IRCC Invites 3,750 Candidates in Third Draw this week
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada recently conducted its third Express Entry draw of the week, issuing 3,750 Invitations to Apply focused on healthcare occupations. Candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 445 to qualify. This draw followed another on July 4, which targeted trade occupations and invited 1,800 candidates with specific CRS requirements.
Earlier in the week, on July 2, IRCC held a draw exclusively for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates, inviting 920 applicants with a CRS score of 739 or above. This week's total ITAs amounted to 6,470, marking the highest since April.
Since May 30, IRCC has increasingly conducted program-specific draws, particularly for PNP candidates, aiming to stabilize Canada's temporary resident levels. These draws only consider applicants in the Express Entry pool who have applied through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), or Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), or have received enhanced nomination through a PNP-aligned stream.
This approach supports IRCC's efforts to meet its annual immigration targets, particularly in the "Federal High Skilled Workers" category, while facilitating pathways for temporary residents in Canada to obtain permanent residency.