Express Entry: Canada holds largest all-program draw ever

The largest all-program draw ever was held in Canada’s Express Entry system by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). In this draw, 7,000 candidates were invited to apply for permanent residency with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 490. This is the first all-program draw since January 18, and it includes candidates from all three Express Entry programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

This draw is significant as it breaks the pattern of program-specific draws that had been happening over the last two months. Since the last all-program draw, there have been four program-specific rounds of invitations, three for PNP-only and one for FSWP candidates. The most recent draw was PNP-only, where just 697 candidates received ITAs on March 1.

In 2021, IRCC did not hold any all-program draws, and all 42 Express Entry draws were program-specific for the PNP and CEC. A recent report from IRCC summarizes the Express Entry data for 2021. In total, 114,431 ITAs were issued, and over half of them were issued to candidates between the ages of 20-29 years.

The Express Entry system oversees three programs: the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). Candidates in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) are already eligible for at least one Express Entry program. Points are awarded based on work experience, language ability, education, and human capital factors. Candidates with the highest scores will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and can then apply for permanent residency.