In the latest Express Entry draw of 2023, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) extended invitations to a larger pool of candidates. On August 3rd, the department invited 1,500 candidates from the Skilled Trades category to apply. To be eligible, candidates needed to have a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 388.
The latest Canadian Express Entry draw was just held. Express Entry draw 257 saw a CRS score of 505 and invited 800 candidates from all programs to apply.
IRCC has invited Express Entry candidates for the third day in a row.
Today, invitations were issued to candidates who are eligible for category-based selection in healthcare occupations. In total, 1,500 candidates were invited. Candidates required a minimum CRS score of 463. This is lowest CRS score of any Express Entry round of invitations issued in 2023.
IRCC has issued a second round of Express Entry invitations this week.
This time, it was for candidates who are eligible for category-based selection in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations.
In total, 500 candidates were invited. Candidates required a minimum CRS score of 486.
This draw was expected as last week IRCC announced that the first-ever category-based selection Express Entry draw for those in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) professions would take place this week.
IRCC has also confirmed it will have another round of invitations this week, inviting 1,500 healthcare workers to apply for permanent residence.
The most recent category-based draw was last week on June 28 and invited 500 healthcare workers with a minimum CRS score of 476, the lowest CRS score in any Express Entry draw so far in 2023.
In its surprise draw yesterday, July 4, IRCC also invited 700 candidates in an all-program draw with a minimum CRS score of 511. An all-program draw considers Express Entry candidates in the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
In a recent news release, IRCC said by prioritizing the invitation of skilled newcomers with STEM experience, Canada aims to meet the growing demand for talent and fill key positions that contribute to the nation’s economic growth and technological advancement.
Eligible occupations under the STEM draw include:
Sean Fraser, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, announced on May 31 that IRCC had finalized new category-based selection criteria for Express Entry draws. The categories were chosen based on labour market projections and discussions with IRCC partners and stakeholders as well as with provincial and territorial governments. They are as follows:
Category-based selection draws have been expected since June 2022, when the Government of Canada made changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to allow for the selection of immigrants based on key attributes that support Canada’s economic priorities, such as specific work experience to fill labour market gaps, or knowledge of French.
On June 27th, 2023, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced a new temporary measure that will remove the limit on the length of study programs that temporary foreign workers can enrol in without a study permit.
Through this measure, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is recognizing that foreign workers can face barriers in the types of study programs they are allowed to pursue to get additional training and education that will help them in their careers.
Prior to this change, foreign workers could study while working, but only in programs of 6 months or less. If they wanted to enrol in a longer program, they would have to apply for a separate study permit. This has been a hurdle for foreign workers who want to improve their education and receive more training, especially those needing to validate their foreign credentials through certain programs.
The new temporary measure will last three years. Foreign workers will be able to study full or part time while holding a valid work permit, with no restrictions on the length of the program.
The temporary measure will apply to those who hold a valid work permit or have a pending decision on their work permit extension on June 27, 2023. However, if a foreign worker wants to study longer than the duration of their work permit, they will need to apply for a study permit.
In category-based rounds of invitations, IRCC invite candidates who are eligible for a specific category established by the Minister to meet an identified economic goal. IRCC invite candidates to apply for permanent residence based on criteria such as
Category-based rounds add to general and program-specific rounds by inviting top-ranking candidates who can help us meet these specific economic goals.
They will announce the chosen categories in advance.
Categories chosen for 2023
For 2023, we chose these categories:
| List of Occupations Eligible for Category-Based Draws | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CATEGORY NAME | JOB TITLE(S) | NOC CODE | |||||
| Agriculture and agri-food occupations | Butchers - retail and wholesale | 63201 | |||||
| Agriculture and agri-food occupations | Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors | 82030 | |||||
| Agriculture and agri-food occupations | Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services | 82031 | |||||
| Transport occupations | Managers in transportation | 70020 | |||||
| Transport occupations | Railway carmen/women | 72403 | |||||
| Transport occupations | Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors | 72404 | |||||
| Transport occupations | Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors | 72600 | |||||
| Transport occupations | Air traffic controllers and related occupations | 72601 | |||||
| Transport occupations | Deck officers, water transport | 72602 | |||||
| Transport occupations | Engineer officers, water transport | 72603 | |||||
| Transport occupations | Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators | 72604 | |||||
| Transport occupations | Transport truck drivers | 73300 | |||||
| Transport occupations | Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors | 93200 | |||||
| Trade occupations | Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers | 72014 | |||||
| Trade occupations | Welders and related machine operators | 72106 | |||||
| Trade occupations | Electricians (except industrial and power system) | 72200 | |||||
| Trade occupations | Plumbers | 72300 | |||||
| Trade occupations | Carpenters | 72310 | |||||
| Trade occupations | Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics | 72400 | |||||
| Trade occupations | Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics | 72402 | |||||
| Trade occupations | Machine fitters | 72405 | |||||
| Trade occupations | Elevator constructors and mechanics | 72406 | |||||
| Trade occupations | Residential and commercial installers and servicers | 73200 | |||||
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Engineering managers | 20010 | |||||
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Architecture and science managers | 20011 | |||||
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Computer and information systems managers | 20012 | |||||
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Architects | 21200 | |||||
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Landscape architects | 21201 | |||||
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Urban and land use planners | 21202 | |||||
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Land surveyors | 21203 | |||||
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries | 21210 | |||||
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Data scientists | 21211 | |||||
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Cybersecurity specialists | 21220 | |||||
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Business systems specialists | 21221 | |||||
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Information systems specialists | 21222 | |||||
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Database analysts and data administrators | 21223 | |||||
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Computer systems developers and programmers | 21230 | |||||
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Software engineers and designers | 21231 | |||||
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Software developers and programmers | 21232 | |||||
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Web designers | 21233 | |||||
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Web developers and programmers | 21234 | |||||
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Civil engineers | 21300 | |||||
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Electrical and electronics engineers | 21310 | |||||
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) | 21311 | |||||
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Industrial and manufacturing engineers | 21321 | |||||
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Metallurgical and materials engineers | 21322 | |||||
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations | Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants and program officers | 41400 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 31100 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Specialists in surgery | 31101 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | General practitioners and family physicians | 31102 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Veterinarians | 31103 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Dentists | 31110 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Optometrists | 31111 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Audiologists and speech-language pathologists | 31112 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Dietitians and nutritionists | 31121 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Psychologists | 31200 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Chiropractors | 31201 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Physiotherapists | 31202 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Occupational therapists | 31203 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment | 31204 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating | 31209 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Nursing coordinators and supervisors | 31300 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses | 31301 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Nurse practitioners | 31302 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals | 31303 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Licensed practical nurses | 32101 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Paramedical occupations | 32102 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists | 32103 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment | 32109 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Medical laboratory technologists | 32120 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Medical radiation technologists | 32121 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Medical sonographers | 32122 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists | 32200 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Massage therapists | 32201 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Other practitioners of natural healing | 32209 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations | 33101 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates | 33102 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants | 33103 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Other assisting occupations in support of health services | 33109 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies | 41301 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Educational counsellors | 41320 | |||||
| Healthcare occupations | Instructors of persons with disabilities | 42203 | |||||
Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has just announced that it will accept language test results from four new tests for Student Direct Stream (SDS) applicants.
