Canada ranks top immigration destination in the world. To attract more skilled workers in different fields, Canada has launched an Express Entry Program which is a pathway to permanent residence. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has Express Entry draws every year. In this passage, we are going to introduce what the program is and make an express entry next draw prediction in 2024.
What Is Canada Express Entry?
Canada Express Entry is an online system that the Canadian authority uses to manage immigration applications. There are three types: Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class. Applicants who are eligible for either pathway can submit a profile. All applicants will be rated in the Express Entry pool. The rating system, Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), is based on skills, work experience, language proficiency, education, ties with Canada, etc. Those who rank at the top will be issued Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to apply for permanent residence on a regular basis.
Canada Express Entry Draw List 2023
There were 42 rounds of draws in 2023, selecting more than 110,000 candidates. The lowest CRS score ranges from 43 to 791. Here is the 2023 Canada Express Entry Draw List.
| Rounds of Draw | Date of Draw | Number of ITAs Issued | Lowest CRS Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #278 | 2023/12/21 | 400 | 386 | Agriculture and Agri-Food occupations only |
| #277 | 2023/12/20 | 670 | 435 | Transport occupations only |
| #276 | 2023/12/19 | 1,000 | 425 | Trades occupations only |
| #275 | 2023/12/18 | 1,325 | 542 | / |
| #274 | 2023/12/8 | 5,900 | 481 | STEM occupations only |
| #273 | 2023/12/7 | 1,000 | 470 | French language proficiency only |
| #272 | 2023/12/6 | 4,750 | 561 | / |
| #271 | 2023/10/26 | 3,600 | 431 | Healthcare occupations only |
| #270 | 2023/10/25 | 300 | 486 | French language proficiency only |
| #269 | 2023/10/24 | 1,548 | 776 | Provincial nominees only |
| #268 | 2023/10/10 | 3,725 | 500 | / |
| #267 | 2023/9/28 | 600 | 354 | Agriculture and Agri-Food occupations only |
| #266 | 2023/9/27 | 500 | 472 | French language proficiency only |
| #265 | 2023/9/26 | 3,000 | 504 | / |
| #264 | 2023/9/20 | 1,000 | 435 | Transport occupations only |
| #263 | 2023/9/19 | 3,200 | 531 | / |
| #262 | 2023/8/15 | 4,300 | 496 | / |
| #261 | 2023/8/3 | 1,500 | 388 | Trades occupations only |
| #260 | 2023/8/2 | 800 | 435 | French language proficiency only |
| #259 | 2023/8/1 | 2,000 | 517 | / |
| #258 | 2023/7/12 | 3,800 | 375 | French language proficiency only |
| #257 | 2023/7/11 | 800 | 505 | / |
| #256 | 2023/7/7 | 2,300 | 439 | French language proficiency only |
| #255 | 2023/7/6 | 1,500 | 463 | Healthcare occupations only |
| #254 | 2023/7/5 | 500 | 486 | STEM occupations only |
| #253 | 2023/7/4 | 700 | 511 | / |
| #252 | 2023/6/28 | 500 | 476 | Healthcare occupations only |
| #251 | 2023/6/27 | 4,300 | 486 | / |
| #250 | 2023/6/8 | 4,800 | 486 | / |
| #249 | 2023/5/24 | 4,800 | 488 | / |
| #248 | 2023/5/10 | 589 | 691 | Provincial nominees only |
| #247 | 2023/4/26 | 3,500 | 483 | / |
| #246 | 2023/4/12 | 3,500 | 486 | / |
| #245 | 2023/3/29 | 7,000 | 481 | / |
| #244 | 2023/3/23 | 7,000 | 484 | / |
| #243 | 2023/3/15 | 7,000 | 490 | / |
| #242 | 2023/3/1 | 667 | 748 | Provincial nominees only |
| #241 | 2023/2/15 | 699 | 791 | Provincial nominees only |
| #240 | 2023/2/2 | 3,300 | 489 | Foreign Skilled Worker Program nominees only |
| #239 | 2023/2/1 | 893 | 733 | Provincial nominees only |
| #238 | 2023/1/18 | 5,500 | 490 | / |
| #237 | 2023/1/11 | 5,500 | 507 | / |
Factors Affecting Next Express Entry Draw Prediction
The cut-off score, time and frequency of the Canada express entry next draw prediction can be affected by a variety of factors listed below.
- Economic Trends
It is a key factor. Thriving job markets are more attractive to professionals. Therefore, there might be larger draws in the fields with good development trends.
- Government Immigration Policies
The government will adjust national immigration plans whenever there are unforeseen global events, such as epidemic diseases, regional conflicts, etc.
- Number of Eligible Candidates
The authority will consider annual immigration targets and qualified applicants in the pool. If there are various choices, more invitations might be issued more frequently.
- Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
PNP is a mini-immigration program in Canada. Provinces and territories can nominate eligible immigration candidates. The Express Entry Program is considered a supplement to PNP, influenced by the requirements and scale for PNP.
- CRS Score Trends
The previous CRS scores help us predict the latest express entry draw in 2024. For example, if the scores remain low for the past few draws, the immigration requirements might be less strict and more candidates will likely be chosen.
When Will the Next Express Entry Draw for 2024 Be?
The Express Entry draws used to be held every two weeks on Wednesday. The latest express entry draw of 2024 was conducted on January 10. The first round issued 1,510 invitations and the required minimum CRS score is 546. However, due to the outbreak of the pandemic in the past few years and new categories of occupations, the program is less predictable than usual. Although there is no fixed schedule for the time of draw, type of draw, number of ITAs, and the CRS requirements, we can still make a general next express entry draw prediction.
Prediction on Express Entry Types
In most cases, there are at least two Express Entry draws per month. When there is a PNP draw or general (all-program) draw on Wednesday, there might be a Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) draws, Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws or priority occupation draws the next day. The express entry latest draw of 2024 applies to all programs, so you can expect specific types on the following rounds.
Prediction on CRS Score
The CRS cut-offs are influenced by the number of candidates in the pool, the number of ITAs, and immigration policies. Last year, the scores didn’t fluctuate a lot in the whole year and the lowest score requirement was about 354 for agriculture and agri-food occupations. Therefore, it is expected that the scores in the upcoming year will not be very high for category-based draws while that for all-program draws are higher.
How to Prepare for the Next Express Entry Draw
If you are selected and invited, all you need is to submit a PR application within 60 days. If you have already been in the Express Entry pool, you can do more than just wait for the next draw.
- Keep Up Your Profile for Next Express Entry
According to the IRCC, the information on your profile must be true and accurate. Therefore, it is necessary to update it whenever there are changes in professions, job offers, marital status, with/without a child, language proficiency, etc.
- Try to increase your CRS Rating
You will be more likely to receive an ITA if you rank the top in the CRS. It is recommended to update your CRS before the next draw and we will talk about how to increase the scores later.
- Preparing Supporting Documents for ITA
If you are confident in your profile, it is suggested to prepare the documentation in advance, so you can get through it as quickly as you can once you are selected. Required documents include a passport, certificate of language test, proof of education, proof of work experience, proof of funds, etc.
Calculate Your CRS Score with the CRS Calculator
The Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System consists of core points and additional points which are listed as follows. You can get the result through this CRS Calculator.
CRS Core Points
| Rating Criteria | With a spouse or common-law partner | Without a spouse or common-law partner | |
| Age(with partner: max. 100 points; without partner: max. 110 points) | ≤17 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | 90 | 99 | |
| 19 | 95 | 105 | |
| 20-29 | 100 | 110 | |
| 30 | 95 | 105 | |
| 31 | 90 | 99 | |
| 32 | 85 | 94 | |
| 33 | 80 | 88 | |
| 34 | 75 | 83 | |
| 35 | 70 | 77 | |
| 36 | 65 | 72 | |
| 37 | 60 | 66 | |
| 38 | 55 | 61 | |
| 39 | 50 | 55 | |
| 40 | 45 | 50 | |
| 41 | 35 | 39 | |
| 42 | 25 | 28 | |
| 43 | 15 | 17 | |
| 44 | 5 | 6 | |
| ≥45 | 0 | 0 | |
| Level of Education (with partner: max. 140 points; without partner: max. 150 points) | Less than secondary school | 0 | 0 |
| Secondary diploma | 28 | 30 | |
| 1-year degree, diploma or certificate from a college, university, technical or trade school, or other institutes | 84 | 90 | |
| 2-year program at a college, university, technical or trade school, or other institutes | 91 | 98 | |
| Bachelor’s degree, OR at least 3-year program at a college, university, technical or trade school, or other institutes | 112 | 120 | |
| at least 2 certificates, diplomas, or degrees, one from a program of at least 3 years | 119 | 128 | |
| Master’s degree, OR professional degree in licensed professions (i.e. medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, chiropractic medicine, law, or pharmacy) | 126 | 135 | |
| PhD | 140 | 150 | |
| Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level(with partner: max. 128 points; without partner: max. 136 points) | CLB 3 or lower | 0 | 0 |
| CLB 4 or 5 | 6 | 6 | |
| CLB 6 | 8 | 9 | |
| CLB 7 | 16 | 17 | |
| CLB 8 | 22 | 23 | |
| CLB 9 | 29 | 31 | |
| CLB 10 or higher | 32 | 34 | |
| Canadian work experience(with partner: max. 70 points; without partner: max. 80 points) | <1 year | 0 | 0 |
| 1 year | 35 | 40 | |
| 2 years | 46 | 53 | |
