The last week surprised everyone when IRCC announced its 7th Express Entry draw of 2023. IRCC issued 7000 ITAs invitations to apply. The minimum CRS score was 490. It was the largest all-program draw ever. The draw broke the previous record of 5500 which was held in January 2018. The 7th draw was held on 15 march 2023 with the following details.
Ministerial Instructions respecting invitations to apply for permanent residence under the Express Entry system #243– March 15, 2023:
- No Program Specified
- Number of invitations issued: 7,000
- Rank required to be invited to apply: 7,000 or above
- Date and time of round: March 15, 2023, 17:08:16 UTC
- CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited: 490
Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada IRCC has given 7000 people a chance to apply for the following three programs in the latest express entry draw:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- Canadian Experience Class (CES)
CRS score distribution of candidates in the Express Entry pool as of March 15, 2023
| CRS score range | Number of candidates |
| 601-1200 | 784 |
| 501-600 | 3,216 |
| 451-500 | 65,826 |
| 491-500 | 2,603 |
| 481-490 | 12,183 |
| 471-480 | 20,833 |
| 461-470 | 16,836 |
| 451-460 | 13,371 |
| 401-450 | 61,240 |
| 441-450 | 12,672 |
| 431-440 | 13,334 |
| 421-430 | 10,697 |
| 411-420 | 11,833 |
| 401-410 | 12,704 |
| 351-400 | 71,292 |
| 301-350 | 37,113 |
| 0-300 | 5,650 |
| Total | 245,121 |
This was only the draw in the latest period that has changed the design of the program particularly draws that have been occurring over the last 60 days. Since the last all program-particular rounds of invitations, 3 for PNP and one for FSWP applicants. The latest draw was PNP only and 697 people were provided ITAs at the start of March.
Understand the Express Entry System
Express Entry gives a pathway to permanent residence for skilled workers in Canada or overseas. For potential skilled foreign workers, Express Entry will result in fast processing times of 6 months or less. Express Entry manages applications for permanent residence under these federal economic immigration programs:
- The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- The Canadian Experience Class (CES)
Provinces and territories can also recruit candidates from Express Entry through their Provincial Nominee Programs to meet local labor market requirements. Express Entry works with the following steps:
- Create your profile;
- You will be sent in the Express Entry pool if succeeded you will provide an;
- Invitation to Apply ITAs;
- Apply for permanent residence online.
You have 2 months to submit your application. After that IRCC authorities will check your eligibility to welcome you into the country.
Express Entry Program and the definition of its terms
Eligible foreign national
It means a foreign national whose expression of interest is in the express entry pool established by the Express Entry Instructions. (étranger admissible)
Express Entry Instructions
It means the Ministerial Instructions Respecting the Express Entry System, as published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on December 1, 2014, as amended from time to time. (Instructions concernant le système Entrée express)
Specific ranking
It means (a) for a class referred to in any of paragraphs 2(a) to(c) of the Express Entry Instructions, the ranking established only among the eligible foreign nationals who are eligible to be invited to make an application in that class; and (b) for the class referred to in paragraph 2(d) of those Instructions, the ranking established only among the eligible foreign nationals who are members of that class. (classement spécifique)
Invitation
It has the same meaning as in section 1 of the Express Entry Instructions.