Express Entry: March 2023 Creates History

The previous month turned out to be a historic one for Canada Express Entry. Many milestones were met and crossed.

Express Entry is for those looking to immigrate to Canada as skilled workers. While there are many routes that lead to Canadian immigration, Express Entry has come to be the most popular of them all.

What is Express Entry?

Launched in 2015, Express Entry is the name given to the online system for accepting, ranking, and managing Canada PR applications. Express Entry is not a program as such. However, as an online system it is used for managing applications for 3 of the top immigration programs of Canada.

What programs come under Express Entry?

Programs that come under Canada Express Entry are -

1. Federal Skilled Worker Program
2. Federal Skilled Trades Program
3. Canadian Experience Class

Additionally, some immigration streams or pathways under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) are also managed through Express Entry. PNP streams linked to Express Entry include - Ontario PNP’s Human Capital Priorities Stream, Alberta Express Entry, Saskatchewan Express Entry etc.

How many Express Entry draws were held in March 2023?

Altogether, 4 draws were held in the month with a total of 21,667 people receiving invitations to apply.

You can only submit a Canada PR visa application by Express Entry after you get an invitation to apply from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

How many Express Entry ITAs were issued in March 2023?

A combined total of 21,667 ITAs in 4 draws that were held.

What was historic for Express Entry in March 2023?

Many changes were seen in the Express Entry draws and requirements in the month of March. Noteworthy were the following -

• Most ITAs issued in a single month. With 21,667 ITAs overall, March 2023 came to be the month with the second-highest number of ITAs in a month in the history of Express Entry. The record for the most ITAs in a month is held by February 2021 wherein 27,986 ITAs were issued.
• Lowest CRS in over 2 years. The latest CRS 481 cut-off in an all-program draw is the lowest since the EE Draw #170 held on December 20, 2020 that had a CRS 468 cut-off. CRS for Canada PR is the Comprehensive Ranking System.
• 20,000+ ITAs in a fortnight. 3 draws were held close to each other - March 15, 23, and 29 - that each had 7,000 ITAs issued.
• Biggest all-program draw in the history of Express Entry. The record for most ITAs in an Express Entry all-program draw was set on March 15, 2023, when 7,000 ITAs were sent out by IRCC. The previous record was that of 5,500 ITAs in Express Entry Draw #238 held on January 18, 2023.

IRCC changed to the 2021 version of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) effective November 16, 2022. Targeted draws might be held in the near future. Massive change is expected in Express Entry in 2023.

A national system for describing occupations, NOC Canada classifies each of the occupations available in the Canadian labour market based on -

• main duties,
• educational requirements and
• other useful information.

Choosing the right NOC code for your Express Entry profile is important. With 14,50,000 Canada PR visas to be issued in 2023-2025, Canada holds the most promise as the best place to immigrate to.

Want to know the best Canada PR route for you? Wondering if you are eligible for Express Entry? Get an Initial Eligibility Report (IER) to assess your chances.

Contact Kansas Overseas for a free consultation.