Canada's Latest Express Entry Draw: 733 Invitations Issued for PNP Candidates

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued new invitations to apply (ITAs) in the most recent Express Entry draw. This latest round, held on November 12, 2024, saw a total of 733 ITAs extended to candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Applicants needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 812 to be considered.

Key Highlights from Recent Express Entry Draws

November 2024 Draws:

• November 12: 733 ITAs issued for PNP candidates, with a minimum CRS of 812.
• October 23: 1,800 ITAs issued for trade occupations, with a minimum CRS of 433—this marked the first non-French speaking category-based selection since July.

Looking Ahead: Canada's Immigration Levels Plan for 2025

The draw comes shortly after the announcement of Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan for 2025, which targets the admission of 124,680 Express Entry candidates next year. Of these, a significant portion will be selected under new initiatives aimed at addressing critical labor shortages:

1. In-Canada Focus: This initiative will prioritize temporary residents already living in Canada, aiming for 82,980 permanent resident admissions. This group will include many candidates from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

2. Federal Economic Priorities: A target of 41,700 admissions will focus on those with urgent skills, particularly in healthcare and trade occupations, and those meeting the French language proficiency goals outside Quebec.

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry is the application management system for several key immigration pathways, including:

• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

Applicants are assessed through the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which awards points based on factors like age, work experience, education, language ability, and other human capital attributes. Candidates with high CRS scores are more likely to receive an ITA, especially if they are nominated under an enhanced PNP stream, which adds an additional 600 points to their score.

Express Entry Draw Summary for 2024

Note: This table reflects the number of invitations and minimum CRS scores for Express Entry draws earlier this year.