Today, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued Invitations to Apply (ITA) in a new Express Entry round.
In a category-based draw for candidates with French language skills, the department welcomed 500 candidates. An ITA required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 472.
Today's draw follows one held yesterday, September 26, in which 3,000 candidates were invited to participate in an all-program draw. A minimum CRS score of 504 was required for candidates. Candidates from all three Express Entry-managed programs are considered in an all-program draw.
Since June 2023, below is a summary of the Express Entry draw results.
What exactly is category-based selection?
IRCC announced in May of this year that it would begin holding draws for Express Entry candidates based on one specific quality rather than their overall CRS score.
Following a change to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) in 2022 that gives the immigration minister the authority to select Express Entry candidates who are likely to help Canada meet its mandate to strengthen the economy and promote the French language outside of Quebec, the categories were expected to be implemented this year.
To that goal, six new categories for in-demand occupations and newcomers with good French language ability were established. The five occupational categories are as follows:
• Healthcare;
• STEM professions;
• Trades;
• Transport; and
• Agriculture and agri-food
IRCC has held draws in all of these categories except Agriculture and agri-food since the first category-based draw for healthcare personnel on June 28. Candidates with strong French abilities have received the most category-based ITAs (6,900).
Those who desire to immigrate to Canada through category-based selection must be in the Express Entry pool and have a CRS score of at least 550.