| 3 years | 56 | 64 | |
| 4 years | 63 | 72 | |
| ≥5 years | 70 | 80 | |
| Spouse’s or common-law partner’s level of education (Max. 10 points) | Less than secondary school | 0 | Do Not Apply |
| Secondary diploma | 2 | Do Not Apply | |
| 1-year degree, diploma or certificate from a college, university, technical or trade school, or other institutes | 6 | Do Not Apply | |
| 2-year program at a college, university, technical or trade school, or other institutes | 7 | Do Not Apply | |
| Bachelor’s degree, OR a at least 3-year program at a college, university, technical or trade school, or other institutes | 8 | Do Not Apply | |
| at least 2 certificates, diplomas, or degrees, one from a program of at least 3 years | 9 | Do Not Apply | |
| Master’s degree, OR professional degree in licensed professions (i.e. medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, chiropractic medicine, law, or pharmacy) | 10 | Do Not Apply | |
| PhD | 10 | Do Not Apply | |
| Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level per ability – First official language (Max. 5 points) | CLB 4 or less | 0 | Do Not Apply |
| CLB 5 or 6 | 1 | Do Not Apply | |
| CLB 7 or 8 | 3 | Do Not Apply | |
| CLB 9 or more | 5 | Do Not Apply | |
| Spouse’s Canadian work experience (Max. 10 points) | <1 year | 0 | Do Not Apply |
| 1 year | 5 | Do Not Apply | |
| 2 years | 7 | Do Not Apply | |
| 3 years | 8 | Do Not Apply | |
| 4 years | 9 | Do Not Apply | |
| ≥5 years | 10 | Do Not Apply | |
CRS Additional Points
On the following conditions, you can get extra points up to 600.
| Additional points | Point maximum |
| Have a sibling living in Canada who is a Canadian permanent resident or Canadian citizen | 15 |
| NCLC on all French language skills: at least level 7CLB in English: level 4 or lower, or not taking | 15 |
| NCLC on four French language skills: at least level 7CLB on four English skills: level 5 or higher | 30 |
| Post-secondary education in Canada: 1-2 years of credential | 15 |
| Post-secondary education in Canada: at least 3 years of credential | 30 |
| Arranged employment – National Occupation Classification (NOC) 00 | 200 |
| Arranged employment – any other NOC 0, A or B | 50 |
| Provincial or territorial nomination | 600 |
How to Get ITA or Increase CRS Scores
If your CRS score is too low, here are some tips to get higher scores and increase the possibility of being invited.
- Find a Job
Canadian work experience can grant you with a maximum of 70-80 points. It is possible to find job opportunities online, at job fairs, or at industry exchange meetings.
- Learn French
Applicants proficient in French are a plus. Although you might have to spend more time and effort to learn a new language and pass NCLC, it will add an extra 50 points to your CRS score, especially when you are planning to live in the Francophone area in Canada. It is allowed to revise your application before being invited. It will be kept in the pool for up to one year during which you can improve your French skills.
- Work for a Longer Time
The longer your Canadian work experience, the higher score you will get as long as you are legally employed and paid. Having more work experience will also provide you with more points in the skill transfer.
- Engage in Further Education
Highly educated candidates are cherished in Canada. If you want to increase your CRS score, it is suggested to continue studying to get a higher degree or certificate and improve your skills or knowledge.
- Invite your Spouse or Partner
Your spouse or common-law partner’s education level, language proficiency and work experience will help you get more scores. Please note that you should have been in marriage for at least a full year to increase the chance of adding points.
- Join Provincial Nominee Programs
PNP participation is another way to gain more CRS points. Requirements vary from territory to territory. You should pick one that your Express Entry profile is more attractive to.
FAQ about Express Entry
Q: What will be the CRS score in 2024?
A: Depending on the previous trend, the CRS score in 2024 is estimated to be around 480 points for all programs and 430 for CEC program.
Q: To be eligible for Canadian PR, how many scores should I get?
A: It depends on which program you join. The minimum requirement for the Canadian Experience Class is 46, 87 for Federal Skilled Worker Program, and 59 for Federal Skilled Trades Program.
Q: Must I get a Canada job offer for the Express Entry Program?
A: A job offer is not required for the Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Worker Program.
Q: How often do Express Entry draws take place?
A: It is usually held every two weeks.
Summary
Canada Express Entry is a convenient pathway for Canadian permanent residence. As the latest express entry draw of 2024 has started, there will be dozens of opportunities to come. Supposing that you have created your profile in the Express Entry pool and haven’t received the ITA, you should wait patiently. Express entry next draw prediction is affected by the economic conditions, immigration policies, number of candidates, and previous trends. While waiting for the next draw, you can do as we suggest to increase your CRS score, thus increasing the chance of being chosen.
Erin Lo