Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued 2,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in a targeted Express Entry draw held on February 29, 2024. This draw specifically focused on candidates with strong French language proficiency, marking the second category-based selection round of the week.
To qualify, candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 336—among the lowest cut-off scores of the year so far. This low threshold underscores Canada’s ongoing efforts to welcome more francophone immigrants, particularly outside Quebec, to support its bilingualism goals and meet labor market needs.
This draw followed a general Express Entry draw held on February 28, where 1,470 candidates were invited with a much higher minimum CRS score of 534. General draws consider applicants from all three Express Entry-managed programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class.
February has been a notably active month for Express Entry. Including the February 29 draw, IRCC has issued a total of more than 16,000 ITAs across various rounds. These included general draws and additional category-based selections for candidates in healthcare professions and agriculture and agri-food occupations, in addition to French speakers.
Category-based selection was introduced by IRCC in May 2023 as a strategic move to better align immigration with labor market needs. The six targeted categories are: healthcare occupations, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) professions, trade occupations, transport occupations, agriculture and agri-food sectors, and strong French language proficiency.
IRCC confirmed earlier this year that the current selection categories will remain unchanged throughout 2024. These categories were established following extensive consultations with provinces, territories, settlement organizations, and Canadian employers.
By focusing immigration pathways on specific skill sets and language abilities, Canada continues to modernize its immigration system and fill key economic gaps. The recurring emphasis on French-speaking candidates reflects the government’s commitment to promoting linguistic diversity across the country.
Maple News will continue to provide timely updates on Express Entry draws and immigration policy changes as they unfold.