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Canada Promotes Francophone Immigration With New Legislation

Canada passed a new law to promote Francophone immigration. The law modernizes the Official Language Act to recognize that French, as an official language of Canada, is being threatened and must be protected.

Bill C-13, the Official Languages Act (OLA) Amendment Act, was passed on June 8, 2023, and relevant parts to Canadian immigration include:

  • Part 1 introduces, for the first time, immigration into the OLA.

This means that the federal government is now required to consider the impact of immigration on the vitality of Francophone communities outside Quebec.

  • Part 2 amends the OLA to strengthen the federal government’s commitment to promoting and protecting the French language.

This includes measures to increase the number of Francophone immigrants to Canada, to improve access to French-language services, and to support the development of Francophone minority communities.

  • Part 3 makes technical amendments to the OLA.

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Who are Francophone Immigrants in Canada?

Francophone immigrants are people who come to Canada to live and work and who speak French as their first language. They come from all over the world, but the majority come from Africa, Europe, and the Americas.

Here are some of the benefits of Francophone immigration to Canada:

  • Francophone immigrants contribute to the diversity and richness of Canadian culture.
  • They bring with them new skills and ideas that can help to boost the Canadian economy.
  • They help to strengthen the French language in Canada.
  • They help to build bridges between Canada and other Francophone countries.
  • If you are a Francophone immigrant, Canada is a welcoming country where you can build a new life and contribute to the country’s future.

 

Recent Measures to Attract More Francophone Immigrants to Canada

In 2022, Canada met its target of 4.4% of Francophone immigrants outside Quebec. This means that more than 16,300 new immigrants have settled in Francophone minority communities across Canada. This is a significant increase from the 2,800 Francophone immigrants who settled outside Quebec in 2006.

The government of Canada is committed to promoting Francophone immigration. In 2019, the government launched the Francophone Immigration Strategy, which aims to attract 40,000 Francophone immigrants to Canada each year by 2023.

The strategy includes a number of measures to make it easier for Francophone immigrants to come to Canada, including:

  • Increasing the number of Francophone immigration streams under the Express Entry system.
  • Providing additional points for French language skills in the Express Entry system.
  • Raising awareness of Francophone immigration opportunities among potential immigrants.
  • Supporting the development of Francophone settlement services.
  • These measures are helping to ensure that Canada continues to be a welcoming destination for Francophone immigrants.

Learn more about your eligibility and opportunities in Canada. Claim your free appointment with our expert immigration counselors here!

Express Entry: IRCC Issues 4,800 ITAs For Canada PR In Its 250th Draw Since Launch

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the first Express Entry draw of June 2023. June 08 draw issued 4,800 invitations to apply (ITA) under all Express Entry programs for Canadian permanent residence (PR). 

Canada Pnp-finder

This meant that eligible foreign nationals must be ranked among the first 4,800 in the federal pool to be invited to make an application. The minimum qualifying score based on the CRS (comprehensive ranking system) of the lowest-ranked candidate invited is 486. 

The latest round of invitations marks the 250th Express Entry draw since its launch in 2015 and is the fifth all-program Express Entry of 2023 and fourteenth overall. 

Canada considered all the newly registered profiles in the federal pool, keeping the tie-breaker cut-off date close to May 19, 2023. The tie-break rule is beneficial in cases where two or more candidates end up with the same CRS score. 

Who Can Apply for Express Entry? 

Candidates from the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) were eligible for this Express Entry round of invitations. 

These profiles are evaluated on a total of 1200 points. The human capital criteria like 

  • age, 
  • education, 
  • work experience outside Canada, 
  • language proficiency in English/French, 
  • spouse adaptability, 
  • Canadian study experience, etc. are considered for evaluation purposes. 

Further, a successful provincial nomination can boost the Express Entry CRS score by 600 points.

Canada Announces New Categories for Express Entry Draws

IRCC is expected to target those Express Entry profiles with a strong French language proficiency or the following work experience later this summer: 

  • healthcare
  • science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
  • trades, such as carpenters, plumbers, and contractors
  • transport
  • agriculture and agri-food

Those who hope to receive an ITA in the targeted draws must first enter the Express Entry pool. IRCC will continue to hold all program draws and program-specific draws as needed. 

Now that the 2023-2025 annual targets for Express Entry landings (principal applicants, spouses, and dependents) are projected to touch over 100,000 each year, it is your best time to start planning for immigration to Canada. 

