Last year was a significant year for Canadian immigration, marked by numerous new policies, measures, and changes that surpassed those of previous years.
Yet, amid these changes, some familiar trends persisted. One of the enduring aspects was the continued significance of Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores in the immigration experiences of Express Entry candidates. In the draws conducted last year, CRS scores were notably higher than the usual averages, reaching as high as 791 in some instances. This has left many speculating whether the upcoming year will bring a continuation of this trend.
What should we anticipate in 2024?
In a nutshell, predicting CRS scores for the year ahead is quite challenging. The dynamics are influenced by various factors, chiefly the composition of the Express Entry pool throughout the year. The ebb and flow of CRS scores across different periods will not only impact the minimum scores required for draws but may also affect the size of the draws.
An additional complexity arises from the introduction of category-based draws in 2023. These targeted draws focus on specific Express Entry categories aligned with Canada’s labor market and demographic needs.
The categories include;-
Healthcare occupations,
STEM occupations,
Trade occupations,
Transport occupations,
Agriculture and agri-food occupations,
French language proficiency.
Candidates falling into these categories may receive invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residence, often despite having comparatively lower CRS scores. This makes forecasting future cut-off scores even more challenging. While this is true, it’s advisable for most candidates to prioritize maximizing their CRS score before aiming for an ITA through one of these category-based draws.
Another crucial factor to consider is the incorporation of Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates in Express Entry draws. PNP candidates, who obtain provincial nominations through Express Entry-aligned PNP streams, receive an additional 600 CRS points. This further distorts overall cut-off scores due to this point boost.
The rest of this article will meticulously track and illustrate the CRS scores for general, PNP, and category-based draws throughout 2023, with the dates for Express Entry draws presented in the “dd/mm/yy” format.
General/All-program draws
Comprehensive draws, encompassing candidates from the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), were the norm before the introduction of category-based draws in early 2023. In Express Entry draws, candidates were previously selected solely based on their CRS score rankings.
In the course of the year, a total of 19 comprehensive draws issued 76,700 Invitations to Apply (ITAs), with the highest CRS score cut-off set at 561 points and the lowest at 481 points.
PNP draws
| Draw Date | CRS Cut-off |
|---|---|
| 01-02-23 | 733 |
| 15-02-23 | 791 |
| 01-03-23 | 748 |
| 10-05-23 | 691 |
| 24-10-23 | 776 |
Healthcare occupations
Professions in the healthcare sector, such as nursing, doctors, physicians, and various related roles, were represented among candidates in the Express Entry pool. In 2023, three draws specifically focused on healthcare occupations resulted in a total of 5,600 Invitations to Apply (ITAs). The CRS scores for these draws ranged from a highest recorded score of 476 to a lowest score of 431.
| Draw Date | CRS Cut-off |
|---|---|
| 28-06-23 | 476 |
| 06-07-23 | 463 |
| 26-10-23 | 431 |
STEM occupations
Occupations falling under the categories of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) were considered in the Express Entry pool. This encompassed individuals with expertise in interconnected fields such as civil engineering, software development, mathematics, web design, and others. In 2023, two draws specifically targeting healthcare occupations were conducted, resulting in 6,400 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for candidates with backgrounds in Information Technology.
| Draw Date | CRS Cut-off |
|---|---|
| 05-07-23 | 486 |
| 08-12-23 | 481 |
Trade occupations
Occupations in the trades encompassed individuals with expertise in roles such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, machine fitting, and others. In 2023, there were two Express Entry draws specifically for trades-related occupations, resulting in the issuance of 2,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for eligible candidates.
| Draw Date | CRS Cut-off |
|---|---|
| 03-08-23 | 388 |
| 19-12-23 | 425 |
Transport occupations
Occupations in the transportation sector attract qualified individuals with expertise in roles such as transport truck drivers, air traffic controllers, aircraft assemblers, transportation managers, and others. In 2023, two draws in the transportation sector resulted in 1,670 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for eligible candidates.
| Draw Date | CRS Cut-off |
|---|---|
| 20-09-23 | 435 |
| 20-12-23 | 435 |
Occupations in Agriculture and Agri-food
Professionals with backgrounds in roles such as butchers, agriculture service contractors, farm supervisors, and similar positions are actively sought in Agriculture and Agri-food draws. In 2023, two draws in this sector resulted in 1,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) being issued to qualified candidates.
| Draw Date | CRS Cut-off |
|---|---|
| 28-09-23 | 354 |
| 21-12-23 | 386 |
Proficiency in the French language
Candidates with French language skills equivalent to level 7 in all four language abilities (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) according to the Niveaux de Compétence Linguistique Canadiens (NCLC), Canada’s French language grading system, are targeted in draws. This year, six draws for French language proficiency resulted in 8,700 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for candidates. The lowest Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score cut-off reached 375, while the highest cut-off reached 486
| Draw Date | CRS Cut-off |
|---|---|
| 07-07-23 | 439 |
| 12-07-23 | 375 |
| 02-08-23 | 435 |
| 27-09-23 | 472 |
| 25-10-23 | 486 |
| 07-12-23 | 470 |
