Canada prepares to begin conducting targeted Express Entry draws in the Spring of 2023.

With the announcement of the new 2023-2025 immigration plans, updated NOC codes, and the passing of Bill C-19, IRCC will use new categories to invite candidates based on an economic priority in the upcoming year. Targeted draws would give the government a better ability to fill specific labour gaps and target those with in-demand skills.

Express Entry is an online system that Canada uses to manage Permanent Residence Applications under three programs:

1. Federal Skilled Worker (FSW): where skilled workers with foreign work experience meet criteria for education and other factors. Applicants are normally young, highly educated, with work experience, and knowledge in English or French.
2. Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP): this program is designed to skilled workers who are qualified in a skilled trade and hold a valid job offer or a certificate of qualification.
3. Canadian Experience Class (CEC): where candidates need to have at least one year of full-time Canadian work experience, obtained in the three years before the submission of the application, in a professional capacity.

Since 2015, when this management system came into effect, candidates have been selected to receive invitations to apply (ITAs) exclusively based on their score within the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

The CRS evaluates several factors of the applicant, such as education, language skills, international and Canadian work experience, and other human capital factors. Each of these factors assigned points that would increase the CRS score, therefore increasing the chances of receiving an ITA.

Canada is currently facing a labour shortage due to an aging population and low birth rate. To improve the workforce, the new immigration levels plan targets to welcome over 460,000 new immigrants each year from 2023 to 2025, and 110,000 of these will be admitted through the Express Entry programs.

On June 23 the Bill C-19 passed in both houses of parliament, making the changes to Express Entry possible. Now, the Immigration Minister has the authority to conduct draws targeting specific National occupational Classification (NOC) codes.

Although specific categories have not yet been created, IRCC suggests that draws will be based on attributes such as language knowledge, education, or work experience in a specific occupation, rather than the candidates' CRS score.

In the meantime, all Express Entry program draws continue. Learn more about Express Entry and find out if you are eligible, book a consultation now.