Canada holds largest-ever all-program Express Entry draw!

Surya Rathee
[Published 16 Mar, 2023 | 05:36 AM]
About Author - 3 min read
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Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted its seventh Express Entry draw of the year on March 15, 2023. This is the first all-program Express Entry draw since January 18.

Check Your Eligibility for Canada PR

A total of 7,000 candidates with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 490 were issued invitations in this invitation round. The number of ITAs in the March 15 draw beats the previous record of 5,500 candidates invited in the previous all-program draw on January 18. Candidates in all-program draw are considered from all three Express Entry programs -

• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

This latest Express Entry draw breaks the pattern of program-specific draws that have been occurring over the last two months. Since the last all-program draw, there have been four program-specific rounds of invitations – three for PNP-only and one for FSWP candidates.

Who was invited?

Express Entry Draw #243

• Number of invitations issued: 7,000
• Rank required to be invited to apply: 7,000 and above
• Type of draw: No-program specific
• Date and time of round: March 15, 2023, 17:08:16 UTC
• CRS score of lowest-ranking candidates invited: 490
• Tie-breaking rule: February 16, 2023, 10:33:06 UTC

Prior to 2023, all Express Entry draws between July and November 2022 were all-program draws that invited over 1,000 candidates each time – and grew as the minimum CRS score dropped.

How to achieve a CRS score of 490+?

The CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) score is a points-based system used by the Canadian government to rank Express Entry candidates based on various factors such as age, education, language proficiency, work experience, and adaptability.

Here are some ways to increase your CRS score for Express Entry:

• Improve your language skills: One of the easiest ways to increase your CRS score is by improving your language skills in either English or French. You can take language tests such as IELTS or CELPIP for English and TEF or TCF for French, and aim for a higher score.
• Obtain more education or certifications: Obtaining more education or certifications can increase your CRS score. You can consider enrolling in a course or obtaining a certificate related to your profession to increase your chances.
• Gain more work experience: The more work experience you have, the higher your CRS score will be. Consider obtaining more experience in your profession by working in a skilled job.
• Apply for a Provincial Nomination Program: Applying for a Provincial Nomination Program (PNP) can also increase your CRS score. Each province has its own criteria for selecting candidates, but being nominated by a province can increase your CRS score by 600 points.
• Consider a job offer from a Canadian employer: A job offer from a Canadian employer can increase your CRS score by up to 200 points. You can consider applying for jobs in Canada and securing a job offer to increase your CRS score.

The higher your CRS score, the better your chances of receiving an invitation to apply for Canada PR.