Contact a licensed immigration consultant like CanApprove to determine your best chances of qualifying based on your academic profile and work experience. 

Claim your free consultation from us to explore immigration programs under Express Entry and boost your CRS scores.

Australia Migration Planning Level For 2023-24 Raises To 190,000 Places, Allocating 72% In The Skilled Migration Stream

Australia announced its new Migration Planning Levels as part of the federal budget for 2023-24 on May 9. The 2023-24 Migration Program is designed to address the growing concerns about skill shortages, and aging demography and facilitate easier immigration of specialists that are difficult to find or develop in Australia. 

The Program has the following composition:

  • Skill stream (137,100 places) including Employer Sponsored, Skilled Independent, Regional, State/Territory Nominated, Business Innovation & Investment, Global Talent (Independent), and Distinguished Talent visa categories. 
  • Family stream (52,500 places) including 40,500 Partner visas and 3,000 Child visas categories. 
  • Special Eligibility stream (400 places).

The new financial year in Australia will begin on 1 July 2023 and end on 30 June 2024.

Australia-immigration

Increased Allocations Under Employer-Sponsored Category

The increase in places for employer-sponsored visas will more likely to benefit those already in Australia on temporary employer-sponsored visas. Australia has also announced an increase in the minimum salary for temporary employer-sponsored visas to around AUD70,000 after being left at around AUD53,000 for almost ten years.

It is encouraging to note that the Partner & Child visa categories will be managed on a demand-driven basis and are not capped. However, international student visa holders will face a capped fortnightly work hour limit of 48 hours starting from July 1, 2023, except for students working in the aged care sector. 

Australia had previously announced an additional two years of post-study work rights to Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa holders with select degrees. This will become operational from 1 July 2023. 

Introducing a New 3-Tier Skilled Migration 

Australian Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil had earlier reviewed many flaws in the Australian immigration system, terming it “not fit for purpose”. Following this Australia is expected to introduce major changes in the next 3-6 months targeting more skilled immigrants. 

All skilled visa applicants will be processed based on the following tiered system: 

  • Light touch – the first tier will be streamlined for high-earning workers. 
  • Mainstream – the second tier will be a mainstream skilled pathway focussing on middle-income earners.
  • Essential – the third one will be for the essential industries, which will reorganize the country’s intake of low-earning migrants.

The new 3-tier skilled migration system will help reduce the number of visa subclasses and further simplify the migration process to Australia. 

Australia is certainly planning to efficiently manage its immigration levels for better economic progress on par with major skilled immigration destinations like Canada. If you’re looking to plan your immigration anytime soon, consider visiting CanApprove for expert advice. Claim your free consultation here

Canada Announces Launch of Category-based Selection Draws

Canada’s Immigration Minister Sean Fraser has announced the launched of category-based Express Entry draws. So, the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada(IRCC) will be focusing on candidates with strong French language proficiency as well as work experience in any of the following fields:

  • Healthcare
  • Professions in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics(STEM)
  • Trades including carpenters, plumbers and contractors
  • Transport
  • Agriculture and agri-food

PNP News

According to the minister, allowing the IRCC to invite more skilled workers in these targeted professions will support Canada’s commitment to welcoming in-demand professionals into communities across the country. It is expected that draws under the new categories will be starting later this summer.

Why new Express Entry categories?

Canada is facing severe labour shortage across different industry sectors. By introducing new changes including category-based Express Entry draws, Canada is trying to make effective use of immigration as a solution to this labour shortage crisis. Also, the government aims to ensure the vitality of French-speaking communities, by welcoming more French-proficient immigrants to the country.

The categories for Express Entry draws were chosen based on labour market information and projects as well as the inputs received by the IRCC from provinces, territories and other stakeholders across the country.

Each year, the IRCC will report to the Parliament on factors such as

  • The categories chosen in the previous year
  • Why and how they were chosen
  • The instructions to establish a category
  • The number of invitations issued for each category

In order to receive invitation in a category-based draw, the candidate must meet all the requirements for that particular draw. In category-based draws, candidates in the Express Entry pool who meet the category requirements will be ranked and the top-ranking candidates will be invited to apply for permanent residence.

