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Immigration Law

Why are Express Entry draw scores so high

March 10, 2023 by Carly Perryman


Canada has held six draws for the Express Entry Skills Immigration program in 2023. The latest draw saw a minimum draw score of 667 on March 1, 2023.

The question that we have been getting lately is: Why is the Express Entry score so high? Which is then followed by dismay and hopelessness about ever being invited to apply for permanent residency in Canada.

To understand that there is still hope, you may have to adjust your immigration plan to account for the current immigration climate. We can help with that.

First, let us examine how the Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) is calculated:

Candidates are given a score out of 1,200. The score is based on various criteria such as age, occupation, family status, job offer in Canada, work experience, language ability and education, to name a few.

There are draws from the pool throughout the year, which we monitor closely and provide ongoing evaluation and advice regarding your submission to increase your chances of selection.

The highest-scoring candidates receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence through the online Express Entry system. Once an application is submitted, IRCC will review and process the application and make a final decision.

To get a high score, a candidate must be youthful, highly educated, with skilled work experience. It is also an asset to be bilingual (French/English).

The last two draws have been selective draws from the Provincial Nominee Program subcategory with a minimum draw score over 600. Under this subcategory, a candidate with a Provincial Nomination Certificate is issued 600 additional points towards their CRS score. So now, you can see that a CRS score of 667 is not an insurmountable task.

Now the question: How can I qualify for a Provincial nomination?

Each province has a Provincial Nominee Program. Each province’s economic growth depends on having enough skilled and qualified people to meet labour market needs. The PNP is a way for high-demand foreign workers and experienced entrepreneurs to gain permanent residency in a particular province in Canada.

Each province has different pathways through which candidates can apply, including skilled workers, International Graduates, entrepreneurs and French-speaking skilled workers, to name a few. Each province also has PNP pathways that link to the federal Express Entry system.

For information on how the British Columbia Provincial Nomination Program (BCPNP) works, click here.

If you are selected to apply and meet the requirements of the PNP program under an Express Entry category, you will be issued a Nomination Certificate. As part of your PNP application, you will be asked to provide details of your Express Entry profile. Then, upon nomination, the PNP sends 600 points to your CRS score in the Express Entry pool. 600 points will then be added to your overall score.

Based on this explanation, it makes sense why the Express Entry draw scores are so high. And it gives you hope that you, with some extra planning and hard work, may be invited apply for permanent residency in Canada.

If you would like to know if you qualify for immigration to Canada through the Express Entry program or a Provincial Nominee Program, please take our free assessment here.