Canada Express Entry – All The New Changes/Developments In 2022

Last Updated On 21 January 2023, 3:40 PM EST (Toronto Time)

Express Entry is the most popular and fastest way of getting permanent residency in Canada.

However, new NOC coding, technical glitches, new funds requirements, and resumption of all program draws makes it worthy to take a look back at Express Entry system this year and trend of CRS score (Comprehensive Ranking System) to plan for 2023.

This year new NOC codes using the TEER system were introduced making 16 new occupations eligible for the Express Entry.

As we know Express Entry draws are usually held bi-weekly, but there hasn’t been a draw since November 23 due to ongoing technical glitches post implementation of new NOC codes.

Additionally, November 23 Express Entry draw invited some ineligible profiles while left out some eligible ones due to technical glitch.

For all the applicants in Express Entry pool as well as future applicants, it is important to understand the CRS cut off trend in 2022.

In this article, we enlist new changes and events highlighting Canada’s most famous Express Entry system and trend of cut off scores as well as draws in 2022.

If you are an Express Entry applicant waiting in pool OR planning on applying OR already applied, then read this article until end to understand the series of events this year.

Targeted Express Entry Draws-Know New Categories Proposed By IRCC

Express Entry PNP Only Draws

Year 2022 began with PNP (Provincial Nominee Program) only draws with the pause on Federal High Skilled (FHS) Express Entry Draws (Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Worker Program) since December 2020.

November 24, 2021 IRCC memo already revealed that there was no need for FHS draw for the first half of 2022. But, the memo provided a ray of hope that at least all program draws will resume in the later 2022.

Total of 10,789 Express Entry profiles were invited until resumption of all program draws on July 6, 2022. Lowest cut off in these PNP only draws was 674 inviting 1,070 candidates.

It is important to mention here that PNP gives 600 additional points, so Express Entry profiles invited in this lowest cut off PNP only draw only had CRS score of 74 before receiving the provincial nomination.

This is the reason that most of Canada permanent residency aspirants moved their focus to PNP.

Below listed are all the PNP only draw in 2022. Please note that Express Entry profiles having provincial nominee are always eligible for “all program” or “no program specified” Express Entry draw.

Date	Number Of Invitations	CRS Cut Off Score
June 22, 2022	636	752
June 8, 2022	932	796
May 25, 2022	590	741
May 11, 2022	545	753
April 27, 2022	829	772
April 13, 2022	787	782
March 30, 2022	919	785
March 16, 2022	924	754
March 2, 2022	1,047	761
February 16, 2022	1,082	710
February 2, 2022	1,070	674
January 19, 2022	1,036	745
January 5, 2022	392	808

Here Is IRCC Updated Express Entry Eligibility With New NOC System

All Program Express Entry Draws Resume On July 6, 2022

Finally, “All Program” or “no program specified” Express Entry draws resumed on July 6, 2022 after a drought since December 2020.

This draw invited only 1,500 candidates having a high cut off score of 557. IRCC commentary around this draw was that they will “gradually” increase the number of invites in upcoming draws.

Since July 6, 2022 CRS cut off score has dropped from 557 to 491. Number of invitations increased gradually, but are now stabilized at 4,750 invitations as per last 3 draws.

Date	Number Of Invitations	CRS Cut Off Score
November 23, 2022	4,750	491
November 9, 2022	4,750	494
October 26, 2022	4,750	496
October 12, 2022	4,250	500
September 28, 2022	3,750	504
September 14, 2022	3,250	510
August 31, 2022	2,750	516
August 17, 2022	2,250	525
August 3, 2022	2,000	533
July 20, 2022	1,750	542
July 6, 2022	1,500	557

Express Entry Glitch Invited Some Ineligible Profiles In Latest Draw

When Will Express Entry CEC Only Draws Resume?

Canadian Experience Class (CEC) only draws usually have low CRS cut off scores and is the best option of international students on post graduate work permit (PGWP) or employer specific work permit to get permanent residency in Canada.

Lowest CRS cut off score for CEC only draw was 357 in June and July of 2021 inviting 10,500 Express Entry profiles.

However, there has not been any Express Entry Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw since September 2021. As a result, CEC profiles have to compete against high cut off score in “no program specified draws.”

In the wake of now CEC only draw, IRCC introduced temporary public policy to extend expiring PGWP for 18 months. This new policy was to ensure that international students eligible for CEC didn’t get a fair chance to get permanent residency.

As of now this policy is applicable only to PGWP expiring before December 2022. Any PGWP expiring in new year 2023 will not be eligible under this temporary policy.

So, new year may bring good news for international students on PGWP. IRCC may resume CEC only draw in January 2023 since this policy will no longer be effective. Or they will have to extend this temporary policy.

Latest CRS Score Distribution in the Pool

Below is the latest available CRS score distribution in the Express Entry pool as of November 22, 2022 just before the last draw on November 23.

CRS score range	Number of candidates
601-1200	876
501-600	1,227
451-500	62,400
491-500	3,031
481-490	10,517
471-480	19,494
461-470	16,523
451-460	12,835
401-450	58,357
441-450	12,228
431-440	12,823
421-430	9,896
411-420	11,209
401-410	12,201
351-400	68,489
301-350	35,614
0-300	5,252
Total	232,215

Express Entry Targeted Draws In 2023 – All You Should Know!

New Express Entry Funds Requirement

Funds requirement for Express Entry system was update in 2022 with effect from June 9, 2022.

This is only applicable to Express Entry Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP) and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).

However, applicants under these categories don’t need proof of funds if they have authorization to work in Canada with a valid job offer.

Number of family members	Funds required (in Canadian dollars)
1	$13,310
2	$16,570
3	$20,371
4	$24,733
5	$28,052
6	$31,638
7	$35,224
For each additional family member	$3,586

What Are Current Processing Times For Express Entry?

IRCC has a service standard of processing Express Entry applications within 6 months of uploading all the documents.

However, processing times have been longer than 6 months; although, IRCC minister recently announced that have now achieved service standard of processing, 80% of the new Express Entry profiles within 6 months.

Below list are the current processing times as of December 29, 2022. This is an average of processing 80% of the Express Entry applications in last 6 months.

Application Type	Current Processing Time
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)	20 months
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)	29 months
Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)	62 months
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) via Express Entry	13 months

More Express Entry News in 2022