Canada’s Express Entry 3rd Draw of 2021

Key Highlights:

• Express Entry 3rd Draw
• Main Pathway to Canada
• Two-Step Process
• Express Entry-Aligned PNPs
• Express Entry 2020
• Express Entry this Year
  
  

This is Canada’s 3rd Express Entry draw #173. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held this draw on 20 January 2021. 

Express Entry - Provincial Nominee Class in this round.

• 374 immigration candidates were invited
• Minimum CRS cut-off score 741 points

Main Pathway to Canada

Express Entry is the main pathway to Canada. It welcomes skilled workers from around the world looking for permanent residency status in the country.

As per the 2021 - 2023 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada has set a target of bringing in an average of 110,000 immigrants each year under Express Entry. 

Programs Under Express Entry

IRCC, through Express Entry, manages skilled worker immigrants for the following three programs:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Federal Skilled Trades Program
• Canadian Experience Class

Two-Step Process

Step one comprises of eligible candidates to upload their profile into the IRCC website in any of the three above mentioned categories. Subsequently, they are allotted a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on their human capital features.

IRCC holds draws in the second step. Express Entry draws are normally held once every two weeks. Invitations to Apply (ITA) are issued for permanent residence to candidates with the highest scores.

Express Entry-Aligned PNPs

All candidates receiving provincial nominations automatically get an additional 600 CRS points in their Express Entry profile. Effectively, this guarantees them to receive an ITA for permanent residence in the next draw.

PNP is the second main gateway to Canada. Most provinces and territories in Canada operate their own immigration systems through the provincial nominee program. Skilled immigrants are chosen to help address the local labour market requirements.

Express Entry 2020

Despite the coronavirus pandemic, Express Entry had a record-breaking year in 2020. A total of 108,350 ITAs were issued, and fresh targets were set to increase the number of immigrants in the coming years.

Express Entry this Year

The first Express Entry draw for this year was held on 6 January and the second on 7 January. Both were program-specific rounds.

A total of 5,374 ITAs have been issued this year. It is far more than the number that was issued in the same period last year. With a CEC-only round anticipated later this week, this figure is bound to increase further.