Maple News reports that December 2024 is already following a familiar trajectory in Canada’s Express Entry system, with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducting category-based draws similar to those seen in recent months. As of early December, IRCC has invited candidates from the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and those with strong French language proficiency, aligning with ongoing immigration strategies.
November 2024 featured six Express Entry draws, highlighting Canada’s current emphasis on targeted immigration under the new category-based selection model. These categories include the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the PNP, and specialized occupations such as healthcare—areas aligned with both economic and demographic goals.
One of the most notable developments in November was the return of the healthcare-specific draw. On November 20, IRCC issued 3,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates in healthcare occupations, marking the largest draw of the month. Altogether, healthcare and French-speaking candidates accounted for 69% of all invitations issued through the category-based selection stream.
Despite the return of targeted healthcare draws, Express Entry rounds for CEC and PNP candidates remained comparatively small in size. Only about 800 ITAs were issued across each of these streams over the course of the month. As a result, the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score cut-offs remained relatively high—showing how demand continues to outpace supply in these categories.
Here’s a breakdown of key draws in November:
– On November 20, 3,000 healthcare professionals were invited with a CRS cut-off of 463.
– Two CEC draws occurred on November 13 and 19, each inviting 400 candidates with high CRS scores of 547 and 539, respectively.
– PNP draws on November 12 and 18 offered a combined 907 invitations, with extremely high CRS thresholds reaching as high as 816.
– An additional 800 candidates were selected in a French proficiency draw on November 15 with a CRS cut-off of 478.
These selections reflect the implementation of IRCC’s updated Immigration Levels Plan for 2025. This strategy prioritizes candidates already in Canada or those fitting within key federal economic priorities—namely, category-based selections intended to address labor shortages and promote Francophone immigration across provinces.
Looking ahead, it’s clear that IRCC will continue to focus on targeted draws that align with Canada’s national and regional labor market demands. As December progresses, immigration candidates can expect continued emphasis on healthcare, French language skills, and Canadian-based experience, all of which now define the modern landscape of the Express Entry system.
As the pool becomes more competitive, prospective immigrants should ensure they meet eligibility under these strategic categories to maximize their chances of receiving an invitation.