Let’s have a look at how Express Entry performed in 2020

On this last day of 2020, we are going to analyze the performance of the Express Entry System for the entire year. 2020 was the biggest year for the Express Entry System of Canada. Despite the coronavirus pandemic that engulfed the entire world, Canada still issued a large number of invitations for permanent residence through the Express Entry System. Canada invited a total of 107,350 express entry candidates this year. This was for the first time that IRCC has invited such a large number of candidates since the launch of the Express Entry System in 2015.

Express Entry Immigration Programs

A potential immigrant who is willing to move to Canada can apply for an immigration visa through the following three economy class immigration programs of the Express Entry:

Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW)

Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST)
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

2020: Express Entry Draws

The IRCC has conducted a total of 36 express entry draws in 2020. In 2019, Canada held 26 invitation rounds only. The immigration department has held 10 more draws this year. This is because the IRCC conducted program-specific draws only in the beginning months of the coronavirus pandemic. Canada invited PNP and CEC candidates only in many of the express entry draws. The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada conducted both the smallest and biggest Express Entry Draws in 2020. It invited 118 candidates only in one of the PNP-specific draws in April. And then, it started issuing 5,000 ITAs in all the express entry draws by the end of the year. Canada increased the draw size after September and invited around 5,000 candidates in each draw. It can be said that issuing such a large number of invitations can be an attempt at reaching the target of welcoming 401,000 new permanent residents in 2021. Since it takes around six months to get PR after receiving an ITA, so express entry candidates who received invitations in the latter half of the year will become permanent residents in 2021 only. The federal government has set the target of inviting 108,500 immigrants out of 401,000 newcomers through the express entry system.

CRS score required in 2020

Immigration candidates are invited through express entry based on the Comprehensive Ranking System score that they get. The CRS score is dependent on the following factors:

Age
Education
Language proficiency
Foreign work experience
Canadian work experience
Canadian certificate of education

IRCC conducted several program-specific draws in 2020. So, the CRS score required was lowest in one of the Federal Skilled Trades Program draw. Candidates in that draw required to have a CRS score of 415 only. Further, the CRS score requirement was 431 for a CEC-specific draw that was held on 25th June. Then, the CRS score requirement fell to 468 in an all-program express entry draw held on 23rd December. It was one of the lowest CRS scores for regular all-program express entry draws.

What to expect in 2021?

Canada has targeted to welcome 108,500 candidates through Express Entry System alone in 2021. In order to reach this target, IRCC will have to conduct large draws by issuing more than 4,500 invitations in each draw.