IRCC has issued invitations to candidates for the second Express Entry draw of the week

Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued invitations to candidates in the second Express Entry draw of the week.

The department issued 4,500 invitations to apply (ITAs) in a category-based selection draw for candidates in STEM occupations.

Candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 491 to be considered.
This was the first draw for candidates in STEM occupations so far this year. Today’s draw follows a general draw from yesterday, April 10. IRCC invited 1,280 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 549, the highest minimum CRS score of any draw in 2024.

The first general draw this year, on January 10, required a CRS score of at least 546 to be considered and general draw scores continued to decrease over the past few months.

The last general draw on March 25 invited 1,980 candidates with a CRS score of 524.

General draws consider candidates from all three Express Entry-managed programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). Unlike category-based selection draws, a high CRS score is the main deciding factor in a candidate’s likelihood of receiving an ITA.