Express Entry: Canada Issues Record 14,000 ITAs For Permanent Residency, Lowers Cut-Off CRS Score

On March 23, 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held another Express Entry draw, inviting a record-breaking 7,000 candidates to apply for permanent residency in Canada.

It may be noted that this was the second draw in less than two weeks, as IRCC conducted a similar draw on March 15, inviting another 7,000 candidates.

The combined number of invitations issued in these two draws, which is 14,000, is the largest number of invitations ever issued in a single draw since the introduction of the Express Entry selection system by the government of Canada in 2015.

All-Program Draw with Lower Cut-Off CRS Score

The most recent draw was an all-program draw, which meant that candidates from the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program were all considered (FSTP).

The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required for this draw was 484, which was lower than the previous draw’s cut-off CRS score of 490.

Return to Regular Procedure

The earlier draws in 2023 were primarily for candidates in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), with four PNP-only draws already taking place this year. However, it seems that IRCC has resumed its regular procedure of considering all Express Entry candidates.

PNP to Invite More Immigrants

According to the Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025, Canada intends to invite over 105,000 immigrants per year through the Provincial Nominee Programs over the next three years (PNPs). Since its inception in 1998, when only 400 immigrants arrived in Canada the following year, the PNP has become an essential pathway for immigrants to contribute to Canada’s economic growth.

The recent record-breaking draws indicate Canada’s commitment to welcoming more immigrants and boosting its economy through immigration.