Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) scaled back its Express Entry activity in September 2024, issuing just 5,911 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence — a notable decrease from 10,384 in August and 25,125 in July.
Despite the slowdown, IRCC conducted three targeted draws throughout the month. On September 9, a draw focused on Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates saw 911 ITAs issued with a high Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off of 732. Later, on September 13, 1,000 candidates with French language proficiency were invited, with a significantly lower CRS cut-off of 446. The month wrapped up on September 19 with a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw that issued the bulk of the month’s ITAs — 4,000 invitations — at a cut-off score of 509.
These trends reflect Canada’s evolving immigration priorities. According to statements from Immigration Minister Marc Miller, there’s a clear emphasis on selecting ‘domestic’ candidates — individuals already living or working in Canada — as well as strengthening francophone immigration outside of Quebec. These strategies align with Canada’s broader demographic and economic goals, as it seeks to welcome skilled talent while supporting linguistic and regional diversity.
Meanwhile, competition within the Express Entry pool remains intense. As of September 19, the candidate pool was heavily populated in mid-range CRS brackets. The largest group of candidates had scores between 351 and 400, totaling over 51,000 individuals. Another significant segment consisted of those scoring between 471 and 490, representing more than 26,000 candidates.
Scores in the top tiers remain rare. Only 764 candidates had scores in the 601–1200 range, underscoring the challenge in reaching the highest CRS benchmarks without a provincial nomination or other major enhancements such as a job offer or a master’s degree from Canada.
IRCC’s recent strategy suggests that applicants with Canadian work experience, French proficiency, or a provincial nomination currently stand the best chance of receiving an ITA in the near term. As the pool becomes more competitive and category-based draws continue, potential candidates may want to consider boosting their profiles through additional education, gaining work experience in high-demand sectors, or improving language scores.
Looking ahead, Canada’s immigration roadmap points toward more strategic, category-based draws — potentially limiting the frequency of all-program rounds. While this focus narrows eligibility in the short term, it is designed to align immigration with national labor and community-building priorities.
Stay with Maple News for ongoing updates on Canada’s Express Entry system and other critical immigration developments.