IRCC will begin to accept test results from these four new tests effective August 10, 2023.
The newly eligible tests are:
All test results must demonstrate abilities in speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
CELPIP general tests must show a score that is equivalent to Canadian Language Benchmark of at least 7 in each of the four language speaking abilities
CAEL and Pearson PTE Academic test results must show a minimum score of 60.
Educational Testing Service (ETS) TOEFL iBT Test need a minimum score of 83.
Students must take these tests in-person. Online, remotely proctored tests will not be accepted for applicants in the SDS.
Prior to this change, IELTS General and IELTS Academic were the only tests approved by IRCC for SDS applicants.
IRCC has invited candidates in the thirteenth Express Entry draw of 2023.
Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 4,800 invitations to apply (ITAs) to candidates in an all-program draw.
Candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 488.
This was the first all-program draw since April 26. In an all-program draw, candidates are considered from all three programs managed under the Express Entry application management system: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), or the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
This draw follows the most recent draw on May 10 in which 589 candidates received ITAs in a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) specific draw. In a PNP only draw, candidates are only considered if they are in the Express Entry pool and have also been nominated by a Canadian province.
Five Canadian provinces have nominated candidates to apply for nomination under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) this week.
The PNP allows all Canadian provinces and territories (except Quebec and Nunavut) to select the economic immigration candidates that they feel are best suited to integrate into the provincial workforce and economically establish within the province.
The program has seen significant success since it began in 1998 and is now the most prominent pathway for admissions of economic immigrants in the Immigration Levels Plan. Canada will admit 117,500 candidates through the PNP each year by the end of 2025.
Five Canadian provinces have nominated candidates to apply for nomination under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) this week.
The PNP allows all Canadian provinces and territories (except Quebec and Nunavut) to select the economic immigration candidates that they feel are best suited to integrate into the provincial workforce and economically establish within the province.
The program has seen significant success since it began in 1998 and is now the most prominent pathway for admissions of economic immigrants in the Immigration Levels Plan. Canada will admit 117,500 candidates through the PNP each year by the end of 2025.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has made an update to the proof of funds required for Express Entry candidates. They updated the table that shows how much money you need to settle in Canada. We update these numbers every year, based on 50% of the low income cut-off totals. To stay eligible, you may need to update your settlement fund numbers in your Express Entry profile. The update must be done no later than April 25, 2023.
Updating your profile doesn’t change the date and time that we received it, so you’ll keep your rank if you’re in a tie-breaker situation.
Proof of funds is how you show us that you have enough money to settle in Canada. If we invite you to apply, you must give written proof that you have this money.
You need proof of funds to meet the minimum requirements of the
You don’t need to show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family if
Keep your funds up to date in your profile. The system may find that you’re eligible for more than 1 program. You don’t always know ahead of time which program you’ll be invited under.
The amount of money you need to support your family is based the size of your family.
To calculate the size of your family include
You must include your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children, even if they’re
This table shows the minimum amount you need to immigrate to Canada as of April 25, 2023. If you have more money, you should list the full amount in your profile or application.
| Number of family members | Funds required (in Canadian dollars) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $13,757 |
| 2 | $17,127 |
| 3 | $21,055 |
| 4 | $25,564 |
| 5 | $28,994 |
| 6 | $32,700 |
| 7 | $36,407 |
| If more than 7 people, for each additional family member | $3,706 |
Your funds must be available to you both when.
You must prove to us that you can legally access the money here when you arrive.
For example, this means
You must be able to use this money to pay for your family’s costs of living (even if they aren’t coming with you).
For proof, you must get official letters from any banks or financial institutions where you have an account.
These letters must be printed on the financial institution’s letterhead and include
Research how much it costs to live in the place where you plan to settle in Canada.
Bring as much money as you can. This will make moving and finding a home in Canada easier. When you arrive in Canada, you have to tell the border officer if you’re bringing more than CAN$10,000 into Canada. If you don’t tell them, you may be fined, and your funds could be seized. This includes:
