The most recent Express Entry draw, held on April 24th, granted 1,400 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for Canadian permanent residency, emphasizing a preference for French-speaking candidates.
In this draw, the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score increased by 22 points to 410, attributed to a slight decrease in the number of invitations compared to the previous draw, which also focused on French-speaking candidates.
A day earlier, on April 23rd, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 2,095 ITAs for permanent residency in a general draw, maintaining a high CRS score of 529.
Furthermore, on April 11th, IRCC initiated the first round of invitations for 2024 targeting STEM occupations, granting 4,500 invitations for permanent residency.
Just a day before that, on April 10th, IRCC sent out 1,280 permanent residency invitations in another general draw.
Here are the specifics of the Express Entry draw that took place in April:
| Description | April 24, 2024 | April 23, 2024 | April 11, 2024 | April 10, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Draw type | Targeted draw for high French proficiency | General draw | Targeted draw for 24 STEM occupations | General draw |
| Invitations | 1,400 | 2,095 | 4,500 | 1,280 |
| CRS Cutoff | 410 | 529 | 491 | 549 |
| Tie-breaking rule | April 07, 2024 at 02:06:46 UTC | November 08, 2023 | February 25, 2024 at 11:55:12 UTC | March 21, 2024 |
Expect more rounds of invitations this week, likely focusing on French proficiency and healthcare.
March Express Entry Draws Summary;
| Date | Draw Type | Invitations | CRS Cutoff | Tie-breaking Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 26 | Targeted draw for high French proficiency profiles | 1,500 | 388 | March 10, 2024 at 20:06:26 UTC |
| March 25 | General or all program draws | 1,980 | 524 | February 25, 2024 at 14:42:38 UTC |
| March 13 | Targeted draw for 10 transport occupations | 975 | 430 | July 31, 2023 at 13:27:26 UTC |
| March 12 | General or all program draws | 2,850 | 525 | March 12, 2024 at 15:56:42 UTC |
February Express Entry Draws Summary;
| Date | Draw Type | Invitations | CRS Cutoff | Tie-breaking Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 29 | Targeted draw for high French proficiency profiles | 2,400 | 336 | January 18, 2024 at 09:15:46 UTC |
| February 28 | General or all program draws | 1,470 | 534 | January 16, 2024 at 03:51:05 UTC |
| February 16 | Targeted draw for Agriculture and agri-food occupations | 150 | 437 | January 29, 2024 at 03:32:58 UTC |
| February 14 | Targeted draw for 35 healthcare occupations | 3,500 | 422 | January 30, 2024 at 02:39:54 UTC |
| February 13 | General or all program draws | 1,490 | 535 | February 11, 2024 at 15:26:56 UTC |
| February 1 | Targeted draw for high French proficiency profiles | 7,000 | 365 | September 8, 2023 at 09:47:27 UTC |
Here’s the revised distribution of the Latest Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores:
| CRS Score Range | Number of Candidates |
|---|---|
| 601-1200 | 1,057 |
| 501-600 | 10,625 |
| 451-500 | 60,933 |
| 491-500 | 7,520 |
| 481-490 | 11,495 |
| 471-480 | 16,928 |
| 461-470 | 13,558 |
| 451-460 | 11,432 |
| 401-450 | 52,475 |
| 441-450 | 10,646 |
| 431-440 | 10,645 |
| 421-430 | 9,645 |
| 411-420 | 10,740 |
| 401-410 | 10,799 |
| 351-400 | 56,383 |
| 301-350 | 27,740 |
| 0-300 | 5,484 |
| Total | 214,697 |
This table presents the number of candidates falling within different CRS score brackets.
CRS Score Trend In 2023
| Immigration Program | Total Invitations |
Average CRS Score |
Lowest CRS Score |
Highest CRS Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture and Agri-food draw | 1,000 | 370 | 354 | 386 |
| Transport-targeted draw | 1,670 | 435 | 435 | 435 |
| Trades Targeted Draw | 2,500 | 406.5 | 388 | 425 |
| Targeted Draw for French Speakers | 8,700 | 446 | 375 | 486 |
| STEM Targeted Draw | 6,400 | 483 | 481 | 486 |
| Healthcare Targeted Draw | 5,600 | 456 | 431 | 476 |
| No Program Specified | 76,700 | 502 | 481 | 561 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 4,396 | 748 | 691 | 791 |
| Federal Skilled Worker | 3,300 | 489 | 489 | 489 |
Analysis and Prediction for the Next Express Entry Draw in 2024
- In light of IRCC’s emphasis on targeted Express Entry draws this year, it’s likely that the CRS cutoff score will remain high, hovering around 520 or above for general invitations.
- We anticipate an increase in French-focused draws compared to other categories.
- For Francophone applicants and those in the Agriculture, Transport, and Trade sectors, the CRS cutoff score is expected to be lower in upcoming draws.
- The trend suggests a clear shift towards targeted draws while maintaining invitations for all programs.
- Express Entry draws by IRCC continue to be fiercely competitive, with little chance for profiles scoring below 520 in general draws unless a large-scale draw is conducted.
- Applicants with CRS scores below 520 should concentrate on enhancing their profiles through certification, language proficiency, gaining more experience, etc.
