In the latest Express Entry draw, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) extended 5,000 invitations to apply (ITAs) to candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) category. Applicants required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 510 to be eligible.
This draw marks the ninth in an exceptionally active month for Express Entry, with a total of 25,125 ITAs issued throughout July. IRCC alternated between program-specific and category-based draws this month, with the Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) being the focus for program-specific selections.
In addition to the CEC-specific draws, IRCC held category-based draws targeting French language proficiency, healthcare, and trade occupations, with 5,000 ITAs issued to French-speaking candidates over two draws and 3,750 ITAs to healthcare professionals on July 5.
By the end of July, IRCC had invited 11,300 candidates under the CEC and 3,275 under the PNP. Many candidates in these programs are already living and working in Canada as temporary residents. The return to program-specific draws on May 30, after a year without them, aligns with IRCC’s objective of holding more domestic-focused draws.
Earlier this year, the department introduced a new approach aimed at stabilizing the number of temporary residents in Canada while meeting its permanent residency targets outlined in the Immigration Levels Plan.
This evolving system continues to refine its processes to meet Canada’s demographic and workforce needs while ensuring a clear pathway for highly skilled candidates to achieve permanent residency.