Maple News reports that Canada has kicked off 2022 with its first Express Entry draw, extending invitations to 392 candidates to apply for permanent residence. The January 5 draw was exclusively focused on candidates nominated through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
To qualify for this draw, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 808. This high cutoff reflects the automatic 600 points awarded to Express Entry profiles once a provincial nomination is secured.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has continued its strategy of conducting only PNP-specific draws since September 2021. An internal government memo confirmed that IRCC is temporarily targeting PNP candidates to manage and reduce the existing backlog in the overall Express Entry system. Specifically, IRCC is aiming to cut the backlog in half before resuming draws for other categories, such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
This approach aligns with a broader shift in Canada’s immigration priorities. According to the 2021 federal budget and subsequent mandate letters, the federal government is considering reforms to grant the immigration minister greater flexibility in selecting Express Entry candidates who better align with current labour market needs. There are also plans to broaden permanent residency opportunities for international students and temporary foreign workers through Express Entry, although specific policy details are still pending.
Changes to Canada’s occupational classification system are also expected later in 2022. The current National Occupational Classification (NOC) system will be replaced by the new Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) system. This change may expand or redefine who qualifies for Express Entry by adjusting how work experience is classified.
Looking back, 2021 became a historic first for Express Entry — no invitations were issued to FSWP candidates, who are typically international applicants. Instead, IRCC focused on applicants who were already inside Canada, such as those in the CEC or PNP streams, to navigate pandemic-related travel restrictions more efficiently.
CEC applicants, by definition, must have at least one year of Canadian work experience, while PNP candidates have already demonstrated their value to regional economies by securing provincial nominations.
As Canada continues to adapt its immigration systems in response to both pandemic-related disruptions and labor market needs, further changes to Express Entry selection and eligibility seem increasingly likely in the months ahead.