Maple News reports that on March 18, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 5,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence to candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) through the Express Entry system.
To be considered in this draw, applicants needed to meet the eligibility criteria for the CEC. This included a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 449, at least one year of full-time skilled work experience within Canada, and intermediate proficiency in either English or French. Those with CRS scores of exactly 449 were invited only if they had submitted their Express Entry profiles before February 19, 2021, following the IRCC’s tie-break rule.
This draw aligns with Canada’s current strategy to prioritize candidates already living within the country while international travel restrictions remain in place. According to IRCC data from earlier this month, approximately 77% of Express Entry candidates currently residing in Canada are eligible under the Canadian Experience Class.
IRCC has been targeting in-Canada applicants to meet its ambitious 2021 immigration targets. David Cohen, a senior immigration lawyer, confirmed that the federal government is focusing on draws limited to CEC and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates for this very reason.
Just a day before this draw—on March 17—IRCC invited 183 candidates under the PNP. These candidates are often seen as strong contributors to regional economies, as provincial nominations award an automatic 600 CRS points, significantly boosting their likelihood of receiving an ITA.
This latest round marks the first CEC-specific draw since February 13, when IRCC made headlines by inviting a record-breaking 27,332 CEC candidates—all individuals in the Express Entry pool who met the eligibility requirements—making it the largest single draw in Express Entry history.
As a result of these aggressive draw strategies, Canada has already issued 43,840 ITAs in 2021 alone—more than double the 19,368 issued by this time last year. This indicates a clear intent from the Canadian government to make up for 2020’s immigration shortfalls due to COVID-19 disruptions.
Maple News will continue to provide timely updates on the latest Express Entry and immigration developments as Canada pursues its ambitious goals for economic recovery and population growth through skilled immigration.