Maple News reports that the third quarter of 2020 marked a historic milestone for Canada’s Express Entry immigration system, as the country issued a record-breaking 28,450 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence. Despite global disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada continued to push forward with its immigration initiatives, exceeding all previous quarterly ITA figures since the program’s inception in 2015.
This surge brought the total number of ITAs issued in 2020 to 78,350 by the end of September, positioning the year on track to be the most successful for Express Entry since its launch. Even during the peak of the pandemic in Q2, Canada managed to issue 27,300 ITAs—numbers not seen since the final quarter of 2018.
After a pause in Q2, Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) candidates made a return to the Express Entry pool with an all-program draw on July 8. Since early September, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has consistently held all-program draws, creating broader opportunities by lifting restrictions that previously favored only certain immigration streams.
August was particularly diverse in its draw types. Canada conducted four different draws that month, including one for the Federal Skilled Trades Program on August 6. Additional draws on August 19 and 20 targeted candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC), a format reminiscent of Q2 practices.
While the largest single draw in history remains February 19, 2020, when 4,500 candidates were invited, September’s draws showed consistent volume with three invitation rounds each issuing 4,200 ITAs. These sustained numbers indicate strong momentum going into the final quarter of the year.
However, due to processing timelines of approximately six to eight months, the actual increase in permanent resident admissions will not become visible until 2021. In fact, Canada admitted 13,645 newcomers in July 2020—a 63% decrease compared with July 2019—largely due to travel restrictions and service slowdowns amid the pandemic. Data for August and September arrivals had yet to be released at the time of reporting.
Provincial Nominee Programs also played a vital role this quarter, offering alternative pathways for immigration candidates, especially those requiring a boost in Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points. Candidates nominated by a province receive an additional 600 CRS points, significantly improving their chances of being selected in a federal draw.
Several provinces held active PNP draws in Q3. British Columbia conducted weekly selections through its Tech Pilot, while Saskatchewan targeted skilled workers via its Express Entry and Occupation In-Demand streams. Manitoba issued invitations through numerous streams, including Skilled Workers in Manitoba, Skilled Workers Overseas, and the International Education Stream. Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island also held provincial selection rounds, demonstrating a nationwide commitment to economic immigration even during challenging times.
As Canada continues to leverage immigration as a key driver of economic recovery, the resilience and adaptability of its systems—especially Express Entry and PNPs—are becoming even more critical in shaping its post-pandemic future.