Canada has given out 3,400 invitations in its initial Express Entry draw in 2020 for persons who want to become permanent residents. Persons who expect to receive an invitation in the draw held on January 7 must have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 473. The ranking system awards points to the applicants who meet the minimum requirements by considering factors such as education, proficiency in French or English, age and skilled work experience.
Canada primarily sources for skilled foreign workers using the Express Entry system. The system started in 2015 to help keep in check the number of candidates in the country’s three high-skilled immigration programs. The programs include the Federal Skilled Trades Class, Federal Skilled Worker Class and Canadian Experience Class.
One is not required to have a job offer to qualify for permanent residency status under the Express Entry system, but they are awarded extra points under the CRS. After every two weeks, Canada holds where persons who have the highest CRS scores receive an invitation to become permanent residents (ITA).
Express Entry system’s permanent residence applications in Canada take six months before they can be processed. The country hopes to admit a high number of skilled immigrants through the three programs in 2020 and 2021, at 85,800 and 88,800, respectively.
The country also hopes to increase the number of immigrants through its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), which is partially managed by the Express Entry system, to 67,800 this year and 71,300 in the coming year. The country has two territories and nine provinces that use the “enhanced” PNP streams, which form part of the Express Entry system.
