April’s Inaugural Express Entry Draw Conducted by IRCC
Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 3,500 invitations to apply (ITAs) to candidates in an all-program draw with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off score of 486. Candidates from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) were considered in this draw.
Following three consecutive Express Entry draws that invited 7,000 candidates, the most recent draw on March 29 had the lowest CRS cut-off score since December 2020, at 481. More ITAs have been issued in 2023 than in all of 2022.
IRCC introduced its most ambitious Immigration Levels Plan last November, targeting permanent resident immigration across all lines of business over three years. By 2025, 114,000 individuals will obtain permanent resident status through Express Entry annually.
March marked an unprecedented month for Express Entry, with IRCC issuing 21,667 ITAs over four draws, making it the second-highest monthly total since the system’s launch in January 2015. The record for most candidates invited in a single month was set in February 2021 with 27,332 candidates.
The recent all-program draws are advantageous for CEC candidates, many of whom face expiring Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs). To support these candidates, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced that starting April 6, PGWP holders can apply for an 18-month open work permit extension.
PGWPs are one-time open work permits for international students who graduate from a post-secondary institution in Canada. If a candidate’s PGWP expires before they receive an ITA, they are no longer eligible for permanent residence. Finding an alternative work permit or obtaining a visitor record can be costly and time-consuming.
Between November 2022 and February 2023, few CEC candidates received ITAs due to a six-week unplanned draw pause and four program-specific draws that did not target CEC candidates.
