Canada Grants 730 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in Latest Express Entry Draw
Express Entry General Draw
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has recently issued invitations to apply (ITAs) in its most recent Express Entry draw on 31st January, extending offers to 730 candidates in a general draw. To qualify, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 541.
This draw comes from the previous one on January 23, where 1,040 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 543 were invited to a general draw. Before that, on January 10, another general draw took place, inviting 1,510 candidates with a CRS score of 546.
Details of the draw: January 31, 2024
- Total ITAs issued: 730
- Type of draw: General
- Date and time of round: January 31, 2024 at 15:18:02 UTC
- Date and time of round: January 31, 2024 at 15:18:02 UTC
- CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited: 541
- Tie-breaking rule:July 15, 2023 at 10:52:08 UTC
If more than one candidate has the lowest score, the cut-off is based on the date and time they submitted their Express Entry profiles.
As we enter 2024, it remains too early to predict the trajectory of Express Entry draws throughout the year. 2023 IRCC conducted 42 draws, issuing ITAs to over 110,000 candidates, aligning with the 2023 and 2024 admissions targets outlined in the Immigration Levels Plan.
Summary of Express Entry draws in 2024
| Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | Minimum CRS |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 31 | Express Entry General Draw | 730 | 541 |
| January 23 | General Second Express Entry Draw Of 2024 | 1,040 | 543 |
| January 10 | General First Express Entry Draw Of 2024 | 1,510 | 546 |
Here's a summary of Express Entry draws since June 2023:
Changes to Post-Graduation Work Permits
Express Entry candidates often gain the necessary work experience for their programs by working in Canada after graduating from a Canadian post-secondary institution, typically under the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). However, IRCC announced changes to the eligibility criteria for PGWPs on January 22.
Effective September 1, international students enrolled in a program at a private college under a curriculum licensing agreement with a public college will no longer be eligible for a PGWP.
Additionally, graduate-level students in programs shorter than eight months will now be eligible for a three-year PGWP.
Previously, graduates in programs shorter than eight months were ineligible for a PGWP, and the permit’s validity was tied to the length of the graduate’s academic program. These changes mean that more graduate-level students can accrue sufficient work experience in Canada to qualify for the Express Entry application pool.
Understanding Express Entry
Express Entry is an application management system overseeing applications from three of Canada’s major economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
Candidates in these programs receive scores based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), considering factors such as work experience, education, age, occupation, and language ability. For instance, a candidate between the ages of 20-29 earns 100 CRS points, with decreasing points for older age groups.
In May 2023, IRCC introduced category-based selection draws for Express Entry candidates with work experience in in-demand occupations. These include categories for candidates with strong French-language proficiency and occupation-based categories for healthcare, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions, trades occupations, transport occupations, and agriculture and agri-food occupations.
Applying for Express Entry involves a multi-step process. First, applicants must self-evaluate their eligibility for an Express Entry program, each having distinct criteria. The second step involves creating a profile in the Express Entry pool and obtaining a CRS score. Successful candidates must then wait to receive an invitation to apply in an Express Entry draw.
Once an invitation is received, candidates have 60 days to compile their documents and submit their final application for permanent residence to IRCC.
Is it Worth Moving to Canada in 2024-25?
List of Provincial Nominee Program
- Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program
- British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP)
- Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)
- Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP)
- New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP)
- Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program (NSPNP)
- Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP)
- Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)
- Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP)
- Quebec Skilled Workers Program (QSWP)
- Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)
- Yukon Nominee Program (YNP)
