CRS point requirements for ITA dips further

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited 3,611 more eligible candidates to apply for permanent residence through express entry in a draw from pool of candidates conducted on February 22, 2017. Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points required to receive an invitation to apply (ITA) decreased to its lowest numbers of 441 since the start of express entry system.

Express Entry is an immigration system implemented by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) which manages skilled worker applications under Federal Economic programs. This includes the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Skilled Trades Program the Canada Experience Class and certain parts of the Provincial Nominee Program.

It is expected that the majority of applicants to be issued (ITA’s) under Canada’s Express Entry Immigration system in 2017 will require a much lower CRS score as compared to previous draws, enabling a significant number of applicants to receive permanent residence without a job offer or nomination under a provincial immigration program.  However, provincial nomination or a valid job offer will definitely increase the chances of receiving invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence.

Key facts about Express Entry

Start date: January 01, 2015

First draw from the pool of candidates: January 31, 2015

Minimum CRS points required for ITA in any one draw: 441 (February 22, 2017)

Largest number of ITA’s issued in any one draw: 3,664 (February 8, 2017)

Number of ITAs issued in 2015: 31,063

Number of ITAs issued in 2016: 33,782

Number of ITAs issued in 2017: 17,019

Total number of ITAs issued since the start of express entry: 81,864