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In the second Express Entry draw of 2019 held on January 23, the Government of Canada issued 3900 Invitations to Apply(ITAs) for permanent residence. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required was 443 points, the lowest of the year.
As in the previous draws, tie-break rule was applied in the latest draw as well, the date and time being January 2, 2019 at 03:55:26 UTC. It means all candidates who submitted their Express Entry profiles before the said date and time were invited to apply for permanent residence.
With the latest draw, the total number of invitations issued by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) this year has reached 7800. This is so far the highest number of ITAs issued as of January 23, in any year ever since the launch of Express Entry system in 2015.
The minimum CRS score for this draw was six points lower compared to the previous draw held on January 10, when it was 449. This can be explained by the fact that the interval between two of the latest draws held on January 10 and January 23 was only two weeks, compared to three weeks between the draws held on December 19 and January 10.
It is expected that Canada will be inviting an increasing number of Express Entry candidates over the next few years, maintaining the CRS score requirements at the current level or lower. As per the updated Immigration Levels Plan of Canada for 2019-2021, a total of 256,000 new permanent residents will be admitted to Canada through the three economic immigration programs managed by Express Entry– Federal Skilled Worker Class, Canadian Experience Class, and Federal Skilled Trades Class. Another 200,000 or so new permanent residents will be admitted through the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) during the plan period. The Express Entry candidates who receive provincial nomination will receive 600 additional CRS score points that would guarantee an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence in the subsequent Express Entry draws.
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 |
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