IMPACT – MEDIUM

Canada conducted its 21st Express Entry draw of the year Wednesday, issuing 3,900 invitations to apply for permanent residency, with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 445.

The Express Entry system prioritizes permanent residence candidates in four skilled migration programs—the Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades, Canadian Experience Class and a portion of the Provincial Nominee Program—on a points system that considers such factors as a current job offer, education, skills, work experience and age, among others. Candidates register their profiles online through the Express Entry system. Draws are conducted roughly every two weeks, usually for all four categories but sometimes limited to one or more of the categories. The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration publishes results of each draw, indicating the number of invitations for permanent residence that are issued and the minimum score needed to earn an invitation. Individuals who receive an invitation must apply for permanent residency within 60 days.

Analysis & Comment: The latest draw follows the trend in recent Express Entry draws of large numbers of invitations and a relatively low minimum qualifying score. Those who receive invitations to apply are reminded that Canada recently shortened the length of time that successful candidates have to apply for permanent residency, from 90 to 60 days. Also, under new tie-breaking rules, Express Entry candidates who have the same CRS score will be ranked according to the date and time they submit their profiles in the Express Entry pool, making it all the more important to enter the pool as early as possible in order to be selected for the draw.

The following chart lists the Express Entry Draws to date in 2018:

Date Invitations Minimum Score
Jan.10, 2018 2,750 446
Jan. 24, 2018 2,750 444
Feb. 7, 2018 3,000 442
Feb. 21, 2018 3,000 442
March 14, 2018 3,000 456
March 26, 2018 3,000 446
April 11, 2018 3,500 444
April 25, 2018 3,500 441
May 9, 2018 3,500 441
May 23, 2018 3,500 440
May 30, 2018 700* (500 Federal Skilled Trades; 200 Provincial Nominees) 288 (Federal Skilled Trades); 902 (Provincial Nominees)
June 13 3,750 451
June 25 3,750 442
July 11 3,750 442
July 25 3,750 441
Aug. 8 3,750 440
Aug. 22 3,750 440
Sept. 5 3,900 440
Sept. 19 3,500 441
Sept. 24 400** 284
Oct. 3 3,900 445

*Draw limited to two programs

**Draw limited to Federal Skilled Trades program

Source: Deloitte LLP. Deloitte LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC303675 and its registered office at 1 New Street Square, London EC4A 3HQ, United Kingdom.