The Agriculture and Agri-Food Express Entry draw was held for the first time. The draw issued 600 ITAs to candidates in this Express Entry category-based draw. The lowest CRS score was 354.
Previously, 500 ITAs were issued in the Express Entry French category draw by IRCC. The Express Entry category-based draw invited candidates with stronger French language skills. 500 candidates received ITAs, while the score was 472 on September 27. Before this, a draw occurred on September 26, in which IRCC invited 3,000 candidates, and the minimum score was 504. In this draw, candidates from all programs got confirmation.
The Agriculture and Agri-Food Express Entry draw was held – a brief of the Express Entry draw results in 2023
| Date | Program Type | ITAs Issued | Lowest CRS Score |
| June 8 | All-program | 4,800 | 486 |
| June 27 | All-program | 4,300 | 486 |
| June 28 | Healthcare occupations | 500 | 476 |
| July 4 | All-program | 700 | 511 |
| July 5 | STEM occupations | 500 | 486 |
| July 6 | Healthcare occupations | 1500 | 463 |
| July 7 | French language proficiency | 2,300 | 439 |
| July 11 | All-program | 800 | 505 |
| July 12 | French language proficiency | 3,800 | 375 |
| August 1 | All-program | 2,000 | 517 |
| August 2 | French language proficiency | 800 | 435 |
| August 3 | Trade occupations | 1,500 | 388 |
| August 15 | All-program | 4,300 | 496 |
| September 19 | All-Program | 3,200 | 531 |
| September 20 | Transport Occupations | 1,000 | 435 |
| September 26 | All-Program | 3,000 | 504 |
| September 27 | French Language Proficiency | 500 | 472 |
| September 28 | Agriculture and Agri-Food Occupations | 600 | 354 |
Category-based draws in a nutshell
Last year (in 2022), the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act underwent a particular change. According to the change, the immigration minister could select Express Entry candidates who could better address the shortcomings of the labor market. These candidates will be chosen on the basis of their potential to meet the labor shortage requirements. They would enable Canada to fulfill its mandate of creating a robust economy and encourage the French language outside Quebec.
Considering this change, new categories emerged to assist newcomers in-demand occupations and those with adequate French language skills. The occupational categories included the following:
- Healthcare;
- Agriculture and Agri-Food;
- STEM Professions;
- Trades and;
- Transport
The first-ever category-based draw occurred for the Healthcare occupations on June 28, 2023. So far, Express Entry category-based draws have taken place for each of the above categories, excluding Agriculture and Agri-Food. 6,900 candidates received the highest number of ITAs, and they possessed strong French language skills.
Overall, candidates who seek to move to Canada using the category-based selection must remain in the Express Entry pool and fulfill a certain minimum CRS score.
Express Entry as a leading pathway
Express Entry functions through three primary economic-class programs: the FSTP, FSWP, and the Canadian Experience Class. The Federal Skilled Worker Program, along with the other two programs, assesses candidates using the Comprehensive Ranking System. There are human capital factors that determine the scores and ranks of each candidate. These factors include education, age, work experience, language skills, and occupation.
Each of these factors has a point value attached to it; hence, the candidates acquire scores. Those candidates with the highest scores have higher chances of obtaining ITAs to go ahead with the PR application.
Programs such as the Federal Skilled Trades Program, FSWP, and CEC determine the candidate’s eligibility for Express Entry. The FSWP and FSTP have a separate Canadian Language Benchmark and require specific settlement funds. However, CEC candidates don’t have to fulfill any such requirement.
