Canada issued 3,350 invitations to apply(ITAs) for permanent residence in the seventh Express Entry draw of 2019 held on April 3. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score requirement for the draw was 451. This is one point lower than the minimum CRS requirement for the previous draw held on March 20, which was 452. The CRS score is coming down for the third consecutive draw, which is attributed to the consistent two-week interval between draws.
The tie-break in the 114th Express Entry draw was set at January 9, 2019, at 07:35:09 UTC. It means all candidates with a minimum CRS score of 451, who had submitted their Express Entry profile before the said date and time, were invited to apply in the draw.
With the latest draw, the total number of invitations to apply issued this year has reached 24550. Compared to the same time period last year, Canada has issued 7,050 more invitations in 2019. This is also the fifth consecutive draw where Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is issuing 3350 invitations.
However, it is expected that the draw sizes may increase in the coming months as Canada has set higher Express Entry admission targets for the current year and the coming two years. As per the updated Canada Immigration Levels Plan for 2019-2021, the country will be accepting around 256,000 new immigrants through the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Canadian Experience Class, and Federal Skilled Trades Class– the three economic immigration pathways managed by the Express Entry, over the next three years. Canada will welcome yet another 200,000 or so new permanent residents to the country through Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) before the end of 2021.
Minimum CRS requirements in the Express Entry draws held this year:
Date | Minimum CRS score | Number of ITAs issued |
January 10, 2019 | 449 | 3900 |
January 23, 2019 | 443 | 3900 |
January 30, 2019 | 438 | 3350 |
February 20, 2019 | 457 | 3350 |
March 6. 2019 | 454 | 3350 |
March 20, 2019 | 452 | 3350 |
April 3, 2019 | 451 | 3350 |
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