In the latest Express Entry draw held on November 13, 2024, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 400 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program.
To be eligible, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 547 - the highest required score for CEC draws so far this year. The previous CEC draw, held on October 22, invited 400 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 539.
This draw follows Canada’s release of its 2025 Immigration Levels Plan(ILP), which aims to admit 124,680 Express Entry candidates next year. Candidates receiving ITAs in this draws will count toward next year’s admissions goals
Under the new ILPs, IRCC will focus on two main admission targets:
- In-Canada Focus: 82,980 spots for temporary residents already in Canada, largely targeting Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and PNP candidates. This group represents about 40% of Canada’s economic immigration for 2025.
- Federal Economic Priorities: 41,700 spots for candidates across all Express Entry programs. This target prioritises workers in urgent areas like healthcare and skilled trades and focuses on French-speaking newcomers outside Quebec.
What is Express Entry?
Express Entry is Canada’s main application system for managing economic immigration, covering three key programs: the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
Through this system, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issue Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residency in regular draws. Express Entry draws are held regularly, and each draw may target specific categories or programs depending on Canada’s current labour market needs and demographic priorities.
Candidates are ranked through the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which assigns points based on factors like age, occupation, language skills, education, and work experience.
Additional points are awarded for candidates with a sibling in Canada, a spouse or partner, or a mix of Canadian and foreign work or educational experience.
Those who apply through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) stream can receive 600 extra CRS points, practically guaranteeing an ITA in a subsequent draw.
Candidates who receive an ITA have 60 days to submit a complete application for permanent residency, which includes thorough documentation of their CRS factors and other required details.
