Results of the First Express Entry Draw of 2023

By Laura Schemitsch, Immigration and Refugee Lawyer, Race and Company LLP

On January 11, 2023, Canada held the first all program draw of 2023 under the Express Entry system for permanent residence applications. The draw was widely anticipated since the most recent draw was held on November 23, 2022. Express Entry draws to invite the top candidates in the Express Entry pools are typically held every two weeks. In December 2022, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) confirmed an IT glitch was affecting candidates in the November 23 draw, including a number of invitations to apply (ITAs) that were issued in error.

On January 11, IRCC issued ITAs to 5,500 candidates with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 507. Since no program was specified, eligible candidates were invited for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). The most recent draw on November 23 resulted in 4,750 ITAs with a minimum CRS score of 491. This is the first time since the all program draws resumed in July 2022 – following an 18 month pause during the pandemic due to the application backlog – that the minimum CRS score has increased rather than decreased. The draw also resulted in an increased number of ITAs.

What to Expect in 2023

The Express Entry system has traditionally relied on CRS scores to determine a candidate’s competitiveness. Due to Canada’s historic labour shortage, IRCC is instead planning to invite Express Entry candidates based on work experience, education and knowledge of an official language. IRCC has indicated that “targeted draws” will likely begin in the spring of 2023.

For more information on your eligibility for Express Entry and other immigration programs in Canada, contact Laura Schemitsch at Race and Company for a consultation today.

To book a consultation, email OfficeAssistant@raceandco.com