Last Updated On 8 January 2024, 7:17 PM EST (Toronto Time)

Express Entry Draw Expectations 2024: Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is aiming to welcome 110,770 new Canadian permanent residents in 2024 via the Express Entry system.

Furthermore, Canada has set a range of new permanent residents via Express Entry between 90,000 (lower range) and 116,000 (higher range) for the year 2024, with 110,770 being the ideal target.

IRCC is yet to unveil the first Express Entry draw for 2024, which we may see in the coming days.

Meanwhile, we have created expectations for the upcoming rounds of invitations this year.

This article delves into the analysis and anticipated outcome of draws so that our readers comprehend our projections and plan accordingly.

A Quick Look Back at Express Entry Draws in 2023

Heading into 2024, it is important to zoom out and see the bigger picture of the draws that were held in 2023 since it was the first year introducing category-based rounds of invitations.

IRCC has now replaced the term “no program specified” draw with “general” draws. So now, general draws mean that all the profiles are being considered that have been created under the Express Entry system.

In 2023, Canada invited 110,266 primary applicants to apply for permanent residency (PR) in 42 rounds of invitations.

IRCC introduced category-based or targeted draws on June 28, 2023, and invited a total of 51,218 people in 27 rounds of invitations.

Draw Type	Invitations	Number of Draws	CRS Cutoff Range	Percentage of total invitations
‘No program’ or ‘general’ Invitations since introduction of targeted Draws	23,800	19	496-561	46.47%
Francophone invitations	8,700	6	375-486	16.99%
STEM invitations	6,400	2	481-486	12.50%
Healthcare invitations	5,600	3	431-476	10.93%
Trade invitations	2,500	2	388-425	4.88%
Transport invitations	1,670	2	435	3.26%
PNP only	1548	1	776	3.02%
Agriculture and agri-food invitations	1,000	2	354-386	1.95%
Total	51,218	37	354-561

Express Entry draws since June 28, 2023

Express Entry Draw Guidance for 2024

For non-targeted or general-Express Entry draws, the 510 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score has now become the new normal.

Even at a 510 CRS score, the chances are quite bleak looking for IRCC’s pity to conduct regular and large-sized general rounds of invitations.

A CRS score above 520 can expect an invitation to apply in the upcoming general Express Entry draws, beginning with a 530+ score in the initial rounds of invitations.

For category-based or targeted Express Entry draws, opportunity lies in the Trade, Agriculture & Agri-Food, and Transport rounds of invitations with low CRS cutoff scores.

The healthcare category is expected to come in second with a CRS cutoff score that will likely remain relatively higher in the STEM category.

We expect that the trade category will come out on top in the 2024 Express Entry draws, followed by French proficiency.

The reason we chose these 2 categories as the best bet is the lower CRS cutoff and higher chances of getting provincial nominations, as well as the fact that we may see an increased number of invitations in 2024.

Furthermore, STEM and healthcare categories with comparatively higher CRS cutoff scores are also good bets based on higher chances of receiving provincial nominations and boosting CRS scores.

Agriculture & Agri-Food and Transport targeted rounds of invitations are expected to be less frequent than other categories but will continue to have low CRS cutoffs.

Next Express Entry Draw CRS Score prediction

Program	CRS Cutoff
Trade-targeted draw	410
Agriculture and Agri-food draw	390
Transport targeted draw	430
French focused draw	470
STEM Targeted Draw	478
Healthcare Targeted Draw	425
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)	740
No Program Specified	530+

Next Express Entry Draw CRS Score prediction

Disclaimer: There has been no confirmation from the Canadian immigration department; the Express Entry forecast is merely a conjecture based on the information that is currently available and previous data. INC News anticipates this, although it might not transpire in precisely this manner.

INC General Advice

We continue to advise qualified applicants for one of the Express Entry programs to create their profiles as soon as they qualify and subsequently work on qualifying for one of the Provincial Nominee Programs or Category-Based Selections.

View the full list of 100 occupations that can obtain 50 more CRS points for a certificate of qualification (COQ). TIP: Go for the Red Seal Programs that can easily get COQ.

Express Entry primary applicants having a CRS score less than 510–500 make your spouse your primary applicant even if your overall CRS score drops to around 450–490 if you already have a valid profile in the Express Entry pool and your spouse has at least six months of experience in one of the 82 eligible occupations for targeted draws.

Please note that the Canadian Immigration Department may change the categories in 2024, but we expect the trade and French-proficiency categories to stay at least for the next 5 years.

Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC

Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant) licensed by CICC (formerly known as ICCRC) with member number R708618. He brings extensive knowledge of immigration law and new changes to rapidly evolving IRCC.