IRCC Invites 893 Candidates in First PNP Draw of 2023

IRCC held the third Express Entry draw of 2023 and invited 893 PNP candidates. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score is 733. The third round of invitations of 2023 is 239th of overall Express Entry.

The new draw held yesterday is the first program-specific draw released since July 2022. Previously, IRCC only released all-program draws allowing applications of eligible candidates. In all-program draws, a candidate may get an invitation without provincial nomination. Meanwhile, other candidates can apply through one of three Express Entry programs. Candidates of the latest draw have already received the provincial nomination.

Express Entry released the draws with a pause of six weeks between November 23 and January 11. IRCC held an Express Entry draw on January 11 and the next was on January 18. IRCC confirmed the reason for the pause as a system glitch.

The January 11 draw invited 5,500 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 507. The January 18 draw invited the same number of candidates but with a different CRS score of 490.

Further, IRCC is planning to resume regular draws. From the first draw of 2015, every time IRCC held draws every two weeks on Wednesdays. Express Entry’s primary objective is to select the potential candidates to become assets of Canada’s workforce and economy.

What is the PNP - Provincial Nominee Program?

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is one of the programs managed by the Express Entry System. The program allows the Canadian provinces to nominate eligible individuals. The regional labor market and population objectives of a particular province are the factors to send a nomination. Except for Quebec and Nunavut, all other Canadian provinces and territories implement the provincial nomination system collaborating with Express Entry.

Provincial nomination is an advantage to the application - it increases the CRS score by 600 points. As per the latest Express Entry draw, the minimum CRS score was 133 before receiving a provincial nomination.

What Is Express Entry?

Express Entry is an immigration system managed by IRCC. The system focuses on the immigration of foreign-skilled workers in Canada. Under Express Entry, there are three Canadian immigration programs. The programs are Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). Provincial Nominee Program candidates can apply through one of the three immigration programs.

Express Entry determines eligible candidates based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Candidates with top CRS scores will receive an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence.

Candidates’ permanent residence application goes to an IRCC officer for review. After approval of the application, the candidate becomes a permanent resident of Canada. Further, they are allowed to become Canadian citizens through permanent resident status.

Canada Targets to Invite 4,65,000 New Immigrants by 2023

Canada is experiencing a high labor shortage that resulted in 1 million job vacancies. Hence, the government of Canada aims to increase immigration numbers. The target is to invite 4,65,000 new immigrants by 2023.

The labor shortage is due to the low birth rate and the oldest population in the country. A quarter of Canada’s population will retire in the next five years. A couple of factors are causing labor shortages and subsequently impacting the country’s economy. The high targets of immigration of skilled workers can cover the labor shortage following an improved economy.

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