In the second Express Entry draw of the week, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued invitations to apply (ITAs). This draw targeted healthcare occupations, with 3,500 candidates receiving invitations based on category-based selection criteria. To qualify, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 422.
In 2024, Canada's Express Entry system has conducted several draws, each targeting specific criteria for candidate selection:
1. General Draws in January
The draws collectively invited a total of 3,280 candidates. The minimum CRS scores for these draws ranged between 546 and 541.
2. Category-Based Selection Draw on February 1
The draw invited 7,000 candidates with strong French language proficiency, marking the most significant draw of the year so far.
3. General Draw on February 13
The draw invited 1,490 candidates with a minimum CRS score of at least 535.
IRCC is managing Express Entry, a system to choose candidates for immigration to Canada through three primary economic immigration programs:
Once a candidate submits an online profile, the federal government assesses their eligibility for an Express Entry managed program. Eligible candidates enter the pool, and the government uses the CRS, a points-based system, to evaluate and rank Express Entry pool candidates.
The CRS score is determined by the candidate's age, education, work experience, language skills, and other factors. High-scoring candidates in the Express Entry pool will likely receive invitations in upcoming draws. After getting an Invitation to Apply (ITA), candidates have a maximum of 60 days to submit their final application to IRCC for Canadian permanent resident status.
Express Entry draws can be categorized as general, program-specific, and category-based. During general draws, the government may select candidates eligible for any federal economic immigration program based solely on their CRS score. In program-specific draws, the government of Canada selects candidates for any of the federal economic immigration programs. IRCC invites candidates with the highest CRS scores eligible for specific categories aimed at promoting economic goals through category-based draws.
IRCC took a pivotal step in May 2023 by introducing category-based selection rounds of invitations. IRCC reflects a strategic approach to addressing Canada's labour force needs by introducing six new categories.
To be considered for category-based selection, candidates must meet eligibility criteria for an Express Entry program and have an active application in the pool under one of the three programs. Through extensive consultations with stakeholders, including provincial and territorial governments, employers, and immigration researchers, IRCC ensured that the chosen categories accurately target critical gaps in the labour market.
All these draws reflect the Canadian government's proactive approach to addressing specific labour market demands and linguistic criteria within the Express Entry system. Let us delve into the details of Express entry results in 2024:
| Draw Category | No. of ITAs | CRS Score | Date |
| Healthcare Occupations | 3,500 | 422 | February 14 |
| General | 1,490 | 535 | February 13 |
| French Language Proficiency | 7,000 | 365 | February 1 |
| General | 730 | 541 | January 31 |
| General | 1,040 | 543 | January 23 |
| General | 1,510 | 546 | January 10 |
Renowned as one of the leading immigration and study-abroad consultants in Kerala, ImmiLaw Global has a team of the best immigration and study-abroad consultants to ensure that you will go through a very smooth and fast immigration process.
Feel free to contact us for your queries.
Read To Know: Canada Granted PR Status to 471,550 Newcomers in 2023
CANADA 
+1 (647) 767-0672
INDIA