General Express Entry Draw  invites 1,325 Immigration Candidates

In the Express Entry draw held on December 18, Canada issued 1,325 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in an all-program targeted event. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for this draw was set at 542 points, showing a decrease of 19 points compared to the previous general draw.

Preceding this draw, the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted an occupation-specific round on December 8, tailored for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) workers. This specific draw resulted in 5,900 invitations, with a minimum CRS score of 481 points.

The December 18 draw marked the fourth Express Entry draw of the month, following a hiatus of over a month without draws. The last all-program draw occurred on December 6, issuing 4,750 ITAs and featuring the lowest CRS score of 561.

Throughout 2023, Canada has organized various draws, encompassing different categories:

• 19 all-program draws
• Five Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws
• Six draws targeting French speakers
• Three draws focusing on healthcare occupations
• Two draws specifically for STEM occupations
• One draw for skilled trades
• One draw for Federal Skilled Worker candidates
• One draw for transport jobs
• One draw for agriculture and agri-food occupations

As of 2023, the IRCC has issued 108,196 ITAs, surpassing the 45,115 candidates invited in the entirety of 2022. In 2021, a record-breaking 114,431 ITAs were issued to candidates from the Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee Program, surpassing the previous record set in 2020.

With a record immigration target of 465,000 for 2023, Canada continues its efforts to attract skilled individuals to contribute to its diverse workforce.

The tie-breaking rule for the December 18 draw was implemented on November 06, 2023 at 14:40:23 UTC. In cases where more than one candidate had the minimum CRS score, only those who submitted their Express Entry profiles before this specific date and time received invitations.

This draw marked the 39th round of invitations under Express Entry in 2023 and the 275th overall. Successful candidates now have a 60-day window to submit their applications, with processing expected to occur within the standard six-month timeframe.