Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued 3,750 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in its third Express Entry draw this week, focusing on candidates in healthcare occupations. To be considered, applicants needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 445.
This healthcare-specific draw follows two others earlier in the week: one on July 4, which invited 1,800 trade professionals, and another on July 2 for 920 candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), requiring a CRS score of 739.
With a total of 6,470 ITAs issued across three program-specific draws this week, this marks the highest number of ITAs issued in a single week since April. These targeted draws have become more frequent, with IRCC using category-based selections since May 2023 to address specific labor market needs.
Program-specific draws consider candidates in the Express Entry pool who meet the criteria of categories like the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), or Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). These draws offer candidates who are already working or studying in Canada, or those nominated by a province, an opportunity to transition to permanent residency, supporting IRCC’s goals under Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan.
Since the start of this year, IRCC has focused on reducing the number of temporary residents in Canada by offering them pathways to permanent residency.