In the most recent Express Entry draw, IRCC awards an additional 3,500 invitations.

The eleventh Express Entry lottery of 2023 has been conducted by IRCC.

In an all-program draw, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) distributed 3,500 invitations to apply (ITAs) to applicants. A Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 483 was necessary for applicants.

Candidates from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Worker Programme (FSWP), and the Federal Skilled Trades Programme (FSTP) are taken into consideration in an all-program draw.

Following the April 12 draw, which was an all-program draw, 3,500 candidates got invitations to apply (ITAs). For such candidates, a CRS score of at least 486 was required.

The draws on March 15, March 23, and March 29 all invited 7,000 candidates each across two weeks rather than the customary bi-weekly draws, and the draw on April 12 only invited half of those candidates. Additionally, it increased the required CRS score from 481 to 486. The size of the draw and the higher CRS score are more in line with earlier draws from early 2022 and 2023.

March Express Entry milestones

Over 21,000 ITAs were issued in March of this year. In terms of ITAs issued, this was the second-highest number ever recorded by Express Entry.

When 27,332 CEC candidates were invited in a single draw in February 2021, that was the most ITAs granted in a month.

Nevertheless, the initial draw in March, which included 7,000 hopefuls, was the biggest ever for the entire programme. The next two drawings duplicated this figure, resulting in the invitation of 21,000 candidates over the course of two weeks and the issuance of 21,667 ITAs overall. On March 1, only applicants for the Provincial Nominee Programme (PNP) were given the remaining 667 ITAs.

March saw a total of four Express Entry draws, one every week. Draws usually only take place on Wednesdays once every two weeks, thus this is uncommon.