Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has now conducted its second Express Entry draw this week. Here are the results of IRCC’s Express Entry draw on April 24, 2024.
In IRCC’s second Express Entry draw of this week, the department has issued 1,400 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to eligible candidates with French-language proficiency and a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 410. This was the department’s first French-language proficiency draw since last month, on March 26, 2024.
Today’s draw follows a general Express Entry draw yesterday, April 23, 2024, where IRCC issued 2,095 ITAs to candidates with a minimum CRS score of 529.
Express Entry
Express Entry, IRCC’s application management system for three specific economic-class permanent residence (PR) programs – the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) – now issues ITAs to immigration candidates through three draw types: general, program-specific, and category-based.
General and Program-specific Express Entry Draws
IRCC’s original two draw types have been part of the Express Entry system since 2015 and they are known for prioritizing Canadian immigration candidates with the highest CRS scores.
CRS scores are what the department calls the numerical values it assigns to Express-Entry eligible candidates. These values are based on a variety of human capital factors, including age, education, and work experience (among many others).
After an Express Entry candidate confirms that they are eligible for at least one of IRCC’s three Express Entry-managed programs, they will be permitted to create an online profile with IRCC. At this time, the candidate will receive their CRS score. Now, they must simply wait for IRCC to conduct its next Express Entry draw, at which time each candidate will be able to see whether they will receive an ITA.
*Candidates must have a CRS score above the department’s cut-off (assigned uniquely for each draw) to receive an ITA from IRCC during any particular Express Entry draw. Additionally, ITAs can be considered the “key” to applying for PR in Canada because ITAs are the only way for an Express Entry candidate to submit their electronic Application for Permanent Residence (eAPR) to the department.
Category-Based Express Entry Draws
IRCC’s newest draw type, category-based draws, were first conducted in June 2023. These draws, designated as a more focused way to attract Canadian immigration candidates with specific types of work experience and proficiencies, focus on immigration candidates with “in-demand” attributes (based on IRCC’s assessment of the landscape of the Canadian labour market and demography).
IRCC chose the following types of candidates as the people that the department will focus on welcoming to Canada through category-based draws. These candidates are eligible foreign nationals with:
- Work experience in Healthcare
- Work experience in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
- Work experience in Trades
- Work experience in Transport
- Work experience in Agriculture and Agri-Food
- Strong French language proficiency
Note: French language proficiency has been defined by IRCC as those with a inimum score of 7 in all 4 language abilities on the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens” (NCLC)).
Sourrce: IRCC