entry draws are conducted bi-weekly on Wednesdays, inviting the highest scoring candidates to apply for Canada PR. The draw results are published online after a short delay. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required to receive an ITA is 490.
The CRS score is determined by the factors that are used to select candidates from the Express Entry pool, including age, education, work experience and language abilities. However, there are other factors that can affect a candidate’s CRS score, such as the location of their job offer, provincial nomination and family connections in Canada.
What is IRCC Express Entry?
IRCC Express Entry is an online system that manages applications for the Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, and some streams of Provincial Nominee Programs. It focuses on selecting top-scoring candidates and inviting them to apply for Canadian permanent residence. A candidate’s profile is ranked using the Comprehensive Ranking System, which takes into account age, education, work experience, language ability in English and French, a job offer, and other factors. The highest-ranked candidates receive an Invitation to Apply and have 60 days to submit their application for permanent residence.
If you meet all of the requirements for Canada’s Express Entry immigration program, and you have a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score that is above or equal to the CRS cut-off score for your draw, you may be invited to apply for permanent residence by IRCC. The CRS cut-off score is determined in a random draw from all candidates registered with the Express Entry pool. The government then selects the top-ranked candidates from this pool and invites them to submit an application for Canadian permanent residence.
How to Qualify for the Express Entry Program?
Applicants must meet certain eligibility criteria to qualify under the Express Entry program. These include having a job offer or provincial nomination, having the necessary language abilities, and having the right qualifications and skills.
Eligible candidates create an Express Entry (EE) profile and receive a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, which is used to determine their rank in the pool. IRCC conducts Express Entry draws every two weeks and invites the top-ranked candidates to apply for Canadian permanent residence.
How to Apply for Express Entry Program?
Those who receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) must then submit a complete application within 60 days. If they do not, their CRS score will expire, and they will have to create a new profile. Several ways to improve an EE profile and increase its CRS score include retaking language tests, obtaining more work experience, completing an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), acquiring a qualifying job offer or provincial nomination, and so on.
IRCC provides an online status update table in EE profiles to track the progress of an application. It is important to review these updates regularly to ensure that all required documents have been uploaded. Incomplete applications will result in delays or even cancellations.
How to Improve My CRS Score?
If you are a candidate for Canada’s Express Entry immigration program, there are several things you can do to improve your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA). First, try to get the highest CLB level on your language test. Language skills are important for Express Entry, and you can improve your chances of getting an ITA by taking official English and French tests. IRCC gives weight to the results of these tests when calculating your CRS score.
This will help you earn more points in your Comprehensive Ranking System. Also, remember that if you are a married Express Entry candidate, your spouse’s language scores and work experience can also boost your application. Finally, consider applying to a provincial nomination program to increase your odds of getting an ITA.
Another way to boost your CRS score is to obtain a provincial nomination. This can be done by applying directly to a PNP stream aligned with Express Entry or by entering the Express Entry pool so a province can invite you through their PNP program. To do this, you’ll need to have a high enough CRS score to qualify for an ITA.
Immigration Through the Express Entry System
In addition to the Express Entry system, IRCC has other skilled worker immigration pathways for Canadian permanent residency. These include the Federal Skilled Trades Program, the Canadian Experience Class, and the Quebec Skilled Worker Program. Canada gets its inspiration for Express Entry from two other countries that use similar systems to manage their skilled worker immigration programs, New Zealand and Australia.
The majority of IRCC’s skilled worker immigrants are invited through the Express Entry system, which the federal government operates. However, the IRCC also administers several other federal programs to recruit skilled workers for specific occupations, regions, or businesses.
Many of these other programs require applicants to be in the Express Entry pool unless they qualify through a provincial nominee program or are a Quebec citizen. The IRCC has also developed other pathways to Canada for skilled workers, such as the Atlantic Provinces’ Immigration Agreement, and Rural and Northern Communities Pathway, and the self-employed and entrepreneurs pathway.