Canada’s Express Entry Rules Set to Change in 2023

Canada’s Express Entry Rules Set to Change in 2023

In a bid to address the labour shortage woes in the country, Canada’s Express Entry program is slated to undergo a sea change.

The job vacancies in the country are currently at a record high. A report from CIC News suggested that Canada’s high immigration targets, including those through Express Entry programs, stem from several factors including a job vacancy rate that is at 5.7% as of today.  It is to address this deficit that Express Entry is being restructured in 2023. 

Soon, IRCC will be authorised to issue ITAs to candidates with specific work experience, education or language abilities who are well-positioned to boost Canada’s economic growth and augment its labour force. The importance of a high CRS for candidates will be impacted, as there may be targeted draws that weigh other factors more heavily.

Huge increase in PR invites in the latest Express Entry draw

This year, in its latest Express Entry draw, Canada’s IRCC issued permanent residency invitations to 3,750 candidates. Since they resumed on July 6, this was the seventh all-program draw. This represents an increase of 500 invitations issued over the previous draw.

Invitations were issued to eligible candidates from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) — all programs that operate under the Express Entry system. In this draw, the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score was 504.

Here’s what you need to know about the latest draw!

• For the third time in a row, IRCC has issued exactly 500 invitations more than the previous draw.
• During the September 14 draw, 3,250 candidates were invited, and the August 31 draw invited 2,750.
• It is also the lowest minimum CRS since all-program draws resumed. It is noted that CRS scores have been decreasing in increments from 557 on July 6.
• Over the first five draws, scores decreased by eight or nine points for each draw. The September 14 draw saw a decrease of only six points and this week’s draw was the same.

Due to a backlog in applications caused by COVID-19-related travel restrictions, Express Entry all-program draws were paused for over 18 months starting in December 2020. In this period, only candidates from the CEC or Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) were issued invitations to apply. IRCC also paused draws for the CEC in September 2021.

With all these changes, Canada is growing to be an even more attractive destination for those who want to live, study, work and even settle down here! Does this sound like something you’d like to explore? Visit MWT Global Consultancy to check your eligibility, and find out the easiest pathways to Canada