Maple News reports that 2020 marked the most active and record-breaking year in the history of Canada’s Express Entry immigration system, despite global disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued a staggering 107,350 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence through Express Entry—surpassing all previous annual totals since the system launched in 2015.
Express Entry manages applications for three main federal immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). It also serves as a gateway for select Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams. The sheer volume of ITAs issued in 2020 reflects a strategic pivot by the Canadian government to maintain immigration momentum while prioritizing candidates already within the country.
IRCC conducted 36 rounds of invitations over the year—10 more than the previous year. Early in the pandemic, the agency shifted its focus by holding targeted draws for Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee Program candidates, overwhelmingly favouring applicants already residing in Canada due to international travel restrictions.
Notably, the year saw both the smallest and largest draws to date. On April 15, a PNP-only draw invited just 118 candidates—the lowest-ever Express Entry draw. Conversely, toward the end of the year, IRCC began issuing 5,000 ITAs per draw—a record-breaking figure that became the new standard in the final months of 2020.
This ramp-up in draw size is widely interpreted as an effort to meet Canada’s ambitious immigration targets for 2021. The federal government has set a goal of welcoming 401,000 new permanent residents in that year alone, with 108,500 expected to come through Express Entry-managed programs. These targets are set to rise further in 2022 and 2023, reaching up to 113,750 newcomers via Express Entry.
The year started with steady draw sizes, topping 4,500 ITAs in February. However, once Canada’s border restrictions began on March 18, smaller PNP-only and larger CEC-focused draws became the norm. This approach ensured continued immigration processing while prioritizing candidates more likely to be able to settle in the country without facing border challenges.
As the year progressed, Canada gradually returned to all-program draws—where candidates from all Express Entry-managed streams are considered. These resumed in September and gradually increased to 5,000 ITAs per draw, highlighting Canada’s commitment to boosting economic immigration amid pandemic recovery efforts.
Despite a dramatic fall in actual immigration arrivals due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, Canada’s long-term immigration targets remain robust. The record-setting performance of the Express Entry system in 2020 is evidence of the government’s resolve to welcome skilled newcomers and use immigration as a key driver of economic growth and demographic sustainability.
For skilled workers worldwide, Express Entry continues to be one of the most accessible and efficient pathways to Canadian permanent residency, with most PR applications being processed within six months after receiving an ITA.