Canada Immigration Update: Changes to Express Entry and PNPs (October 2024)
October 28,2024 Amritpal Kaur
We have important updates regarding Canada’s immigration targets for 2025-2027 that could impact your path to permanent residency.
Overview of Immigration Changes
The Canadian government has announced a significant reduction in its immigration targets, lowering the overall planned admissions from 500,000 to 395,000 for 2025. This trend will continue with slight decreases each year through 2027. However, the plan retains flexibility to adjust targets based on evolving economic needs.
Impact on Express Entry
New Focus Areas: Express Entry will now prioritize two main categories: Federal Economic Priorities and an In-Canada Focus. This shift aims to address labor shortages in specific sectors, including healthcare and trades.
Increased Admissions: The total admissions under these new categories will actually increase to 124,680, despite the overall reduction in targets.
Frequent Draws: Candidates in priority fields—such as healthcare and French-speaking applicants—can expect more frequent draws, enhancing their chances for permanent residency.
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
Significant Cuts: The allocations for PNPs will drop from 120,000 to just 55,000 for 2025, creating fewer opportunities for applicants relying on these pathways.
Impact on Applicants: This reduction may hinder those with lower Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores, especially in popular provinces like Ontario and British Columbia.
Provincial Concerns: Provincial leaders are expressing worries over diminished autonomy in immigration selection due to these federal cuts.
CRS Score Trends
Current Distribution: Many candidates have scores exceeding 500 points.
Future Expectations:
Increased draws for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates.
Lower CRS scores (around 430-450) may be accepted in targeted trades and healthcare draws.
Applicants outside these priority areas may need to achieve higher scores to secure invitations.
Conclusion
These changes reflect Canada’s strategic shift towards addressing immediate labor market needs. While some applicants may face challenges, there are still numerous opportunities for those in priority sectors or with skills in high demand.
What Should You Do?
Adapt Quickly: Update your profile and consider enhancing your qualifications (e.g., learning French).
Apply Early: Stay informed and take advantage of the new pathways available.
Thank you for staying updated on our website. We’ll continue to provide insights as these changes evolve.