Canada Invites 1,800 Express Entry Candidates in Category-Based Draw for Trade Occupations

In its latest Express Entry draw, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 1,800 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates in trade occupations. To be eligible, candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 433.

This marks the first trade-occupation category-based draw since July 4, when IRCC also invited 1,800 candidates with a slightly higher minimum CRS score of 436. It is also the first non-French proficiency category-based draw since July 5.

The October 23 draw was the third Express Entry draw of the week. On October 22, IRCC invited 400 candidates from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) with a minimum CRS score of 539. Additionally, a draw on October 21 targeted Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates, inviting 648 individuals with a minimum CRS score of 791.

IRCC has developed a recent trend of holding multiple Express Entry draws every second week, often including specific draws for PNP and CEC candidates. This strategy aims to reduce the number of temporary residents in Canada while simultaneously increasing permanent resident admissions in line with Canada’s immigration targets.

The upcoming Immigration Levels Plan, scheduled for release by November 1, will outline the country's immigration goals for 2025-2027. In 2024, Canada had planned to welcome 110,770 new permanent residents under the Express Entry system, though it remains unclear if this target has been met.

Successful candidates from this latest draw are expected to complete their immigration process in 2025, given IRCC’s six-month standard for processing Express Entry applications.