3 New Express Entry Draws in November 2024: 3,574 Invitations to Apply for Permanent Residency
November 21, 2024 Amritpal Kaur
In an exciting week for Express Entry hopefuls, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has conducted three draws, issuing a total of 3,574 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residency (PR). These draws reflect the latest trends and changes in Canada's immigration policies as the country continues to address labor shortages and prioritize key sectors.
November 20 Draw – Focus on Healthcare Occupations
On November 20, 2024, IRCC made an important move by holding a targeted Express Entry draw aimed at candidates in healthcare occupations. This was the first draw of its kind since July 2024. 3,000 ITAs were issued to individuals who had a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 463 or higher.
This targeted approach underlines the Canadian government's ongoing efforts to bolster the healthcare workforce. Given the current strain on healthcare systems, especially with a growing demand for professionals, this draw is an important signal to healthcare workers who may be looking to call Canada home.
November 19 Draw – Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Candidates
On November 19, IRCC invited 400 candidates from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). These candidates had a CRS score of 547 or higher. Interestingly, this cutoff score represents an increase of 8 points compared to the last CEC draw on October 22, where the CRS score cutoff was 539.
This slight uptick in CRS scores may suggest that IRCC is now selecting higher-scoring candidates, which could be a result of the larger pool of candidates in recent months. If you’re someone in the CEC pool with a CRS score close to the cutoff, it’s worth staying alert for future draws to see if the trend continues.
November 18 Draw – Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
The November 18 draw was for candidates who received a provincial nomination from one of Canada’s provinces. A total of 733 ITAs were issued to those who had a CRS score of 812 or above. The CRS cutoff in this draw was 4 points higher than the last PNP-only round held on November 12, which had a cutoff of 808.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates are often in a unique position as their provincial nomination boosts their CRS score significantly, increasing their chances of receiving an invitation.
Summary of the Week’s Express Entry Draws
To recap, here’s a quick snapshot of the three Express Entry draws held this week:
In the most recent Express Entry draws, 3,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued on November 20, 2024 for candidates in healthcare occupations, with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 463 or above. The tie-breaking rule for this draw was October 21, 2024, at 16:12:39 UTC.
On November 19, 2024, IRCC sent out 400 ITAs to candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) who had a CRS score of 547 or higher. The tie-breaking rule for this draw was July 8, 2024, at 01:41:37 UTC.
Lastly, on November 18, 2024, 733 ITAs were issued to candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), who had a CRS score of 812 or above. The tie-breaking rule for this round was August 28, 2024, at 05:12:34 UTC.
CRS Score Distribution in the Pool as of November 18
As of November 18, there were 218,167 candidates in the Express Entry pool. Here’s the breakdown of CRS scores across the pool:
601-1200: 100 candidates
501-600: 16,495 candidates
451-500: 64,596 candidates
401-450: 57,062 candidates
351-400: 51,434 candidates
301-350: 22,865 candidates
0-300: 5,615 candidates
The 451-500 CRS range continues to have the highest concentration of candidates, which reflects the level of competition in the pool. If you’re in this range, you’re still in a strong position to receive an invitation in the upcoming draws.
Canada’s Shift Towards "In-Canada Focus" for Immigration
Canada’s immigration strategy is evolving, and the new Immigration Levels Plan 2025–2027 clearly places a focus on transitioning temporary residents to permanent status. With programs like the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), those who already have Canadian education or work experience are being prioritized.
This shift towards an "in-Canada focus" is about making it easier for those already in the country—such as international students and temporary foreign workers—to stay and contribute to Canada's economy. It’s a smart strategy, addressing labor shortages while supporting newcomers who are already integrated into the Canadian society. Industries like technology, healthcare, and construction are particularly in need of skilled workers, and this new focus is designed to ensure that people who have already demonstrated their skills in Canada are able to continue contributing.
How Does the Express Entry System Work?
The Express Entry system is a points-based immigration system that ranks candidates based on factors like education, work experience, language proficiency, and age. Candidates create an online profile, and the highest-ranking applicants are invited to apply for permanent residency.
To be eligible, candidates must meet the requirements of one of the federal economic immigration programs, such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), or Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
My Thoughts on These Draws
From my perspective, these draws indicate that the Canadian immigration system is continuing to prioritize sectors where skilled labor is in demand, especially in healthcare and essential services. The increase in CRS scores for CEC and PNP candidates reflects the competitive nature of the Express Entry pool, but the overall trend is encouraging for those who qualify.
If you're in the Express Entry pool, I would suggest that you keep your profile updated and continue to improve your language scores or gain additional work experience if possible. Every little bit helps to boost your CRS score and improve your chances of being selected in future draws.
For healthcare professionals, this is a particularly good time to consider applying, as targeted draws for these occupations are likely to continue as part of Canada’s strategy to address healthcare staffing shortages.
Call to Action:
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