On November 1, 2022, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released details on the Government of Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan for 2023-2025, which included an update to the Express Entry system. The new category-based selection process in the Express Entry system was developed to help achieve a long-term focus on economic growth through a strategy to help businesses find workers and attract the skills required in key sectors facing acute labour shortages.
How and what categories were chosen in 2023?
Categories are chosen based on:
- Labour market information and projections
- Input received from partners, including provinces and territories, and stakeholders across the country
For 2023, IRCC chose these categories:
- French-language proficiency
- Healthcare occupations
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations
- Trade occupations
- Transport occupations
- Agriculture and agri-food occupations
Category-based Express Entry draws in 2023
Since implementing the new category-based selection process, at least one round of invitations has been announced within each category.
| Round type | Invitations issued as of November 1, 2023 |
|---|---|
French language proficiency | 7,700 |
Healthcare occupations | 5,600 |
Trade occupations | 1,500 |
Transport occupations | 1,000 |
Agriculture and agri-food occupations | 600 |
STEM occupations | 500 |
The French language proficiency category has been of priority, comprising approximately 45% of the category-based invitations issued as of November 1, 2023. In 2020 and 2021, IRCC found that due to the global pandemic and related border closures, the arrival of new French-speaking permanent residents was nearly non-existent. Since IRCC wishes to continue to support the commitment of the Government of Canada’s Francophone Immigration Strategy, which aims to support the vitality of Francophone communities, particularly through Francophone immigration outside of Quebec, these category-based draws are an effective way to drive an increase to the number of French-speaking permanent residents in Canada.
Since the first category-based draw was made on June 28, 2023, non-specific general and program-specific draws continue to be issued by IRCC. However, the invitation threshold, measured by the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), has risen from a minimum score within the mid-to high-480s to what is now routinely a minimum CRS score of 500+. Gaining an invitation within these higher CRS thresholds is proving to be a challenge for applicants who do not qualify within one of the designated categories, with the number of invitations issued within each non-specific general draw dropping dramatically from 7000 to as few as 700 after the new category-based selection process came into practice.
How BDO can help
The Immigration Services team at BDO Law can assess your unique profile and circumstances to determine the most efficient and cost-effective strategy to increase the likelihood of achieving a favourable outcome. If you have questions about Express Entry, the new category-based selection process, and options to increase your CRS score, contact BDO Law’s Immigration Services team at [email protected].
The information in this publication is current as of November 1, 2023.
This publication has been carefully prepared, but it has been written in general terms and should be seen as broad guidance only. The publication cannot be relied upon to cover specific situations and you should not act, or refrain from acting, upon the information contained therein without obtaining specific professional advice. Please contact BDO Canada LLP to discuss these matters in the context of your particular circumstances. BDO Canada LLP, its partners, employees and agents do not accept or assume any liability or duty of care for any loss arising from any action taken or not taken by anyone in reliance on the information in this publication or for any decision based on it.