The First Federal Skilled Workers Only Draw in Express Entry History Held in Canada

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted its fourth Express Entry draw for the year 2023. The draw issued invitations to 3,300 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 489 to apply for permanent residence.

The draw invited candidates from the category of the Federal Skilled Worker program since 2015.  After the February 1 draw, only candidates who had already received provincial nominations received ITAs in this program-specific draw.

Express Entry Draws Highlights in 2023

After a pause of six weeks between November 23 and January 11, the Express Entry draws restarted three weeks ago. The draws are expected to be conducted every 2 weeks on Wednesdays however, IRCC held three draws consecutively.

In the January 11 draw, 5500 individuals were selected with a CRS score of 507 and invited the same number of applicants was with a score of 490 in January 18 draw. The department is attempting to resume regular draws, according to IRCC.Express Entry launched in 2015, and there have been between 23 and 30 draws annually on average. IRCC developed the system with the intention of attracting prospective permanent residents with desirable talents who might swiftly strengthen Canada’s workforce.

Express Entry Draw for PNP Candidates Only

The most recent draw, which was held on February 1 after an anticipated two-week break, was the first since June 2022. The draw was conducted to invite only Express Entry applicants who had obtained a provincial nomination. Even prior to COVID-19, the IRCC rarely held program-specific draws. Nearly all Express Entry drawings have been all-program draws, with a few exceptions for the FSTP.

Since the all-program draw suspension during the COVID-19 epidemic, the IRCC has not conducted an Express Entry draw for PNP-only candidates. For applicants in the Express Entry pool who had already acquired a provincial nomination, draws for Express Entry continued during the break. By receiving a provincial nomination, candidates can increase their CRS score by 600 points. In this draw, applicants were required to have a CRS score of 133 or higher in order to qualify for the Provincial Nomination.

The Changes in Express Entry System – Bill C-19

The most recent Canadian immigration news says that Express Entry is expected to change in 2023 as Bill C-19 is about to introduce. A new law allows the immigration minister to invite candidates who meet Canada’s economic requirements and fill urgent market gaps. Also, instead of issuing ITAs based solely on CRS scores, IRCC will conduct draws targeting specific attributes. IRCC says starting this spring, candidates may be invited through categories that target attributes such as occupation, work experience, education, or language ability. Since Bill C-19 was enacted into law, the department has been creating new draw categories for Express Entry candidates.