Canada Express Entry

Canada Express Entry was launched in January 2015 with an aim to manage applications for immigration under the three federal economic immigration programs of Canada, which are the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program and Canadian Experience Class. It is one of the easiest and fastest pathways for skilled workers to migrate to Canada.

Do you wish to know more about Canada Express Entry immigration? Connect with CanApprove now!

Ontario’s Top Five Latest Announcements To Boost Nursing And Engineering In Canada 

Ontario is among the most populous province in east-central Canada. The capital city of Ottawa is densely populated with skilled immigrants, however, the province is dealing with acute labor shortages in several sectors. 

In order to address the growing concerns, the government of Ontario has identified entry barriers to filling vacant jobs, thereby making it easier for other newcomers to work in regulated fields like Nursing and Engineering in Canada. PNP NewsHere are the top five announcements from the provincial government of Ontario to address the labor shortage in the province and boost immigration to Canada.  

  1. Ontario Professional Engineers (PEO), the apex body for licensing of engineering professionals in Canada, has now removed the Canadian work experience requirement for overseas skilled Engineers. 
  2. Ontario eases accreditation for newcomers in regulated professions, such as nursing, by adjusting language proficiency policies.
  3. The recently passed provincial legislation will allow nurses from other Canadian jurisdictions to work in the province without having to register with the applicable health regulatory colleges. Further, Internationally educated nurses may register in a temporary class and begin working sooner while they work towards full registration.
  4. Ontario will invest $342 million over the next five years in improving the Canadian immigration of nurses. 
  5. IRCC has doubled the immigration allocations for Ontario PNP to over 18,000 annual intakes by 2025. 

Not just experienced professionals, but young international students who are planning on studying abroad may choose Canada. 

A recent report noted that over 30% of international students who got Canadian bachelor’s degrees and almost 50% of international students who graduated with master’s degrees became permanent residents (PR) within 10 years since they got their study permit.

How will it Boost Immigration to Canada? 

Minister McNaughton says removing the Canadian work experience requirement for engineers in Ontario will help qualified professionals enter the profession they are trained for.

Roydon Fraser, president of Ontario Professional Engineers said that 60% of the license applications received each year are from internationally trained engineers. He says that removing the Canadian work experience requirement will ensure that qualified international engineers will be licensed more quickly.

Take this free assessment to determine your eligibility for Canadian immigration. 

Canada Immigration Programs for Engineers & Nurses

Canada is eyeing welcoming nearly 1.5 million new immigrants in the next three years. Over 60% of the said target is expected to be achieved with the help of economic-class immigration programs. 

Some of the most prominent provincial immigration pathways for internationally-trained Engineers in Canada are: 

  • Ontario Tech Pilot
  • British Columbia Tech Program
  • Alberta Express Entry stream 
  • Manitoba Skilled Workers Overseas stream 
  • Saskatchewan Occupation-In demand

Here is a list of some of the PNP pathways for nurses.

  • Ontario invites nurses to apply through its Human Capital Priorities Stream.
  • British Columbia offers a Healthcare Professional category under its Skills Immigration and Express Entry pathways.
  • Saskatchewan has recently launched an International Health Worker EOI pool specifically for nurses.
  • Nova Scotia’s Labour Market Priorities Stream occasionally holds draws inviting nurses to apply for a provincial nomination.
  • New Brunswick’s Internationally Educated Nurses (IEN) program is a pathway for foreign nurses who can speak English or French

Foreign skilled workers even without any work experience inside Canada may stand a chance to qualify for permanent residency through the Express Entry system. It will depend upon their age, education, work experience outside Canada, and language proficiency in English or French. 

Otherwise, a provincial nomination after gaining adequate work experience in Canada can quicken your process of obtaining permanent residency. 

CanApprove has been the regional leader in providing trusted immigration and overseas education consultancy for more than two decades. We can help you expedite your visa documentation process, career counseling, overseas education counseling, pre-departure & post-arrival immigration support, and much more. 

Book your free appointment with our expert consultants today. 

Fourth PNP-Only Draws With 589 ITAs For Canada Permanent Residency

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 589 invitations to apply (ITAs) in this year’s fourth PNP-only Express Entry draws on May 10. Canada only invited candidates with prior provincial nominations and a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 691 to apply for permanent residence (PR).  

Canada Pnp-finder

This is IRCC’s twelfth Express Entry draw of 2023 and the fifth overall program-specific draw following February 01, February 16 & March 01 PNP-only draws and February 02 FSWP Express Entry draws.   

