Maple News reports that Canada held its largest-ever Express Entry draw on Saturday, February 13, issuing a staggering 27,332 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence. All invitations were extended to candidates from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) stream, and notably, the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required was just 75—the lowest in Express Entry history.
This landmark move by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is almost six times the size of the previous record draw of 5,000 ITAs and reflects the government’s decisive strategy to meet its 2021 immigration targets. Canada aims to welcome over 400,000 new immigrants this year, including 108,500 under Express Entry-managed programs.
Minister of Immigration Marco Mendicino highlighted that the candidates chosen in this round are already contributing to Canada’s economy and communities. “These aspiring Canadians are already established here, possess valuable skills, and are supporting some of the most essential sectors across the country,” he said, underlining the government’s intent to convert as many temporary residents into permanent ones during the pandemic.
The draw applied IRCC’s tie-breaking rule, which ensures fairness by selecting candidates who submitted their profiles before September 12, 2020, at 15:31 UTC. Results show that Canada is aggressively front-loading its immigration efforts in 2021 to allow approved applicants enough time to complete the permanent residence process within the year, despite ongoing global travel disruptions.
This draw followed a smaller one earlier in the same week, where 654 Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates received ITAs. Combined, IRCC issued 27,986 invitations over the course of just a few days—strong evidence of its commitment to long-term immigration goals and economic recovery post-COVID-19.
Express Entry is an application management system, not a program in itself. It handles applications for three skilled economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class. Eligibility and CRS scores are based on various factors including age, education, work experience, and language proficiency.
During the pandemic, Canada has prioritized CEC and PNP applicants because they are more likely to already be inside the country, making them logistically easier to transition into permanent residents. IRCC has not conducted an all-program draw in 2021 yet, but there is a strong possibility of their return as border restrictions ease.
According to IRCC, about 90% of CEC candidates currently reside in Canada. This allows the government to maintain steady immigration flows while adhering to public health measures.
With Express Entry expected to remain Canada’s primary pathway for skilled immigration, upcoming draws will be a critical watchpoint for those hoping to immigrate. Maple News will continue to monitor how Canada balances domestic and international talent to meet its ambitious goals.