Canada Issues Invitations in First CEC Draw of November

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has conducted its latest Express Entry draw, inviting 400 candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). This draw required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 547, marking the highest CRS score for a CEC-specific draw this year.

In comparison, the most recent prior draw occurred on November 12, targeting candidates in a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)-aligned draw, where 733 invitations were issued.

This draw is the second in November and comes shortly after the release of Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan for 2025. According to this plan, IRCC aims to welcome 124,680 Express Entry candidates next year. Individuals who received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from today’s draw will count toward next year’s targets, either under the newly established In-Canada Focus targets for Express Entry candidates or through the Federal Economic Priorities category.

The In-Canada Focus target projects 82,980 permanent resident admissions, primarily benefiting temporary residents already residing in Canada. This group represents roughly 40% of the overall economic immigration admissions for 2025. Many of these candidates will fall under either the CEC or PNP categories of Express Entry.

In addition, the Federal Economic Priorities target for 2025 seeks to admit 41,700 permanent residents, selecting candidates from across all Express Entry-managed programs. IRCC will prioritize applicants based on urgent labor market needs in sectors such as healthcare and trades, or on demographic objectives, including boosting French-speaking immigration outside of Quebec.

Overview of Express Entry

Express Entry is an application management system that governs three significant economic immigration pathways for individuals seeking permanent residence in Canada: the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) assigns scores to candidates based on human capital factors such as age, language skills, education, work experience, and other criteria, like having a sibling in Canada or a spouse or partner accompanying them.

Candidates in enhanced PNP streams may gain an additional 600 CRS points, significantly improving their chances of receiving an ITA. Those with higher CRS scores are more likely to receive an invitation, provided they meet the eligibility criteria for a given draw.

Summary of 2024 Express Entry Draw Results