OVERVIEW OF 248th EXPRESS ENTRY DRAWS (PNP-Only)
Decreased Draw Size 589 ITAs for permanent residence 
Decreased CRS Qualifying Score Invited candidates required CRS of 691 points or above.

Receiving a provincial nomination increases a candidate’s CRS score by 600 points. Thus, eligible candidates only needed 91 points before getting provincial nomination

Tie-break rule applied?  March 08, 2023 at 16:42:17 UTC

IRCC applied the tie-break rule to avoid disputes in the rankings in case two or more candidates in the pool end up with the same CRS score. 

The latest date of the tie-break rule indicates more recently applied candidates too got a fair chance to qualify for Canada PR. 

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility for Canadian immigration.

What is Canada Express Entry? 

Express Entry is a database management system for three Canadian immigration programs: the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). Additionally, every Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is aligned with Express Entry to nominate eligible candidates. 

After the registration of candidates online, their profiles are assessed and ranked based on a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. These profiles are evaluated on a total of 1200 points. The human capital criteria like 

  • age, 
  • education, 
  • work experience outside Canada, 
  • language proficiency in English/French, 
  • spouse adaptability, 
  • Canadian study experience, etc. are considered for evaluation purposes. 

After receiving an ITA for Canada PR, an IRCC officer reviews and decides on your Express Entry application. These candidates are more likely to integrate quickly and positively impact Canada’s workforce and economy. 

The approved candidate is now a permanent resident of Canada and one step closer to becoming a Canadian citizen as immigration accounts for as much as 90% of labor force growth in Canada and approximately 75% of population growth.

Click here to read the updated proof of fund requirements for Express Entry candidates applying in 2023.  

Qualifying for Express Entry is Easier with Provincial Nomination

Many immigration aspirants are known to choose Canada because of its direct permanent residence pathway. A PR invitation through the provincial nomination route is not a direct pathway, however, it can guarantee your permanent residency through the addition of 600 points toward the Express Entry profile CRS score. 

Thus, eligible candidates only needed 91 points before getting the provincial nomination to qualify for May 10 PNP-only Entry draws. 

Book your free appointment with CanApprove to learn more about your chances of qualifying for immigration to Canada.

IRCC Pushes New Profiles In The Latest Express Entry Draw With 3,500 ITAs For Canada PR

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) ends April 2023 with another all-program Express Entry draw 247. April 26 draw resulted in 3,500 invitations to apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence (PR). 

The latest Express Entry draw 247 on April 26 had lower qualifying score points than the previous all-program Express Entry draw. The latest round of invitations is the sixth all-program Express Entry in 2023 and the eleventh overall. 

Canada Pnp-finder

Canada considered all the newly registered profiles in the federal pool, keeping the tie-breaker cut-off date close to April 22, 2023. The tie-break rule is beneficial in cases where two or more candidates end up with the same CRS score. 

OVERVIEW OF EXPRESS ENTRY LATEST DRAWS #247
Decreased Draw Size 3,500 invitations to apply for Canada PR 
Increased Express Entry Cut-off  The minimum CRS score required was 483 (3 points lower than the previous) 
Tie-break rule applied Profiles registered on or before April 22, 2023, 19:46:58 UTC

Who Can Apply for Express Entry? 

Candidates from the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) were eligible for this Express Entry round of invitations. 

These profiles are evaluated on a total of 1200 points. The human capital criteria like 

  • age, 
  • education, 
  • work experience outside Canada, 
  • language proficiency in English/French, 
  • spouse adaptability, 
  • Canadian study experience, etc. are considered for evaluation purposes. 

Further, a successful provincial nomination can boost the Express Entry CRS score by 600 points.

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility for Canadian immigration. 

Outlook of Canada Express Entry System in 2023

The 2023-2025 annual targets for Express Entry landings (principal applicants, spouses, and dependents) are projected at 

  • 82,880 ITAs in 2023
  • 109,020 ITAs in 2024
  • 114,000 ITAs in 2025

To assist PGWP holders, immigration minister Sean Fraser recently announced an 18-month open work permit extension. In this context, the recent extension to Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs), the regularity of all program draws will benefit candidates in the Canada Experience Class (CEC). 

If you’re interested in Canadian immigration through Express Entry, contact a licensed immigration consultant like CanApprove to determine your best chances of qualifying based on your academic profile and work experience. 

