In the latest express entry draw Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited candidates who had a minimum score of 720.
Applicants who had received a nomination from a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) were invited in the latest draw, which is why the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut off was so high. Applicants who have received nominations from Express Entry-aligned PNPs automatically get 600 points added to their overall score.
In the latest draw, applicants who had a CRS score of 720 or more, needed to have submitted their Express Entry profile before August 14, 2020, at 6:51:00 UTC in order to receive an invitation.
Despite the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 was a record-breaking year for Express Entry. By the end, Canada had issued 108,350 ITAs to Express Entry candidates. This year is expected to be even bigger, as IRCC has raised immigration targets to make up for the reduced number of new permanent residents admitted to Canada last year. IRCC has now issued 10,654 ITAs through four program-specific draws to start 2021.
The year 2021 is expected to see further increases as IRCC has boosted immigration targets to compensate for the reduced number of new permanent residents admitted to Canada last year. IRCC is also likely to place greater reliance on potential immigrants and skilled workers already in Canada to meet these targets, in part due to the ongoing coronavirus measures and the current challenges associated with border closures and restrictions.IRCC has not yet held an all-program draw in 2021.
Canada is expected to welcome 401,000 new immigrants this year, of these, 108,500 are allocated to come through an Express Entry-managed program. These targets are expected to go up over the next three years, rising to 110,500 in 2022 and 113,750 in 2023.