Canada Resumes Express Entry Draws, Invites 8,955 Candidates

Canada’s immigration authorities have resumed regular Express Entry invitation rounds, issuing nearly 9,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) across three targeted draws as the country continues to address labour shortages in key sectors, particularly healthcare.

The latest invitation round by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) saw 4,000 healthcare and social services professionals invited to apply for permanent residence under the Express Entry system. Candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 475 to qualify.

The healthcare draw followed two earlier invitation rounds during the same week. On June 23, IRCC invited 4,000 candidates through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) with a minimum CRS score of 516, while a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw on June 22 issued 955 invitations to candidates with a CRS cut-off of 730.

Collectively, the three draws resulted in 8,955 invitations being issued. Alongside healthcare, French-language proficiency, skilled trades and other priority occupations continue to receive dedicated invitation rounds. French-language draws have consistently recorded some of the lowest CRS thresholds this year, with one draw falling to 409, making them particularly attractive for bilingual applicants.

The latest healthcare draw marks IRCC’s second category-based selection for healthcare and social services occupations this year. Although the CRS cut-off increased from 467 in the first healthcare draw held in February to 475, the number of invitations remained unchanged at 4,000.

Canada has increasingly shifted away from broad, all-program Express Entry draws in favour of category-based selections targeting occupations facing acute labour shortages.

IRCC has also tightened eligibility rules for category-based selections. Applicants must now demonstrate at least 12 months of eligible full-time work experience, or the equivalent in part-time employment, within the qualifying occupation to receive an invitation under these targeted streams.

Applicants should also note that IRCC recently increased several permanent residence processing fees, including the Right of Permanent Residence Fee, affecting new applications submitted under Express Entry.