Canada invites 3,000 Canadian Experience Class candidates in latest Express Entry draw

Edana Robitaille
Published: May 30, 2024

Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued invitations to apply (ITAs) in Canada’s most recent Express Entry draw.

The department issued 3,000  ITAs in a program-specific  draw for candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

Candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 522 to be considered.

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Today’s draw is the second of the week and follows a program-specific draw on May 30 for Express Entry candidates with a nomination through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). It is the first draw specifically for CEC candidates since September 14, 2021 and also featured the lowest CRS score of the year for a non-category-based selection draw.

This week's draws also represent the first program-specific draws since the introduction of category-based selection in May 2023. Many CEC candidates, as well as PNP candidates, are already living and working in Canada as temporary residents. These draws reflect IRCC's recently announced commitment to hold more "domestic draws" to help more temporary residents transition to permanent residents and bring down the overall level of temporary residents in Canada.

Program-specific draws consider only candidates from the Express Entry pool who have applied through a specific permanent residency program rather than inviting applicants from all programs, such as occurs in a general draw.

The May 30 draw was also the first Express Entry draw since April 24 following a month-long pause. IRCC has not confirmed a reason for the pause. However, in a recent Access to Information Request, the department said all draws this year will occur on a predetermined schedule. IRCC has not made that schedule public. It also said draw size and frequency will be determined based on admissions targets in 2024 and 2025. Processing capacity may also influence draw frequency.

Before the pause, there were four draws throughout April. The first April draw invited 1,280 candidates in a general draw on April 10. The following day the department issued 4,500 ITAs to Express Entry candidates in a category-based selection draw for STEM occupations.

The remaining two draws took place on April 23 and 24. On the 23rd, IRCC invited 2,095 candidates in a general draw and 1,400 candidates in a French proficiency category-based selection draw on the 24th.

According to a recent Access to Information Request, French proficiency is expected to lead category-based selection draws in 2024. IRCC says this is due to the high rate of employment for bilingual candidates. The department also said French proficiency generally means these candidates have a higher CRS score and therefore a better chance of overall successful economic integration.

STEM occupations will have the second highest number of ITAs at 25%, healthcare occupations at 15%. Transport, trades and agriculture and agri-food categories will account for 5% or less of all ITAs issued in category-based draws this year.

The remaining 21.5% of ITAs  was slated to be issued in general draws. Notably, no mention was made of program-specific draws.

Summary of Express Entry draw results in 2024

DateDraw TypeNumber of ITAsMinimum CRS
October 23Trade occupations1.800433
October 22Canadian Experience Class400539
October 21Provincial Nominee Program648791
October 10French language proficiency1,000444
October 9Canadian Experience Class500539
October 7Provincial Nominee Program1,613743
September 19Canadian Experience Class4,000509
September 13 French language proficiency1,000446
September 9Provincial Nominee Program911732
August 27Canadian Experience Class3,300507
August 26Provincial Nominee Program1,121694
August 15French language proficiency2,000394
August 14Canadian Experience Class3,200509
August 13Provincial Nominee Program763690
July 31Canadian Experience Class5,000510
July 30Provincial Nominee Program964686
July 18French language proficiency1,800400
July 17Canadian Experience Class6,300515
July 16Provincial Nominee Program1,391670
July 8French proficiency3,200420
July 5Healthcare occupations3,750445
July 4Trade occupations1,800436
July 2Provincial Nominee Program920739
June 19Provincial Nominee Program1,499663
May 31Canadian Experience Class3,000522
May 30Provincial Nominee Program2,985676
April 24French proficiency1,400410
April 23General2,095529
April 11STEM occupations4,500491
April 10General1,280549
March 26French language proficiency1,500388
March 25General1,980524
March 13Transport occupations975430
March 12General2,850525
February 29French language proficiency2,500336
February 28General1,470534
February 16Agriculture and agri-food occupations150437
February 14Healthcare occupations3,500422
February 13General1,490535
February 1French language proficiency7,000365
January 31General730541
January 23General1,040543
January 10General1,510546

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry is an application management system that oversees three of Canada’s most prominent economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).

Each program has unique eligibility requirements but they are all evaluated using the same Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

Through the CRS, Express Entry candidates are given a point score for several human capital factors such as their work experience, occupation, language ability, age, education or if they are immigrating with a spouse or partner.

Each score is added together to give candidates their final CRS score. Those with higher scores are the most likely to receive an ITA in an upcoming Express Entry draw.

In May 2023 IRCC also introduced category-based selection draws for those Express Entry candidates with specific work experience or language abilities. The six categories are:

  • Healthcare occupations
  • Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
  • Trades occupations, such as carpenters, plumbers, and contractors
  • Transport occupations
  • Agriculture and agri-food occupations
  • Strong French proficiency

These categories will remain in place throughout 2024 but may change in 2025.

Immigration candidates must be in the Express Entry pool and meet other category requirements to be considered.

Get a Free Express Entry Assessment

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