In a notable week for immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in the third Express Entry draw of the week. This draw focused on candidates in healthcare occupations, with a total of 3,750 ITAs issued. Candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 445 to be eligible.
This latest draw follows a July 4 draw that targeted trade occupations, where 1,800 candidates were invited. Additionally, on July 2, IRCC conducted a draw for candidates in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), issuing 920 ITAs to candidates with a minimum CRS score of 739.
The cumulative total for this week’s ITAs is 6,470, marking the highest number since April. This trend of program-specific draws began earlier this year, with IRCC holding four such draws since May 30, three of which focused on PNP candidates.
Program-specific draws consider only those in the Express Entry pool who have applied through specific programs such as the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), or the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). For PNP-only draws, candidates must have received a nomination through an Express Entry aligned stream, known as enhanced nomination.
This approach aligns with IRCC’s efforts to stabilize the high levels of temporary residents in Canada by offering more pathways to permanent residency (PR). Many temporary residents, particularly those with work or study permits, apply for PR through the CEC or PNP. This strategy helps IRCC meet its annual targets for Federal High Skilled Workers as outlined in the Immigration Levels Plan, while also addressing the number of temporary residents in Canada.
