Canada has issued a fresh round of invitations under the Express Entry system, opening the door for more skilled foreign workers already in the country to take the next step towards permanent residency.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that the November 26 draw — the 381st under Express Entry — issued 1000 invitations to apply (ITAs) to candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). The cut-off Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for this round stood at 531, meaning only those ranked 1,000 or above received invitations.
The department said the latest round was held on November 26 with a tie-breaking rule applied for profiles submitted before October 8. With this draw, IRCC has issued 24,850 ITAs so far this year to applicants with Canadian job experience seeking to transition to permanent residency.
--The Canadian Experience Class is intended for skilled workers who already have experience living and working in Canada. To qualify, applicants must:
--Have at least one year of paid, skilled work experience in Canada within the past three years (full-time or equivalent part-time).
--Have gained this experience as a temporary resident with authorised work status.
--Meet minimum language proficiency requirements.
Unpaid roles such as volunteering or internships do not count. Similarly, work done without the proper authorisation or experience gained while living outside Canada does not qualify.
Foreign nationals hoping to settle in Canada can apply through any of the three programmes managed under Express Entry:
--Federal Skilled Worker Programme
--Federal Skilled Trades Programme
--Canadian Experience Class
Eligible candidates create an online profile and enter the Express Entry pool, where they receive a CRS score based on factors such as skills, education, work experience and language ability. IRCC typically invites top-ranking candidates to apply for permanent residency every two weeks, although timing can vary.
Submitting a profile does not guarantee an invitation; only those with scores above the cut-off in each draw receive ITAs.