Canada Express Entry Draw in 2023 – The first draw
On January 11, 2023, Canada held its first Express Entry draw of the calendar year. Invitations were sent to 5,500 applicants having a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 507 by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) all invited eligible applicants. All of these initiatives manage with the Canada Express Entry system.Â
This draw marks an increase in ITAs issued and is the largest all-program Express Entry draw since they resumed last July. There were 750 additional invitations over the November 23 draw, which invited 4,750 candidates, and a higher CRS score than seen since September 28.Â
This is the largest all-program Express Entry draw since IRCC started in July 2022, increasing the number of ITAs issued. The CRS score was also higher than it was used in the previous draw in 2022.Â
All Express Entry Programs Draws in 2022
In 2022, Canada conducted 23 Express Entry drawings and issued 46,538 ITAs. The first six months’ draws were conducted under provincial nominee programs (PNPs). The IRCC began holding All-Program Express Entry drawings on July 6, 2022.Â
Beginning in December 2020, all-program Canada Express Entry draws were suspended for a period of more than 18 months. Due to COVID-19-related travel restrictions, there was a backlog in applications, which prompted the delay. Â
The detailed lists of all the Express Entry rounds of invitations in 2022
Draw Number | Date | Immigration Program | Number of invitations | CRS Score |
236 | November 23, 2022 | All-Program draw | 4,750 | 491 |
235 | November 9, 2022 | All-Program draw | 4,750 | 494 |
234 | October 26, 2022 | All-Program draw | 4,750 | 496 |
233 | October 12, 2022 | All-Program draw | 4,250 | 500 |
232 | September 28, 2022 | All-Program draw | 3,750 | 504 |
231 | September 14, 2022 | All-Program draw | 3,250 | 510 |
230 | August 31, 2022 | All-Program draw | 2,750 | 516 |
229 | August 17, 2022 | All-Program draw | 2,250 | 525 |
228 | August 3, 2022 | All-Program draw | 2,000 | 533 |
227 | July 20, 2022 | All-Program draw | 1,750 | 542 |
226 | July 6, 2022 | All-Program draw | 1,500 | 557 |
225 | June 22, 2022 | Provincial Nominee Program | 636 | 752 |
224 | June 8, 2022 | Provincial Nominee Program | 932 | 796 |
223 | May 25, 2022 | Provincial Nominee Program | 590 | 741 |
222 | May 11, 2022 | Provincial Nominee Program | 545 | 753 |
221 | April 27, 2022 | Provincial Nominee Program | 829 | 772 |
220 | April 13, 2022 | Provincial Nominee Program | 787 | 782 |
219 | March 30, 2022 | Provincial Nominee Program | 919 | 785 |
218 | March 16, 2022 | Provincial Nominee Program | 924 | 754 |
217 | March 2, 2022 | Provincial Nominee Program | 1,047 | 761 |
216 | February 16, 2022 | Provincial Nominee Program | 1,082 | 710 |
215 | February 2, 2022 | Provincial Nominee Program | 1,070 | 674 |
214 | January 19, 2022 | Provincial Nominee Program | 1,036 | 745 |
213 | January 5, 2022 | Provincial Nominee Program | 392 | 808 |
How many CRS points are required to get an ITA?
You must have CRS points equal to or higher than the CRS cut-off points to receive an ITA from an Express Entry draw. Depending on the number of CRS points applicants have in the Express Entry pool and the need for skilled applicants at any given time, the CRS cut-off varies from draw to draw. Expect the CRS cut-off to be low if more immigrants are required or applicants’ CRS points are typically low. Â
In 2022, the most recent Express Entry drawings revealed that a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 491 was required to be eligible.Â
Can I get PR with a 450 CRS score?
The most straightforward way to get a Canadian PR visa quickly is the Express Entry program. Candidates need an excellent CRS score to be eligible for EE. It is challenging for those with low CRS scores to submit an Express Entry application. Therefore, applicants with low CRS scores should find a way to increase their CRS or choose other alternative PR pathways to get Canadian PR.Â
If you have a 450 CRS, and by looking at the CRS score distribution of candidates in the Canada express entry pool as of January 11, 2023, you have to wait at least about six months (12 rounds of invitation) to be invited if no candidate with higher CRS points adds to the pool.Â
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CRS score distribution of candidates in the Express Entry pool as of January 11, 2023 | |
CRS score range | Number of candidates |
601-1200Â | 2,995Â |
501-600Â | 3,897Â |
451-500Â | 64,866Â |
491-500Â | 3,141Â |
481-490Â | 11,783Â |
471-480Â | 20,030Â |
461-470Â | 16,802Â |
451-460Â | 13,110Â |
401-450Â | 59,277Â |
441-450Â | 12,354Â |
431-440Â | 12,928Â |
421-430Â | 10,152Â |
411-420Â | 11,394Â |
401-410Â | 12,449Â |
351-400Â | 70,204Â |
301-350Â | 36,547Â |
0-300Â | 5,469Â |
Total | 243,255 |
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What are the changes for Express Entry in 2023?
- New NOC TEER CODES: IRCC implemented NOC TEER CODES 2021, an update to NOC 2016, in November 2022. Sixteen new occupations, including TRUCK DRIVER, are now qualified to apply for Express Entry, which manages economic immigration programs under NOC 2021. An Express Entry candidate’s profession and skill level are determined using the National Occupation Classification (NOC) system.Â
- Increase the number of immigrants: According to the Immigration Levels Plan 2023–2025, published in November 2022, the express entrance would invite more candidates than before. Through Express Entry, 82,880 immigrants will be granted permanent residency in Canada in 2023. This will rise to 109,020 in 2024 and 114,000 in 2025, or around one-fifth of Canada’s total targets for admissions of permanent residents.Â
What is Canada Express Entry System?
Express Entry manages Permanent Residence of Canada (Canada PR) skilled workers’ applications for three economic immigration programs. Â
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP): Applicants from one of 50 National Occupational Classification (NOC TEER Codes) categories with secondary education and at least one year of continuous work experience are eligible. A job offer is not required.Â
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP): Applicants must have at least two years of work experience in the past five years in a skilled trade. They must have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer or a certification of qualification in their marketing issued by a Canadian authority.Â
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC): Applicants must be skilled workers with at least one year of Canadian work experience.
How do you qualify for Canada Express Entry?
You must first meet the requirements of one of the Express Entry programs to be eligible to place in a pool of candidates for immigration. You must complete an online Express Entry profile identifying your skills and qualifications. Â
Then, the Canada Express Entry system uses a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to rank you against other applicants in the pool on a points-based system considering a variety of factors, including age, education, work experience abroad and Canadian work experience, language proficiency in English and French, family members and details on any job offer. Â
The IRCC holds periodic draws, historically every two weeks, and invites the top-scoring candidates to apply for Canada PR.Â
How to Improve my CRS Score to be selected in the Express Entry system?Â
Strengthening your education, experience, and language skills and finding a job in Canada are examples of achieving this. For example, receiving valid job offers can improve your CRS score by 50 or 200 points. Another example is to have a second language test result in French or English at the same time. Here is an article explaining how to increase your CRS score.Â
