IRCC invites 4,800 candidates in latest Express Entry draw

IRCC has invited candidates in the thirteenth Express Entry draw of 2023.

Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 4,800 invitations to apply (ITAs) to candidates in an all-program draw.

Candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 488.

Since April 26 there hadn’t been an all-program draw. Candidates from all three of the programs—the Federal Skilled Worker Programme (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), or the Federal Skilled Trades Programme (FSTP)—managed by the Express Entry application management system are taken into account when there is an all-program draw.

Express Entry in 2023

Express Entry hasn’t yet developed a clear pattern for the number of applicants selected, the frequency of draws, or even the kind of draws throughout 2023.

January draws followed the pre-pandemic pattern of being two weeks apart and inviting candidates from all programs. This changed in February when IRCC held four program-specific draws between February 1 and March 1. February also saw the very first program-specific draw for the FSWP.

In February, there were three draws, and in March, there was one draw every week. Invitations to apply were extended to almost 21,000 people in March. The number of ITAs issued during this particular month was the second-highest in Express Entry history.

What is Express Entry?

The Express Entry application management system oversees three Canadian economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class.

Candidates in these programs are evaluated using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The system assigns scores to candidates based on human capital factors such as language ability, education, work experience, occupation, and age. Those who receive the highest scores are the most likely to get an invitation to apply for permanent residency.

According to the Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025, Canada will admit over 82,000 new permanent residents through a Federal High Skilled immigration program (Express Entry) by the end of 2023.