Express Entry cutoffs slowly decline towards reachable levels

By Bruce Allen In Canada Immigration News

Most economic and employment based permanent immigration to Canada is funneled through the Express Entry system. This includes the Federal Skilled Worker class, the Canada Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Trades class, and a part of the Provincial Nominee class. Express Entry is a competitive points-based system in which points are awarded for factors including language ability in English and French; education; skilled work experience; age; and the availability of a job offer in Canada. About every two weeks, the top ranking candidates in the Express Entry “pool” are invited to submit applications for permanent residence. Due to COVID related processing backlogs and COVID related travel bans, however, the Express Entry program was shut down for applicants outside Canada from January 2021 until July 2022.

When the program re-opened for workers outside Canada, the cutoff mark to obtain an invitation to apply was extremely high at 557. It has since gradually dropped as low as 481 in the draw held March 29, 2023, before rising back to 486 in the draw held June 27, 2023. These numbers are still very difficult to reach without a job offer in Canada or other special factors such as a brother or sister in Canada, or proficiency in French as well as English.

We are cautiously optimistic the cutoff mark will eventually decline further, and perhaps reach the 480 level by late summer. This cutoff can be achieved by a person under the age of 30 with excellent language scores, a master’s degree, and three years work experience. It could also be achieved by a single person under the age of 33 with excellent language scores, a PhD, and three years work experience.

To see the latest Express Entry draw, click here.