Canada Express Entry: Proposed Changes to Allow NOC-Specific Draws

Canada is planning to overhaul the Express Entry Canadian immigration route. As of now, the highest-ranked profiles in the Express Entry pool that meet the minimum ranking score cut-off, get invited.

Canada is all set to make significant changes in the Express Entry system. A flagship application management system of the federal government of Canada, Express Entry is for those looking to migrate to Canada as permanent residents through the -

• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP),
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP),
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC), or
• A portion of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

Express Entry is used by Canada to accept and manage permanent residence applications for three of the main economic immigration programs of Canada - FSWP, FSTP, and CEC. Canadian PNP, on the other hand, also has certain PNP streams or pathways linked with Express Entry.

What are the upcoming changes in Express Entry?

The proposed changes call for a new version of the Express Entry system, allowing the ITAs issued by IRCC in Express Entry draws to be based on criteria such as -

• Industry-based occupations, and
• Specific academic credentials.

With the changes being incorporated, there will come about a greater flexibility in terms of inviting candidates from the Express Entry pool. Identifying economic objectives, IRCC will then be able to invite Express Entry candidates that are best-suited to and have the most potential of fulfilling that specific objective.

In future, IRCC might be conducting Express Entry draws that specifically target particular occupations as per the National Occupation Classification (NOC) code. From the second half of 2022, a new NOC code - NOC 2021 Version 1.0 - will be in place. The new NOC 2021 will have a five-digit codification system instead of the present four-digit NOC codes.

The proposed changes in the Express Entry system of Canada - presented on May 19, 2022 to the Standing Committee on Immigration and Citizenship - are currently under discussion in the Parliament of Canada.

Express Entry comes under the federal department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Through Express Entry, Canadian immigration hopefuls submit Express Entry profiles, provided they meet the 67-point eligibility criteria.

Once the profiles are in the IRCC Pool, they are ranked based on a 1,200-point Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) matrix. Those with the highest CRS scores receive the invitation to apply (ITA) from IRCC. ITAs are sent out in the Express Entry draws held from time to time.

Under the proposed overhaul of the Express Entry system, the Canadian government will be able to invite candidates that can fulfil real-time labour requirements.

Starting July, Canada will be inviting new applicants to apply for permanent residence through Express Entry. All-program draws will be resumed from early-July 2022. A vast majority of the new Express Entry applications will be processed within the six-month processing standard.

In view of the proposed changes to the Express Entry system, an IRCC round of invitations can look very different once all-program Express Entry draws are resumed from July 2022.