The IRCC held its 14th Express Entry draw for 2023.
In June’s initial draw, following the recent draw on May 24, a total of 4,800 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 488 were invited in an all-program draw. Notably, this minimum score requirement is higher compared to the previous all-program draw on April 26, which had a minimum CRS score requirement of 483.
Exciting news from IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada): they have recently introduced six new category-based selection criteria for Express Entry candidates. These categories aim to attract candidates with specific attributes that align with Canada’s economic goals. The new categories include:
- Healthcare professionals
- Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) experts
- Skilled tradespeople (e.g., carpenters, plumbers, contractors)
- Transportation industry workers
- Agriculture and agri-food specialists
- Candidates with strong French speaking abilities
These categories have been established to ensure that Canada’s immigration system remains responsive to the evolving needs of its economy. Candidates with relevant work experience in these fields will have enhanced opportunities to immigrate to Canada through the Express Entry system.
Looking at the numbers, excluding the current draw, IRCC has already invited a significant number of candidates in 2023. Over 13 draws, a total of 49,948 candidates have received invitations. This figure is notably higher than the number of candidates invited between July and November 2022, during which IRCC did not hold any all-program draws until July 2022 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic (with 31,000 candidates invited).