IRCC, the Canadian immigration department, recently held this week’s third Express Entry draw. This was a category-based selection draw where individuals with work experience in the Transport sector received an Invitation to apply (ITAs). Canada invites candidates to address its labor market shortages in various in-demand industries and economic needs. Discover the result for the Express Entry draw for Transport Occupations below, i.e., the total ITA issued and the needed CRS score.

Express Entry draw for Transport Occupations

IRCC recently held the latest category-based Express Entry draw for Transport Occupations. To be considered for an ITA, candidates needed work experience in the transport sector and a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 435.

Two additional draws also took place this week, on December 18 and 19.  On December 18, IRCC held an all-program draw for 1,325 candidates. The required CRS score for this draw was 542.  

The draw on December 19 targeted candidates from trade occupations. A total of 1000 candidates who had a minimum score of 425 received ITAs. This was the second category-based selection draw of this year for trade occupations. The first draw for this category occurred on August 3, in which 1500 candidates received an invitation.

IRCC also held draws last week. These include an All-Program draw, a draw for French language proficiency, and STEM occupations. These draws resumed after a temporary pause of a month, and the cause of this break remains unknown.

There could be several causes that may compel the department to postpone the Express Entry Draws. The following are some major ones:

• If the department is already about to reach its immigration targets for Express Entry Candidates set in the Immigration Levels Plan,
• Staffing changes;
• IT problem; and
• Updates to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)

A recap of this year’s Express Entry draws (since June)

This table will underline the result of Express Entry draws that have occurred in Canada since June 2023. Find the total invited candidates, draw type, needed CRS score, and the date the draw took place. 

The table begins with the June draw results and ends with the latest Express Entry draw for Transport Occupations. 

Express Entry System and Category-based Selection Draws in Canada

Canada’s Express Entry is a system that governs the candidate’s applications from the three main economic programs:

• The FSWP- Federal Skilled Worker Program
• The FSTP-Federal Skilled Trades Program
• The CEC-Canadian Experience Class 

EE has CRS to evaluate candidates on the basis of various human capital factors and gives a CRS score. These include:

• Work experience;
• Language ability;
• Education;
• Age; and 
• Occupation.

Canada started category-based selection draws under the Express entry this May to address the urgent demand in specific fields. The goal is to strengthen the Canadian workforce and economy.

The six selected categories for 2023 EE category-based draws are:

• French language proficiency
• STEM professions;
• Agriculture and agri-food
• Healthcare;
• Trades; and
• Transport.

Canada releases immigration-level plans every year to specify its immigration targets for different pathways for the following three years.

As per its immigration level plan for the next three years, Canada will accept 114,000 newcomers for attaining permanent resident status in Canada.