Express Entry Draw 242 | 667 PNP Candidates Invited

The latest Canadian Express Entry draw was just held. Express Entry draw 242 saw a CRS score of 748 and invited 667 PNP candidates to apply.

Express Entry Draw 242

Date of Draw: March 1, 2023

Number of Invitations Issued: 667

Minimum CRS: 748

Program Specified: Non-specified

Tie-breaking rule: December 12, 2022, at 10:48:12 UTC

Third PNP-Specific Draw of the Year

The sixth Express Entry draw of the year was just held. Express Entry draw 242 issued 667 Invitations to Apply (ITA)  to Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) of 748. This was the fourth program-specific draw since July 2022. Until recently, draws typically have been for all-program draws, however it has now been over a month since the last all-program draw. In an all-program draws, candidates can be invited from any of the three economic programs managed by Express Entry without needing a Provincial Nomination.

Express Entry has seen a unique start to the year so far. Draws had been paused for 11 weeks from the end of November 2022 to early January 2023, likely due to an IT system glitch. Draws usually have been taking place bi-weekly on Wednesday afternoons. However, the first draw of the year on January 11th was followed a week later by a second draw on January 18th. The third draw did take place as anticipated two weeks later, however, was unique in that it was the first non-all-program draw since July 2o22. The subsequent draw after that was announced the next day on Thursday and was also significant as it was the first Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) only draw to be held since the IRCC began conducting draws in 2015.

Today’s draw marks the third PNP-targeted draw to be held this year. This means that candidates in today’s draw have already received a Provincial Nomination. Nearly all provinces and territories have PNPs that align with Express Entry, the exceptions being Quebec and Nunavut. A PNP nomination grants an additional 600 points to the applicant’s CRS score. Today’s score cut-off of 748 means that applicants needed a minimum score of 148 before receiving their  PNP nomination in order to be eligible.

Current CRS Score Distribution of Express Entry Candidates

Express Entry Gearing Up for Changes

The IRCC has been working to create draw categories since Bill C-19 received royal assent back in June. This will be a big shift from the way Express Entry draws are currently held. Currently, only the top-ranking candidates in the entire Express Entry pool receive an ITA. Targeted draws by category would also allow the government to better fill specific labour shortages and target those with in-demand skills.

Currently, it has yet to be announced exactly what these categories are or more details on how exactly these draws will take place. The minister of immigration is expected to announce these categories before invitations are issued.

While the categories have not been announced, it is likely that they will be based on a candidate’s qualities such as education, occupation, work experience or language ability. This will better allow the government to target those with skills that are most urgent in Canada. This also means that applicants who may not have a top CRS score compared to the entire Express Entry pool will have a better chance at being selected if they have qualities that are targeted by these draws.

What Is Express Entry and How Can I Apply?

Express Entry is a system used by the Canadian government to manage applications for Canadian permanent residency. Express Entry uses a point-based system, the CRS, to rank candidates’ profiles. The system manages three main programs:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW);
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST); and
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Applying to Express Entry is a two-step procedure. The first step is to submit your profile with the required documents. Required documents usually consist of language test results, educational credentials and passport or travel documentation.

After you submit a profile and receive an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence, you can submit your complete application for the IRCC to review. Your complete application should include supporting documents such as reference letters, additional identity documents, police clearance certificates, and results of a medical examination.

Interested in learning more about your options to enter the Express Entry pool? Complete our free online assessment form today!