In an unprecedented move, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a surprise Express Entry draw on a Saturday, issuing 27,332 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence — the largest draw in the program’s history, Maple News reports.
What made this draw even more astonishing was the record-low Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off of just 75 points. This significantly lowered threshold meant nearly every eligible candidate under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) stream was invited to apply. Prior to the pandemic, scores had hovered around 470, favoring highly qualified professionals. By contrast, this draw marked a fundamental shift aimed at widening access.
Launched in 2015, Express Entry had never seen more than 5,000 candidates invited in a single draw — until now. The extraordinary leap in ITAs demonstrates IRCC’s aggressive push to meet Canada’s immigration target of 401,000 new permanent residents in 2021, amid the challenges posed by COVID-19. With travel restrictions still in place, the focus is clearly on candidates already residing in Canada.
According to IRCC estimates, around 90% of CEC candidates are already within the country. By prioritizing these individuals, the government is not only streamlining application processing but also filling urgent labor market gaps and maintaining momentum on its immigration goals.
This bold draw reveals that IRCC is willing to be flexible and innovative in pursuit of its immigration quotas, and that more surprises may lie ahead. For prospective immigrants, there’s an important takeaway: even with a low CRS score, it’s well worth entering the Express Entry pool. As this draw proved, fortune favors those prepared.
While Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) candidates may currently feel sidelined, IRCC has previously shifted gears — favoring PNP and CEC during early 2020 before resuming all-program draws later in the year. Given this latest move, future large-scale draws for offshore candidates, including FSWP applicants, remain a strong possibility.
The Saturday Surprise also signals renewed optimism. Canada’s immigration minister has repeatedly emphasized skilled immigrants’ role in the country’s recovery and long-term growth. If current trends persist, FSWP and other candidates abroad may once again see their chance to make Canada home.
As Canada navigates a pandemic and recovery period, the clear message from IRCC is: stay in the pool, keep your profile strong, and be ready. Express Entry’s unpredictability is now its biggest opportunity.
Maple News will continue to monitor this evolving story and provide updates on future Express Entry developments.