IRCC has conducted another express entry draw, issuing 676 invitations to apply (ITAs) under the provisional nominee program (PNP). To qualify, candidate needed a minimum comprehensive ranking system (CRS) score of 705.
Following a busy November, today’s candidate selection reflects IRCC’s recent activity, including six Express Entry draws and 5,507 invitations issued for permanent residence (PR).
CEC and PNP candidates have consistently seen draws, a trend likely to continue under the new “In-Canada” category. This initiative will prioritize CEC and regional program applicants and may also include candidates from the FSWP and FSTP.
More than 40% of next year’s total PR admissions—82,980 spots—are allocated to this category under Canada’s latest Immigration Levels Plan.
French-speaking candidates outside Quebec are set to benefit as well, with PR admissions increasing to 29,235 in 2025. This number will grow further through 2026 and 2027, aligning with IRCC’s Francophone strategy.
2024 Express Entry Draws: A Year in Review
| Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | Minimum CRS |
| December 2 | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 676 | 705 |
| November 20 | Healthcare Occupations | 3,000 | 463 |
| November 19 | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 400 | 539 |
| November 18 | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 174 | 816 |
| November 15 | French Language Proficiency | 800 | 478 |
| November 13 | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 400 | 547 |
| November 12 | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 733 | 812 |
| October 23 | Trade Occupations | 1,800 | 433 |
| October 22 | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 400 | 539 |
| October 21 | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 648 | 791 |
| October 10 | French Language Proficiency | 1,000 | 444 |
| October 9 | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 500 | 539 |
| October 7 | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 1,613 | 743 |
| September 19 | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 4,000 | 509 |
| September 13 | French Language Proficiency | 1,000 | 446 |
| September 9 | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 911 | 732 |
| August 27 | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 3,300 | 507 |
| August 26 | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 1,121 | 694 |
| August 15 | French Language Proficiency | 2,000 | 394 |
| August 14 | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 3,200 | 509 |
| August 13 | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 763 | 690 |
| July 31 | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 5,000 | 510 |
| July 30 | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 964 | 686 |
| July 18 | French Language Proficiency | 1,800 | 400 |
| July 17 | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 6,300 | 515 |
| July 16 | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 1,391 | 670 |
| July 8 | French Proficiency | 3,200 | 420 |
| July 5 | Healthcare Occupations | 3,750 | 445 |
| July 4 | Trade Occupations | 1,800 | 436 |
| July 2 | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 920 | 739 |
| June 19 | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 1,499 | 663 |
| May 31 | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 3,000 | 522 |
| May 30 | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 2,985 | 676 |
| April 24 | French Proficiency | 1,400 | 410 |
| April 23 | General Draw | 2,095 | 529 |
| April 11 | STEM Occupations | 4,500 | 491 |
| April 10 | General Draw | 1,280 | 549 |
| March 26 | French Language Proficiency | 1,500 | 388 |
| March 25 | General Draw | 1,980 | 524 |
| March 13 | Transport Occupations | 975 | 430 |
| March 12 | General Draw | 2,850 | 525 |
| February 29 | French Language Proficiency | 2,500 | 336 |
| February 28 | General Draw | 1,470 | 534 |
| February 16 | Agriculture & Agri-food Occupations | 150 | 437 |
| February 14 | Healthcare Occupations | 3,500 | 422 |
| February 13 | General Draw | 1,490 | 535 |
| February 1 | French Language Proficiency | 7,000 | 365 |
| January 31 | General Draw | 730 | 541 |
| January 23 | General Draw | 1,040 | 543 |
| January 10 | General Draw | 1,510 | 546 |
What is express entry?
Express Entry is a dynamic system that manages applications for Canadian permanent residency under three federal economic immigration programs: the CEC, FSWP, and FSTP. Candidates aligned with Express Entry through Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams may also be invited via an enhanced provincial nomination process.
Applicants are ranked using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which awards points based on key factors like age, education, work experience, occupation, and language skills. A provincial nomination through an enhanced PNP stream adds a powerful 600 CRS points, greatly increasing the chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
Candidates can gain extra CRS points for factors like having a sibling in Canada, applying with a spouse, or combining Canadian and foreign education and work experience.
Those with the highest CRS scores are most likely to get an ITA, as long as they meet the draw criteria. IRCC also uses category-based selections, where candidates with specific skills matching Canada’s needs can receive ITAs, often with lower CRS cut-offs than general or program-specific draws.
