Canada conducts largest-ever all-program draw in Express Entry history
IRCC Invites Record-Breaking 7,000 Candidates in Largest All-Program Express Entry Draw Ever
The seventh Express Entry draw of 2023 saw a historic number of invitations issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). A total of 7,000 candidates were invited to apply for permanent residency with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 490.
This draw marks a significant increase in the number of Invitations to Apply (ITAs), beating the previous record of 5,500 candidates invited in the last all-program draw held on January 18. All-program draws consider candidates from all three Express Entry programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
The latest draw breaks a pattern of program-specific draws that had been occurring for the past two months. Since the last all-program draw, there have been four program-specific rounds of invitations, three for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)-only and one for FSWP candidates. The most recent draw held on March 1 was PNP-only, and only 697 candidates received ITAs. Previously, all Express Entry draws between July and November 2022 were all-program draws, inviting over 1,000 candidates each time, and growing as the minimum CRS score decreased.
