The first French Category-based Express Entry draw took place for the fourth day consecutively. IRCC issued 2,300 ITAs to candidates with strong French language abilities. Meanwhile, the lowest CRS score stood at 439, which is by far the lowest score this year.
This draw marked the sixth invitation round leading to the number of candidates receiving ITAs through Express Entry to 9,800.
Last week, the candidates received the most number of invitations. On July 6, 1,500 candidates with work experience in the healthcare professions received ITAs.
This draw was scheduled after a June 27 announcement that 500 healthcare professionals would get the first-ever Express Entry invites.
For applicants in the fields of STEM, the round of invitations on July 5 was historic. 500 applicants with a minimum CRS score of 486 received the opportunity to apply.
Finally, the invitation round on July 4 emerged as a surprise all-program draw in which 700 candidates received ITAs. These applicants needed the highest CRS of any all-program draw in 2025, which is 511 points.
First French Category-based Express Entry draw
Strong French-speaking skills are the only category-based selection criterion for the six new selection categories that do not employ job experience as the primary qualification.
It is the responsibility of Canada’s minister of immigration to promote French outside of Quebec. In a press release, IRCC stated that prioritizing French-speaking immigrants indicates Canada’s aim to support economic growth through Francophone immigration outside Quebec. It does so while acknowledging the ways in which it strengthens and enriches these communities.
Category-based selection draw
The new categories for category-based selection became public through Sean Fraser’s announcement on May 31. Following the passage of legislation allowing Canada’s immigration minister to select applicants for economic immigration based on a particular characteristic rather than their total CRS score in June of last year, new categories had to be displayed. This can include schooling, language skills, employment experience, and more.
Following consultations with provincial and territorial governments, IRCC partners, and other stakeholders, the following categories gained preference for 2023:
- Healthcare
- Transport
- Trades, including carpenters, plumbers, and contractors
- Transport
- Strong French language proficiency
- Agriculture and agri-food
- Strong French-language proficiency
- Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics is equal to (STEM) professions
By the end of 2023, Canada intends to admit up to 82,880 new immigrants through Express Entry. This is according to the Immigration Levels Plan 2023–2025. The goal will increase to 114,000 by the end of 2025.
The category-based selection might assist Canada in achieving these goals while also bridging the country’s workforce’s critical skills and labor shortages.
