Canada Issues Invitations to 1,800 Express Entry Candidates in Trade Occupations Category-Based Draw

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada has published the latest round of Invitations to Apply under Express Entry.

A total of 1,800 ITAs were issued to applicants in trade occupations with a minimum CRS score requirement of 433. It was the first trade-focused draw since July 4, when an equal number of invitations went out but that round had a slightly higher CRS cut-off of 436. It is also the first category-based draw outside of non-French language proficiency since July 5.

There have been three draws this week; the third was today. October 22 IRCC issued 400 CEC candidates with a minimum CRS score of 539. On October 21, Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) issued 648 candidates with a minimum CRS of 791.

Recently, IRCC has followed a trend of conducting several rounds of Express Entry draws per fortnight under both PNP and CEC. This would seem to align with the department’s intention and objective to see more additions of domestic selections for those applicants already residing and working in Canada on temporary permits. Moreover, it is one way of achieving the medium balance between the two stocks of temporary and permanent resident population, in accordance with the Immigration Levels Plan of this country.

This strategy, in its revised form, which is expected to come out November 1, will provide the target for immigration during the years 2025 and 2027. For the year 2024, the strategy expects admissions of 110,770 permanent residents. To whether or not the IRCC has already reached that target by now, only time will tell.

Those applicants who were issued ITAs in the second half of this year should prepare for admission in 2025 as it takes six months to process an Express Entry application under standard procedures.

Latest Draw Details 

• Draw Date: October 23, 2024
• Draw Type: Trade Occupations
• Number of Invitations: 1,800
• Minimum CRS Score Required: 433

Express Entry Draws List

What is Express Entry?

The Express Entry system is the main management system for applications in three major economic immigration programs, FSWP and CEC, and FSTP. It applies the Comprehensive Ranking System that uses points to rank applicants based on such important factors as age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and occupation.

The highest-scoring candidates are then allowed to submit permanent residency applications. CRS scores for PNP draws are generally higher, since a provincial nomination adds 600 points. Other factors such as connections in Canada, or applying with a spouse or partner, also provide points.

Receiving an ITA results in a candidate having an excellent opportunity to be selected in any future Express Entry draws for permanent residency.