Book a free appointment with CanApprove to explore immigration programs under Express Entry and boost your CRS scores.

Saskatchewan To Add 12 Physician Assistant Positions To Retain More Healthcare Workers

The Canadian province of Saskatchewan introduced new legislation on March 30, 2023, to include newly licensed professions for Physician Assistants to practice in the province.
The introduced Medical Professional Amendment Act, 2023 supports the $1.3 million investment in the 2023-24 Budget to create 12 Physician Assistant positions across the healthcare system for the first time. 

This initiative is part of a nearly $100 million investment by the Government of Saskatchewan to support the Health Human Resource Action Plan and continue to recruit, train, incentivize, and retain more nurses, doctors, laboratory technicians, and other healthcare workers.pnp newsThe legislation will come into force upon proclamation.

Read more on how Self-Employed Physicians Can Apply For Canada PR Through Express Entry

Who are Physician Assistants in Canada? 

According to the Ministry of Health, Physician Assistants (PAs) are health professionals who have taken additional advanced training at one of the recognized programs in Canada. They practice medicine under the supervision of a licensed physician, often within a multidisciplinary health team.  

Physician assistants have been licensed to work in Ontario and Manitoba, and they could work in Saskatchewan but were not regulated. With the new provincial legislation, Saskatchewan may also assume the power to regulate Physician assistants under the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan.

“This is a vital step in effectively introducing PAs into the province at a critical time when the healthcare system has been stretched to the limit,” remarked Canadian Association of Physician Assistants (CAPA) Saskatchewan director Todd Bryden.
Read more>> How To Immigrate And Work As A Doctor In Canada 2023? 

Impact on Canadian Immigration 

The new legislation is yet formalize into an official act and it is premature to conclude any evidence of impact on Canadian immigration.  

However, the provincial Health Minister Paul Merriman said, “We are making key investments in 2023-24 to recruit, train, incentivize and retain more health care workers, including physicians, nurses, and other health professionals.”

The increase in demand for healthcare professions in Canada, especially Saskatchewan in 2023-24 will most likely be fulfilled through immigration.  

Also, learn more >> How To Migrate to Canada as a Registered Nurse? 

If you’re a healthcare worker outside Canada with three or more years of experience, consider this new opportunity. You can determine your eligibility for immigration through our free assessment online

You may also book one-to-one counseling with our immigration experts to learn more about your chances of Canadian immigration.  

Express Entry: First Draw In April Issues 3,500 ITAs Having CRS Above 486 For Canada PR

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the first all-program Express Entry draw of April, issuing 3,500 invitations to apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence (PR). 

April 12 Express Entry draw had a higher qualifying score points than the previous all-program Express Entry draw. The latest round of invitations is the fifth all-program Express Entry in 2023 and the tenth overall. 

Canada considered older registered profiles in the federal pool by keeping the tie-breaker cut-off date as close to July 19, 2022. The tie-break rule is beneficial in cases where two or more candidates end up with the same CRS score. 

OVERVIEW OF EXPRESS ENTRY LATEST DRAWS #246
Decreased Draw Size 3,500 invitations to apply for Canada PR 
Increased Express Entry Cut-off  The minimum CRS score required was 486 (5 points higher than previous) 
Tie-break rule applied Profiles registered on or before July 19, 2022 11:05:24 UTC

Candidates from the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) were eligible for this Express Entry round of invitations. 

These profiles are evaluated on a total of 1200 points. The human capital criteria like 

  • age, 
  • education, 
  • work experience outside Canada, 
  • language proficiency in English/French, 
  • spouse adaptability, 
  • Canadian study experience, etc. are considered for evaluation purposes. 

Further, a successful provincial nomination can boost the Express Entry CRS score by additional 600 points.

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility for Canadian immigration. 

Outlook of Canada Express Entry System in 2023

The 2023-2025 annual targets for Express Entry landings (principal applicants, spouses, and dependents) are projected at 

  • 82,880 ITAs in 2023
  • 109,020 ITAs in 2024
  • 114,000 ITAs in 2025

In light of recent extension to Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs), the regularity of all-program draws will benefit candidates in the Canada Experience Class (CEC). 

To assist PGWP holders, immigration minister Sean Fraser recently announced an 18-month open work permit extension.

