Maple News reports that Canada’s Express Entry system experienced a dynamic summer, culminating in five draws throughout August 2024 that collectively issued over 10,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residency. This marks a return to bi-weekly draws and signals a clear shift in the focus of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), aligning with recently stated policy goals by Immigration Minister Marc Miller.
The August draws highlighted a growing prioritization of candidates already residing in Canada, particularly under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams. This approach supports IRCC’s strategy to ease pressure on housing demand and affordability by transitioning temporary residents—especially those on work permits—into permanent residents. Notably, the draws included two focused exclusively on CEC candidates (Aug 14 and Aug 27), with CRS cut-offs of 509 and 507 respectively.
In addition, two targeted PNP draws were conducted (Aug 13 and Aug 26), offering a total of 1,884 ITAs to provincial nominees, who often carry higher Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores due to the added nomination points. The highest cut-off observed in August was 694 for the Aug 26 PNP draw.
French-speaking candidates also continue to receive priority, as shown in the August 15 draw that issued 2,000 ITAs to applicants with strong French language proficiency. This aligns with Canada’s broader Francophone immigration targets outside Quebec, which are set to rise: 6% in 2024, 7% in 2025, and 8% in 2026. So far in 2024, seven draws for French-proficient candidates have been held, distributing over 19,000 ITAs.
As of August 27—the date of the most recent draw—the Express Entry pool comprised a diverse range of CRS scores. A substantial number of candidates (over 52,000) occupy the 351–400 score range, while more competitive bands (471–500) together hold nearly 38,000 individuals. Only 127 candidates rank in the elite 601–1200 range, mostly due to provincial nominations or a valid job offer with LMIA support.
The data confirms that Express Entry remains a competitive and evolving pathway to permanent residence in Canada. With increased focus on in-Canada applicants and a rising interest in Francophone talent, prospective immigrants are advised to stay informed about new immigration policies and adjust their profiles accordingly to boost their CRS scores.
Maple News will continue to monitor changes in Express Entry trends and other immigration developments to keep readers informed and application-ready.