Maple News reports that on June 24, 2021, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a new Express Entry draw, issuing 6,000 invitations to candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cutoff score was 357 — marking the second-lowest cut-off in the history of CEC-only draws.
This drop in CRS threshold continues a strategic trend by IRCC, which aims to meet Canada’s annual target of welcoming 401,000 new immigrants. By focusing on candidates already residing in Canada, IRCC accelerates processing times and mitigates challenges posed by ongoing international travel restrictions.
CEC candidates are required to have at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada and meet language proficiency requirements in English or French. In this draw, candidates with a minimum score of 357 were invited only if they submitted their Express Entry profile before February 17, 2021, at 10:15:50 UTC, in accordance with IRCC’s tie-break rule.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, IRCC has primarily conducted draws targeting Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applicants, as these groups are more likely to already be living in the country. A PNP-specific draw earlier this week invited 1,002 candidates, reflecting this ongoing preference.
Although the Canadian government has begun easing travel restrictions — including allowing some approved permanent residents to enter the country as of June 21 — broader measures are still in place. The border remains closed to most non-essential travel, and the flight ban from India has been extended for another month.
IRCC has not yet resumed all-program draws, meaning candidates under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) have been excluded from invitations so far in 2021. However, immigration experts anticipate that all-program draws could return in the second half of the year, as IRCC seeks to reach its ambitious admission targets. Most applicants invited in late 2021 are unlikely to complete their permanent resident landings before early 2022, giving IRCC room to expand invitations beyond in-country applicants.
With a continued focus on meeting federal immigration goals amid evolving travel and public health conditions, IRCC is expected to adapt its invitation strategy in the coming months. Maple News will continue to monitor and report on Canada’s Express Entry developments as they unfold.