If you’re interested in Canadian immigration through Express Entry, contact a licensed immigration consultant like CanApprove to determine your best chances of qualifying based on your academic profile and work experience. 

Book a free appointment with CanApprove to explore immigration programs under Express Entry and boost your CRS scores. 

Third All-Program Express Entry Draw In A Row Lowers CRS & Invites 7,000 Profiles For Canada PR

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held another all-program Express Entry draw on March 29, resulting in another huge draw size of 7,000 invitations to apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence (PR). 

IRCC lowered the qualifying points by three points to CRS 481, in comparison with last week’s Express Entry draw. The latest round of invitations is the fourth all-program Express Entry in 2023 and the ninth overall.
Canada-immigration-news
Canada considered newly registered profiles in the federal pool by keeping the tie-breaker cut-off date as close to February 14, 2023. The tie-break rule is beneficial in cases where two or more candidates end up with the same CRS score. 

OVERVIEW OF EXPRESS ENTRY LATEST DRAWS #245
Record-breaking Draw Size 7,000 invitations to apply for Canada PR 
Lower Express Entry Cut-off  The minimum CRS score required was 481 
Tie-break rule applied Profiles registered on or before February 14, 2023, 07:35:00 UTC

Candidates from the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) were eligible for this Express Entry round of invitations. 

These profiles are evaluated on a total of 1200 points. The human capital criteria like 

  • age, 
  • education, 
  • work experience outside Canada, 
  • language proficiency in English/French, 
  • spouse adaptability, 
  • Canadian study experience, etc. are considered for evaluation purposes. 

Further, a successful provincial nomination can boost the Express Entry CRS score by additional 600 points.

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility for Canadian immigration. 

Outlook of Canada Express Entry System in 2023

IRCC has invited a total of 21,000 candidates over the past two weeks. Three back-to-back all-program Express Entry weekly draws reinforce increasing opportunities for FSWP candidates. 

FSWP provides a direct pathway to eligible skilled workers with enough work experience to qualify for PR without a job offer or prior experience in Canada.

Since January 18, Canada had been targeting program-specific Express Entry draws for permanent residence (PR). The 2023-2025 annual targets for Express Entry landings (principal applicants, spouses, and dependents) are projected at 

  • 82,880 ITAs in 2023
  • 109,020 ITAs in 2024
  • 114,000 ITAs in 2025

The passage of Bill C-19 will further allow IRCC to issue ITAs for Canada PR to eligible candidates with specific work experience, education, or language ability. The occupation group choice would depend on Canada’s prevailing market demand. 

This will impact the relevance of CRS scores in some instances and may become less vital in future draws. Also, read how Self-employed physicians can now apply under Express Entry for PR

If you’re interested in Canadian immigration through Express Entry, contact a CICC-registered immigration consultant like CanApprove to determine your best chances of qualifying based on your academic profile and work experience. 

Book a free appointment with CanApprove to explore immigration programs under Express Entry and boost your CRS scores.

SURPRISE DRAW: New All-Program Express Entry Draw Issues Another 7,000 ITAs For Canada PR

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a surprise draw on March 23, holding another historic draw size of 7,000 invitations to apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence (PR). 

IRCC lowered the qualifying points by six points to CRS 484, in comparison with the previous all-program draw on March 15. The latest draw is the third all-program Express Entry in 2023 and the eighth overall. 

Canada also focused on older profiles in the federal pool by pushing the tie-breaker cut-off date back to May 19, 2022. The tie-break rule is particularly helpful in cases where two or more candidates end up with the same CRS score. 

OVERVIEW OF EXPRESS ENTRY LATEST DRAWS #244

Record-breaking Draw Size 7,000 invitations to apply for Canada PR 
Lower Express Entry Cut-off  The minimum CRS score required was 484 
Tie-break rule applied Profiles registered on or before  May 19, 2022, 06:48:41 UTC

Candidates from the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) were eligible for this Express Entry round of invitations. 

These profiles are evaluated on a total of 1200 points. The human capital criteria like 

  • age, 
  • education, 
  • work experience outside Canada, 
  • language proficiency in English/French, 
  • spouse adaptability, 
  • Canadian study experience, etc. are considered for evaluation purposes. 

Further, a successful provincial nomination can boost the Express Entry CRS score by additional 600 points.

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility for Canadian immigration. 

