Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted its second Express Entry draw of the week on January 21, 2021, inviting 4,626 candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) stream. This marks the fourth Express Entry draw overall in 2021.
The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required in this draw was 454, a notable decrease of seven points compared to the previous CEC-specific draw held on January 7, which had a cutoff of 461. This drop signals that IRCC is continuing to prioritize CEC applicants through lower thresholds to meet its aggressive immigration targets for the year.
Canada’s Express Entry system, launched in 2015, serves as the country’s primary pathway for skilled workers seeking permanent residence. Applicants who meet the eligibility requirements for one of the three federal economic immigration programs—the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, or Canadian Experience Class—can submit a profile into the Express Entry pool.
Once in the pool, candidates receive a CRS score based on age, education, work experience, language skills, and other human capital factors. Regular draws are held approximately every two weeks to invite top-ranking candidates to apply for permanent residency.
This increase in draw activity aligns with Canada’s 2021–2023 Immigration Levels Plan, which aims to admit over 400,000 immigrants annually, with around 110,000 of them through Express Entry alone. In 2020, despite the challenges imposed by COVID-19, Canada issued a record 107,350 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) via Express Entry.
By boosting pathways for skilled workers already living in Canada, especially under the CEC stream, Canada is reinforcing its strategy to fill labor market gaps more rapidly and stimulate its economy in the post-pandemic recovery phase.
The January 21 draw closely followed another Express Entry draw held just a day earlier—on January 20—for candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), emphasizing IRCC’s current two-pronged approach.
With more frequent draws and lower CRS thresholds for domestic applicants, Canada’s message remains clear: skilled immigrants are central to the nation’s future growth. Maple News will continue to follow this evolving story and provide updates on upcoming Express Entry rounds.