What is Express Entry?

The Express Entry system is the Canadian government’s online application platform used to manage skilled immigration applications under three economic streams:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Since June 2023, IRCC has been conducting three types of draws under the Express Entry system:

• General Draws

• Program-Specific Draws

• Category-Based Draws

General & Program-Specific Draws

Both general and program-specific draws primarily consider a candidate’s CRS score when issuing ITAs.

CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) scores are calculated based on several personal and professional factors, such as:

• Age

• Language proficiency in English and/or French

• Educational background

• Work experience

Steps for Receiving an ITA in These Draws:

1. Check your eligibility for at least one of the three programs.

2. Create a profile on the IRCC portal and receive your CRS score.

3. Wait for a draw to see if your score meets or exceeds the minimum required for that round.

Note: Only candidates with CRS scores above the cut-off will receive an ITA. Without it, applying for Permanent Residence through Express Entry isn’t possible.

Category-Based Draws

Introduced in May 2023, category-based draws allow IRCC to focus on selecting candidates who can help fill critical labour shortages and support Canada’s demographic objectives.

The first category-based draw took place on June 28, 2023.

For 2024, IRCC continues to target candidates with:

• Healthcare experience

• STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) backgrounds

• Skilled trades experience

• Transport sector experience

• Agriculture and Agri-Food industry experience

• Strong French language skills

This evolving draw strategy allows Canada to attract skilled newcomers who are well-suited to support its economy and workforce demands.