Outlook of Canada Express Entry System in 2023

Since January 18, Canada had been targeting program-specific Express Entry draws for permanent residence (PR). Back-to-back all-program Express Entry draws reinforce increasing opportunities for FSWP candidates. 

FSWP provides a direct pathway to eligible skilled workers with enough work experience to qualify for PR without a job offer or prior experience in Canada. 

The 2023-2025 annual targets for Express Entry landings (principal applicants, spouses, and dependents) are projected at 

  • 82,880 ITAs in 2023
  • 109,020 ITAs in 2024
  • 114,000 ITAs in 2025

The passage of Bill C-19 will further allow IRCC to issue ITAs for Canada PR to eligible candidates with specific work experience, education, or language ability. The occupation group choice would depend on Canada’s prevailing market demand. 

This will impact the relevance of CRS scores in some instances and may become less vital in future draws. Also, read how Self-employed physicians can now apply under Express Entry for PR

If you’re interested in Canadian immigration through Express Entry, contact a CICC-registered immigration consultant like CanApprove to determine your best chances of qualifying based on your academic profile and work experience. 

Book a free appointment with CanApprove to explore immigration programs under Express Entry and boost your CRS scores. 

Ontario PNP: IRCC Doubles Immigration Allocations To Over 18,000 Intakes By 2025

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) allows the province of Ontario to double its annual intake figures to over 18,000 by 2025. The intake target in 2022 was 9,750 nominations. But with the increased immigration intake targets, Alberta will now look to welcome:

  • 16,500 nominations in 2023,
  • No target published for 2024 nominations,
  • 18,361 nominations in 2025.

Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP) published its provisional allocations for the next three years after the federal government allowed other PNP to roll out a Multi-Year Allocation Plan for the first time. Ontario’s 2023 allocation represents 36% of the national allocation of provincial nominees.
Canada-immigration-news
“From 9,000 immigration spots in 2021 to over 18,000 in 2025, (this) announcement is a significant win for the people of Ontario and will help us control our economic destiny by selecting more of the skilled immigrants we know are well-placed to succeed and build stronger communities for all of us,” 

  • Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.

Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility. 

High Demand for Skilled Workers in Health Care, Technology, and Skilled Trades Occupations

The east-central Canadian province of Ontario reported nearly 300,000 vacant jobs position in December 2022. With the increased allocations, the province expects to select more of the workers needed to fill gaps in industries like skilled trades, technology, and health care.

“Increasing the province’s allocation of economic immigrants under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program will help address labor shortages and ensure businesses find employees with the right skills. Our thanks to the Governments of Canada and Ontario for their continued action to support our ability to attract talent to the province.”

– Rocco Rossi, President and CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce

The new Multi-Year Allocation Plan aims to attract top talent and investment to the province by 

  • Optimising the nomination process for OINP applicants with an expression of interest system
  • Attracting and retaining more foreign skilled workers in regional areas of Ontario

How to Obtain Canada PR Via Ontario PNP? 

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program allows the province to nominate individuals for Canadian permanent residence. Ontario PNP can be thought of as a two-step immigration. First, you have to get the nomination, then you apply for immigration.

You can do this either through the federal Express Entry system (for skilled workers with TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupations) or through Ontario’s own Expression of Interest (EOI) system.

  • Qualify for Ontario PNP using the EOI system 

The Ontario PNPs that invite people that use Ontario’s EOI system include:

  1. Master’s Graduate: For people who graduated with a Master’s degree from an Ontario post-secondary within the past two years.
  2. Ph.D. Graduate: For people who graduated with a Ph.D. degree from an Ontario post-secondary within the past two years.
  3. International Student: For international student graduates with job offers.
  4. Foreign Worker: For skilled workers with job offers.
  5. In-Demand Skills: For workers in in-demand occupations with job offers.
  • Qualify for Ontario Express Entry Stream

The Ontario PNPs that invite people from the federal Express Entry pool include:

  1. Human Capital Priorities: No job offer required, calls for one year of work experience in targeted occupations.
  2. French-Speaking Skilled Worker: For people with English and French language proficiency.
  3. Skilled Trades: For skilled trades workers.

To qualify under Ontario’s Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream, you must meet all the requirements concerning work experience, education, language, settlement funds, and intention to live in Ontario. 

Click here to view the latest OINP Express Entry draw results. 

Book an appointment with our consultants to determine your eligibility and get further details on your Canada immigration options.