Express Entry Update: Canada invited 4,500 candidates for permanent residence

Today, November 5, 2020, Canada held its 166th Express Entry draw, which invited 4,500 immigration candidates for permanent residence. This is the 33rd draw of 2020 which brings the total number of Invitations To Apply (ITAs) this year to 87,350. Invitations were issued to candidates with Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores of 478.

Express Entry is the online application system that manages applications for permanent residence from skilled workers. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently announced that candidates can now earn up to 50 additional points for strong French language skills (even if French is the second language).

Every year, Canada set its annual target for immigration that helps distribute the benefits of immigration across the country.
On October 30, 2020, Canada announced its Immigration Levels Plan for 2021-2023 . Canada will aim to bring in more than 1.2 million immigrants over the next three years to compensate for the shortfall this year due to the pandemic and represent about one per cent of Canada’s population.

• 2021: 401,000 immigrants
• 2022: 411,000 immigrants
• 2023: 421,000 immigrants

The Immigration Levels Plan aims to welcome about 60 per cent of all immigrants under economic class programs, including through Express Entry and the Provincial Nominee Program.

In 2019, Canada welcomed over 341,000 permanent residents, including 30,000 resettled refugees. Over 402,000 study permits and 404,000 temporary work permits were also issued.