Canada is preparing to change how Express Entry candidates are selected in the first quarter of 2023 and beyond.

Starting in 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will use new authorities to hold Express Entry draws that invite candidates based on specific attributes rather than their overall CRS score.

The expected changes to Express Entry were made possible by Bill C-19 which received Royal Assent, or passed in both houses of parliament, on June 23. Under the Bill, the immigration minister has the authority to invite candidates with any in-demand skills or abilities.

Commencing from 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will assign new authorities to hold Express Entry outlines that invite candidates based on specific skills rather than their overall CRS score.

The expected reforms to Express Entry were mentioned in Bill C-19 which received Royal approval, or say passed in both houses of parliament on Jun 23, 2022. As per the Bill passed, the immigration minister holds the authority to invite candidates with any in-demand skills or abilities required in the country.

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser told CIC News in an interview last June that the changes to Express Entry would help Canada select immigrants who are already primed for economic success.

In an interview  last June by Immigration Minister Sean Fraser he stated the reforms to Express Entry would help Canada select immigrants who are prepared for economic success.

The minister said although Express Entry already gives Canada a competitive advantage, there is room for improvement.

He also mentioned that though Express Entry already gives Canada a competitive advantage, there is always a scope for improvement.

“Where [the Express Entry system] could be improved is at present if there are particular challenges that your economy is facing, it might be facing in the long term. We don’t have the ability to tailor the invitations to apply to the Express Entry system to meet those in-demand skills or qualifications,” Fraser said.

IRCC says that the Bill will allow Canada to invite Express Entry candidates on a new basis, one that would support an economic goal identified by the minister.

IRCC said the Bill will allow Canada to invite Express Entry candidates on new protocols, one that would support the economic goal of the country as identified by the minister.

Who will be invited?

There is no confirmation to date on which candidates would receive invitations to apply (ITAs) in targeted draws. The minister said he would be consulting with provinces, business councils and other stakeholders to best evaluate which candidates to target.

There is no confirmation yet on candidates who would receive invitations to apply in targeted draws. The minister mentioned that he would consult with provinces, business councils and other stakeholders to best evaluate the candidates to target.

The minister’s new authority means that it will now be possible to invite Express Entry candidates based on the most pressing economic needs and urgent labour shortages.

The minister’s new announcement means that it will now be possible to invite Express Entry candidates based on the most crucial economic need and impelling labour shortages.

As an example, healthcare is seen as one of the most pressing occupational categories. In October, the job vacancy rate within the sector stood at 6%. The government has been taking measures to fill jobs in the sector, such as removing some barriers for internationally trained physicians who are already in Canada and the more recently announced Foreign Credential Recognition Program. Still, it is plausible that future Express Entry draws may target only candidates with backgrounds in healthcare professions to fill vacant positions at a faster rate.

For example, Healthcare sector is one of the most critical occupational categories. In October, the job vacancy rate stood at 6% within the sector. The government has started removing some barriers for internationally trained physicians who are already in Canada and fill jobs in the sector and recently announced Foreign Credential Recognition Program. Still it is possible that future Express Entry rules may target only candidates with background in healthcare professions to fill vacant positions at a faster rate.

Why is the system changing?

Canada is currently undergoing a labour shortage due to an aging population and low birth rate. It is expected that nine million Canadians will reach the retirement age of 65 by 2030, and there are not enough younger Canadians to fill their positions, leading to a high number of job vacancies that will be difficult to fill. Canada relies on immigration to maintain its workforce and keep the economy strong.

Canada is facing a labour shortage currently because of it’s low birth rate and aging population. It is estimated that 9 million Canadians will  reach the age of 65 and retire by 2030 and there are not enough younger people to fill their positions, which will lead to a high number of vacancies to fill. Canada is dependent on immigration to fill vacancies and maintain the economy.

To help maintain and grow the workforce, the immigration levels plan 2023-2025 targets admissions of up to 500,000 new permanent residents per year by 2025. Of these, over 110,000 will be admitted through Express Entry programs.

For maintaining the economy and extend the workforce, the immigration levels plan 2023-2025 to target admissions of up to 500,000 new permanent residents every year by 2025. Out of which 1,10,000 will be targeted through Express Entry programs.

How does Express Entry work?

The Express Entry application management system endeavors to streamline processing for skilled workers who apply under three economic immigration programs; the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

The Express Entry application management system undertakes processing to simplify for skilled workers who apply under three economic immigration programs;  the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

Since the Express Entry application management system came into effect in January 2015, candidates have been selected to receive ITAs exclusively based on their score within the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

The Express Entry application management system began in January 2015, after which candidates who receive ITAs are selected exclusively depending on their score within the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

Under the CRS, candidates are evaluated on several factors such as work experience, education or language ability and other human capital factors such as their age or if they have family already living in Canada. Each factor is assigned points and the candidates with the most overall points have the highest CRS scores and are therefore more likely to receive an ITA in an Express Entry draw.

As per CRS, candidates are shortlisted based on various factors such as work experience, education or language ability and other human capital factors such as their age or if they have family already living in Canada. Each factor has some points assigned and the applicant achieving more points with the highest CRS score has the foremost possibility to receive an ITA under the Express Entry draw.

With targeted draws, IRCC would still require that candidates meet eligibility criteria for an Express Entry program. However, a candidate’s CRS score would not be the deciding factor in receiving an ITA. The draws could be tailored to candidates who had specific work experience, education, or language abilities.

Even after achieving the targeted draws, IRCC would still prefer the candidates to meet  eligibility criteria for an Express Entry program. In fact, CRS score of a candidate is not at all the deciding factor to receive an ITA. The draws can be modified to the needs based on specific work experience, education or language abilities of a candidate.