Candidates Receiving ITAs Through Category-Based Selection Draws

For Express Entry applicants whose Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores fall below 500, eligibility for category-based selection draws could make a crucial difference. This is especially impactful given that in 2024, the CRS score thresholds for general and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws have not dropped below 500, while category-based selection draw thresholds have been consistently lower.

The Rise of Category-Based Selection Draws

To address Canada’s labor market and demographic requirements, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced category-based selection draws in 2023. These targeted draws prioritize specific skills and occupations critical to Canada’s economy. Currently, eligible categories include:

• French-language proficiency
• Healthcare occupations
• STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) occupations
• Trades occupations
• Transport occupations
• Agriculture and agri-food occupations

To qualify for a category-based selection draw, candidates must have at least six months of continuous, full-time work experience (or equivalent part-time experience) within the last three years in a relevant occupation, either in Canada or abroad. For candidates aiming for the French proficiency draw, a minimum score of seven in each language ability on the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) is required.

How Category-Based Selection Draws Support Candidates with CRS Scores Under 500

To illustrate how this approach benefits eligible candidates with CRS scores below 500, consider the following fictional profiles created by CIC News:

Transport Occupations

• Candidate: Ahmad, 32, works in the UAE as an aircraft assembly inspector.
• Education & Skills: Master’s degree in aviation technology, advanced English (CLB 9), no Canadian experience or Canadian degree.
• CRS Score: 453
• Outcome: The Transport category draw in March 2024 had a cutoff score of 430, meaning Ahmad would have been eligible for an invitation to apply (ITA) had he been in the Express Entry pool at the time.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Occupations

• Candidate: Alvin, 34, moved from the Philippines to Canada for a three-year degree in landscape design and horticulture.
• Experience: Three years as a landscape supervisor in Canada, high intermediate English (CLB 8).
• CRS Score: 447
• Outcome: The agriculture occupations draw in February 2024 had a cutoff score of 437, which would qualify Alvin for an ITA.

French-Language Proficiency

• Candidate: Sara, 27, works in Morocco as an accountant.
• Experience & Skills: Three years’ experience in finance, three-year degree, advanced French (CLB 9), intermediate English (CLB 5).
• CRS Score: 483
• Outcome: The last French proficiency draw on October 10, 2024, had a cutoff score of 444, meaning Sara would have been selected.

The Shift in Canada’s Immigration Priorities

Canada’s category-based selection approach is continually adapted to reflect the nation’s economic and workforce needs. In 2023, 29% of all ITAs were awarded to candidates with experience in STEM fields. In 2024, the focus has been on attracting French-speaking applicants, who have been the largest recipients of category-based ITAs this year. This emphasis supports Canada’s objective to increase francophone immigration outside Quebec, with targets set at 6% in 2024, 7% in 2025, and 8% in 2026.

To refine its category-based selection criteria, IRCC collaborates with provincial and territorial representatives, industry experts, unions, employers, and other stakeholders in the immigration ecosystem.

Impact of Category-Based Selection on CRS Cutoffs

Since the inception of category-based selection draws, general draws have decreased, with the last one held in April 2024. More frequent draws are now held for the CEC, Provincial Nominee Program, and category-based streams, sometimes up to three times per week. Consequently, CRS cutoffs for general draws have increased—from an average of 489 in early 2023 to an average of 536 in the first half of 2024. Meanwhile, the lowest CRS cutoff for French language proficiency dropped to 336 in a draw held on February 29, 2024.

Eligible candidates are advised to keep their profiles updated in the Express Entry pool, as IRCC may introduce new categories in response to Canada’s evolving labor demands. This proactive approach helps ensure that the immigration system aligns with the country’s dynamic workforce and demographic goals, offering new opportunities for candidates across various skill sets and industries.