Canada Holds the First Express Entry Draw of 2024

Canada holds the first Express Entry draw of the year. 1,510 Canadian immigration hopefuls were invited to apply in a general draw.

On January 10, 2024, the federal government of Canada held the first round of invitations under the Express Entry system.

Who was invited in the latest Canada Express Entry draw?

The latest Express Entry Draw #279 was a general draw. This means that the highest-ranking candidates eligible for any 1 of the 3 Express Entry programs were invited.

What was the minimum score required in the latest EE draw?

The minimum score requirement was CRS 546. This refers to the score given once an Express Entry profile is created and entered into the pool of candidates. The ranking score is different from the 67-point eligibility to create an Express Entry profile.

In terms of Canadian immigration, CRS stands for Comprehensive Ranking System. A score out of 1,200 points is allotted. Factors assessed for CRS score include -

• Age,
• Education,
• Work experience,
• Language proficiency,
• Arranged employment in Canada,
• Provincial nomination etc.

The higher your rank, the greater the probability of getting an invitation to apply.

How Many Express Entry profiles are there?

As per official data, there were a total of 212,157 profiles in the Express Entry system on January 9, 2024.

Of these, only 7,643 were in the CRS 500+ range -

• CRS 601-1200: 1,298 profiles
• CRS 501-600: 6,345 profiles

There are many ways to improve your CRS score.

Top 3 ways to improve CRS score for Express Entry

You can improve your Express Entry score by -

• Securing a provincial nomination,
• Getting a job in Canada, or
• Improving your IELTS score.

The right guidance matters. Explore your best options with experts.

What is Express Entry?

Canada uses Express Entry to select foreign nationals to be granted permanent residence under some of the main immigration programs.

Express Entry programs are -

• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Certain Canadian immigration pathways under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) are also linked with Express Entry.

An online platform to accept, manage, prioritize and process Canada PR applications, Express Entry was launched in 2015. So far, 279 Express Entry draws have been held.

What is Canadian PNP for immigration?

PNP stands for the Provincial Nominee Program. All Canadian provinces (except Quebec) are a part of the PNP. Each of the provinces run their own PNPs.

Under the PNP, provinces nominate candidates for permanent residency in Canada. Nomination is based on who has the most potential to succeed in the local market. If a province selects you under PNP, you are issued a Nomination Certificate by the PNP of that province. You can use your Nomination Certificate to apply for Canada PR to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

How does a PNP nomination benefit me as an Express Entry candidate?

Some of the PNP routes are linked with the Express Entry system. A nomination under an Express Entry linked PNP stream is worth CRS 600 points on its own. As the highest-ranked EE profiles are invited, a PNP nomination is a guarantee of getting an invitation to apply.

Express Entry in 2023

42 rounds of invitations were held under Express Entry in 2023. A total of 110,266 were invited to submit their Canadian permanent residence applications. As per the 2023-2025 Immigration Levels Plan announced by Canada on November 1, 2022, the Express Entry admissions target for 2023 was 82,880.

Express Entry is the most popular way to immigrate to Canada. There is a simple and streamlined process. Applications submitted are processed within 6 months.

An initial evaluation will help you make an informed decision. Know the costs, process, and documents required. Contact Kansas Overseas today.