In its continued effort to manage immigration flows, Canada held its latest all-program Express Entry draw on April 10, 2024, where 1,280 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were distributed among potential immigrants. This draw required candidates to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 549, marking a notable increase from the previous draw on March 25, 2024, which had a lower threshold of 524 points.

This increase in CRS points reflects a tightening in the selection criteria, contrasting with the specialized French-language proficiency draw conducted just a day later on March 26, 2024. The latter draw issued 1,500 ITAs and featured a significantly lower CRS requirement of 388, aimed specifically at enhancing the Francophone community within Canada.

A retrospective look at 2023 reveals a dynamic approach to immigration draws. The year included 19 all-program draws and several targeted draws focusing on key sectors such as healthcare, STEM, skilled trades, transport, and agriculture, as well as draws aimed at enhancing French-speaking communities and Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs).

Comparatively, in 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has so far conducted eight all-program draws and several targeted draws, maintaining a steady pace in inviting candidates across various occupational and linguistic profiles.

IRCC’s aggressive immigration targets are underscored by their record-setting invitations: 110,266 ITAs in 2023 and a record 114,431 in 2021. The previous year, 2022, saw a more conservative figure of 45,115 invitations. These figures align with Canada’s strategic immigration goals, including a record target of 465,000 new immigrants in 2023 and an ambitious goal of 485,000 for 2024.

In the most recent draw, the tie-breaking rule was applied, dating back to March 21, 2024, at 11:37 pm EST. This rule stipulates that if multiple candidates score the minimum required CRS, only those who submitted their profiles before the tie-breaking date and time are extended an invitation.

This draw marks the 14th round of invitations under Express Entry for 2024 and the 292nd overall since the program’s inception. Candidates who have received ITAs now have a 60-day window to submit their applications, which are expected to be processed within the standard six-month period.