Canada Express Entry Draw 2023
First Targeted Express Entry STEM Draw for July 2023
On July 5, 2023, the first targeted Express Entry draw was announced, with Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada sending out 500 invitations to apply to eligible candidates in 24 occupations for permanent residence.
STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The minimum score required has increased to 486, compared to the targeted draw for healthcare occupations on June 28. The Canadian Minister of Immigration also announced that 1,500 invitations to apply will also be sent out this week.
- Number of invitations issued: 500.
- Required ranking for invitation to apply: 500 or higher.
- Date and time of announcement: July 5, 2023, 13:38:22.
- Minimum points for people to be invited: 486.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada issues the Express Entry draw approximately every two weeks, sending invitations to apply to individuals who are deemed eligible for the three Express Entry programs: The Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class.
Find out if you are eligible to get in Canada →
What is Express Entry?
Express Entry is a system the Government of Canada uses to manage and process permanent residence applications from skilled foreign workers who want to move to Canada. It was introduced in January 2015 and is designed to select candidates based on their potential contribution to the Canadian economy.
Under the Express Entry system, candidates are required to create an online profile that includes information about their education, work experience, language skills, and other factors. A comprehensive profile score is determined based on various criteria such as age, education, language skills, work experience, and adaptability factors.
Invitations to apply for permanent residence are issued to the highest-scoring candidates during regular draws conducted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. An Invitation to apply is typically issued to candidates who meet the minimum points set for each draw.
Once an Invitation to Apply is received, candidates must submit a complete application for permanent residence within a limited timeframe.
What are targeted draws in the Express Entry system?
Targeted draws are Express Entry draws based on a specific category, introduced by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada to attract new skilled immigrants with specific skills and occupations. An Express Entry draw based on the category grants successful applicants permanent resident status in Canada.
IRCC selects candidates from the Express Entry portal who have work experience in the 82 most in-demand occupations in Canada.
How can I be eligible for the Express Entry Targeted Draw?
To be eligible for the Express Entry Targeted Draw, you must have 6 months of continuous work experience in the occupations and target categories listed below within the past 3 years. (Work experience can be in Canada or abroad.)
- Healthcare occupations.
- Agriculture and agri-food occupations.
- Trade occupations.
- STEM occupations.
- French language proficiency will be an asset in your application.
| English / French proficiency | IELTS/TEF test | ||||
| Education | High school diploma equivalent or higher | ||||
| Work Experience | 6 months of continuous work experience in a specific field within the last 3 years. | ||||
| Age | There is no age limit (but points are usually awarded to candidates between the ages of 18 and 50) | ||||
| Proof of financial means | You need to prove that you have enough money to support yourself and your family, the amount of money depends on the number of family members | ||||
| Health status | You need to undergo medical tests |
Getting an Invitation to Apply (ITA)
A candidate who has been granted an ITA will go through three scenarios:
- Scenario 1: The candidate accepts the invitation to apply and submits the necessary documents within 60 days.
- Scenario 2: The candidate declines the ITA but will still have a chance or reapply because their profile is stored.
- Scenario 3: The candidate, for some reason, leaves the ITA to expire; in this case, if the candidate still has the desire to apply, they will have to create a new Express Entry profile.
What are the popular Express Entry streams?
Express Entry is one of the most popular and fast ways to immigrate to Canada; Express Entry draws include the following programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program: This program is designed for foreign workers with skills that make them eligible to immigrate to Canada.
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP): This program is designed for experienced workers with skilled trades abilities.
- Canadian International Experience (CEC): This program is designed for experienced workers with one year of work experience in Canada.
All applicants to these programs seek permanent residency in Canada.
