Canada Issues New Round of Invitations for PR via Express Entry
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently extended invitations for permanent residency (PR) applications to a broader pool of candidates through its Express Entry system.
Gurmeet Sharma
In the latest general draw, IRCC awarded 1,470 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates from all Express Entry-managed programs, setting a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 534.
This event is part of a series, with three additional draws taking place from February 13th to 16th. On February 13th, IRCC executed its second general draw of the month, inviting 1,490 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 535. This was succeeded by two specialized draws targeting healthcare and agriculture/agri-food sectors, requiring minimum CRS scores of 422 and 437, respectively.
Express Entry Draws Overview for 2024
- February 28: General Draw – 1,470 ITAs, Minimum CRS 534
- February 16: Agriculture/Agri-food Occupations – 150 ITAs, Minimum CRS 437
- February 14: Healthcare Occupations – 3,500 ITAs, Minimum CRS 422
- February 13: General Draw – 1,490 ITAs, Minimum CRS 535
- February 1: French Language Proficiency – 7,000 ITAs, Minimum CRS 365
- January 31: General Draw – 730 ITAs, Minimum CRS 541
- January 23: General Draw – 1,040 ITAs, Minimum CRS 543
- January 10: General Draw – 1,510 ITAs, Minimum CRS 546
2024's Strategy for Express Entry: No Changes to Category-Based Selection
In May 2023, IRCC introduced targeted draws for candidates meeting specific criteria across six new Express Entry categories, including healthcare, STEM professions, trades, transportation, agriculture/agri-food occupations, and strong French proficiency. After a review and consultation with stakeholders, IRCC has decided not to modify these categories in 2024.
Projected ITAs for 2024 Through Express Entry
IRCC's Immigration Levels Plan aims to admit 110,770 new PRs in 2024 via Express Entry, marking a considerable rise from the 82,880 target in the previous year. The figures are expected to balance at 117,500 for 2025 and 2026. From 2025 onwards, the allocation for new permanent residents through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) will increase to 120,000, positioning the PNP as Canada's principal channel for welcoming new economic immigrants.
