RCC invites 7,000 candidates with a CRS score of at least 490. Since January 18, this is the first all-program draw.
Today, the IRCC held the seventh Express Entry draw for 2023.7,000 candidates with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 490 received invitations from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The number of ITAs in this draw exceeds the previous record of 5,500 candidates invited in the January 18 all-program draw. Candidates from all three Express Entry programs are considered in an all-program draw: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
This draw deviates from a pattern of program-specific draws that have occurred over the last two months. There have been four program-specific rounds of invitations since the last all-program draw, three for PNP-only candidates and one for FSWP candidates. On March 1, only 697 candidates received ITAs in the most recent PNP-only draw.
Prior to 2023, all Express Entry draws were all-program draws that invited over 1,000 candidates each time and grew as the minimum CRS score decreased.
The IRCC has released Express Entry data for 2021:
A recent IRCC report summarizes Express Entry data for 2021, which was a one-of-a-kind year in the program's history.
All program draws were paused beginning in December 2020 to alleviate the backlog caused by COVID-19-related travel restrictions and border closures. IRCC continued to issue ITAs to Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates until September 2021, when CEC draws were also halted.
In total, 114,431 ITAs were issued in 2021. In 2021, there were no all-program Express Entry draws. All 42 Express Entry draws for the PNP and CEC were program-specific, and no ITAs were issued to FSWP or Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) candidates.
More than half, 64%, of ITAs were issued to recipients aged 20 to 29. Candidates in this age range receive 100 CRS points under the Comprehensive Ranking System. After the age of 30, candidates receive fewer points.
Because of the pauses, the majority of ITAs were issued to candidates who were already temporary residents in Canada. However, some ITAs were still issued to candidates living abroad. The top five nationalities were as follows:
Canada has issued 102,806 ITAs.
India has issued 3,826 ITAs.
Nigeria has received 1,432 ITAs.
806 ITAs have been issued in the United States.
People's Republic of China: 687 ITAs have been issued.