Canada’s first Express Entry draw for transport occupation took place this week, conducted by IRCC. On September 20, IRCC extended invitations to 1,000 candidates in this field to apply for permanent residence. To qualify for an ITA, candidates needed a minimum CRS score of 435.
Additionally, on September 19, the IRCC held an all-program draw and sent out 3,200 invites to applicants. Candidates needed a CRS score of at least 531 to be given an ITA.
Canada’s first Express Entry draw for transport occupation
The Express Entry system’s first-ever category-based selection draw, which targeted applicants with experience in transport occupations, was held today, marking a significant milestone. This category-based selection was started by IRCC in response to a severe labor shortage in the transportation industry.
Pablo Rodriguez, Canada’s minister of transportation, underlined the value of the transportation industry to the country’s economy as well as the necessity to invest in the people who move people and products. By luring bright people to diverse locations across Canada, this organization hopes to alleviate the significant skills gap. Truck drivers, pilots, aviation mechanical engineers, and sailors all play important roles in the economy and daily lives of the nation. Canada hopes to boost economic growth and create stronger, more reliable supply networks by filling open positions in these fields.
In comparison to prior summers, there were more Express Entry draws, which is mostly due to the introduction of category-based invitation selection processes. It’s important to remember that up until this week, there had been no draws since August 15. In that draw, 4,300 applicants got ITAs in an all-program draw, which was notable in terms of the quantity of applicants.
It’s interesting to note that IRCC has not officially said why there haven’t been any draws during this time. Many applicants are waiting to advance in the Express Entry system as a result of the invitation suspension, but they are unknown when draws will resume and how that would affect their immigration schedules.
Express Entry draw September 19
Canada’s Express Entry draw has resumed after a hiatus of over one month, as confirmed by IRCC. In this recent draw, IRCC issued a total of 3,200 invitations to candidates in an all-program selection.
To be eligible for Canada’s Express Entry, candidates had to have at least a CRS score of 531.
The number of Express Entry draws this summer was higher than in previous summers. This outcome was attributed to inviting candidates based on their categories. However, they haven’t conducted a draw since the latest all-program draw on August 15, when they awarded 4,300 ITAs.
Despite the pause in draws, IRCC has not provided a clear reason for this halt in ITA issuance. This week, the IRCC announced Express Entry drawings were to resume, allowing qualified applicants to resume the invitation process.
Canada’s Express Entry draw resumed – Draw results summary from June 2023
| Date | Program | Number of ITAs | Minimum CRS |
| Aug 1 | All-program | 2,000 | 517 |
| Aug 2 | French language proficiency | 800 | 435 |
| Aug 3 | Trade occupations | 1,500 | 388 |
| Aug 15 | All-program | 4,300 | 496 |
| July 4 | All-program | 700 | 511 |
| July 5 | STEM occupations | 500 | 486 |
| July 6 | Healthcare occupations | 1,500 | 463 |
| July 7 | French language proficiency | 2,300 | 439 |
| July 11 | All-program | 800 | 505 |
| July 12 | French language proficiency | 3,800 | 375 |
| June 8 | All-program | 4,800 | 486 |
| June 27 | All-program | 4,300 | 486 |
| June 28 | Healthcare occupations | 500 | 476 |
Express Entry – An overview
The Canadian government uses Express Entry, an online platform, to effectively manage and streamline the immigration process for qualified people seeking permanent residency in Canada. This extensive structure oversees the following three major federal economic immigration programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker (FSW): This program is designed for skilled professionals who have the necessary qualifications, work experience, and language proficiency to contribute to Canada’s labor market.
- Federal Skilled Trades (FST): Aimed at tradespeople with specialized skills and experience in designated occupations, this program seeks to address specific labor shortages in the country.
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC): Geared toward individuals who have prior Canadian work experience or international graduates who have studied in Canada, the CEC provides a pathway to permanent residency for those already familiar with the Canadian labor market and society.
In essence, Express Entry serves as a streamlined and efficient means for eligible candidates to navigate the immigration process and pursue their aspirations of becoming Canadian permanent residents.
Eligibility requirements of Express Entry
Although each Express Entry program continues to have its own set of qualifying requirements, they all use the CRS as a standard evaluation method to assess and rank applicants against one another. By awarding ratings based on several human capital variables, including language competence, age, work experience, vocation, and education, the CRS method assesses candidates. A candidate’s likelihood of receiving an ITA for Canadian permanent residency increases with their CRS score.
Candidates in the Express Entry pool who receive a provincial nomination and meet the criteria also gain a substantial advantage. This is mainly because individuals who are eligible for both the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and Express Entry automatically receive an additional 600 CRS points. The extra points greatly improve their overall CRS score, making them highly competitive in the Express Entry draws.
It’s important to remember that Express Entry tends to favor applicants with CRS scores between 350 and 550, though this can change based on the program or category. Considering the competitive nature of these draws, a provincial nomination’s additional CRS points significantly enhance a candidate’s chances of receiving an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residency.
Express Entry Category-based selection draw
The Express Entry system has incorporated a category-based draw to extend invitations to applicants who belong to one of six distinct groups.
IRCC holds other Express Entry draws in addition to these category-based draws. In addition, they conduct draws in which they select candidates based on their eligibility for particular programs, including the Provincial Nominee Program. As well as draws in which candidates receive ITA for permanent residence based on meeting the CRS scores cut-offs.
IRCC’s six categories include candidates with work experience in:
- Healthcare
- Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
- Trades such as carpentry, plumbing, and contracting
- Transportation
- Agriculture and agri-food
- Strong proficiency in the French language
Candidates must fulfill all standards set forth by IRCC for that particular draw in order to be eligible to receive an invitation through a category-based draw. During these drawings, the IRCC will rate candidates in the Express Entry pool who meet the requirements for their respective categories and invite the top-scoring people to apply for Canadian permanent residency.
IRCC began issuing its first category-based invitations on June 28, targeting healthcare industry-experienced applicants. They held a draw for individuals with strong French language skills, tradespeople, and STEM professionals.
The candidate must also be enrolled in Express Entry if they wish to apply through category-based selection. In spite of the fact that IRCC continues to rank candidates in relation to each other, aiming for a high CRS score is still beneficial.
IRCC has emphasized that these new categories play a crucial role in addressing critical job vacancies in high-demand sectors of Canada’s workforce and contribute to strengthening the nation’s economy. The selection of these categories followed extensive discussions with provincial governments, business associations, and various partners and stakeholders collaborating with IRCC.
