Canada Express Entry Draws in 2022

Canada’s Express Entry draws were paused in December 2020 and continued for 18 months.

On July 06, 2022, the all-program draws were resumed which has allowed Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to work towards its pre-pandemic targets of Express Entry invitations.

Although candidates were disappointed to see the CRS score 557 on the very first all-program draw (July 6), the scores dropped every draw from July onward.

The latest Express Entry draw took place on November 23, 2022, and the CRS cut-off score decreased to 491.

If draws had been allowed to continue in December 2022, the CRS score would surely have dropped even further. However, Express Entry candidates should be aware that the current suspension of draws is likely to mean a slightly higher minimum CRS score for the next all-program draw.

Let’s take a look at the Express Entry all-program draws in 2022.

Create an Express Entry profile: Rounds of invitations 

You must create an express entry profile to move to Canada as a skilled person. Before creating an express entry profile, ensure you are eligible. 

You can apply for one of the following programs: 

• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

In general, eligibility depends on your language proficiency, education, work experience, etc. however, eligibility terms may vary for each of the programs. Check the terms of each program and consult a lawyer to understand which program suits you. 

If you are applying with your spouse or common-law partner, one of you should be the main or principal applicant. 

The principal applicant must be the one who meets all eligibility terms and earns a higher score. 

If you are eligible, you can start creating your express entry profile through the IRCC website. You’ll need to fill out your information, including your name, nationality, education and work background, your language test results, etc.

There are different programs that you may be eligible for. You cannot choose the program. Once you finish entering your information, the Canadian government will decide which program you are eligible for. 

Once you start the process, you will have 60 days to complete and submit your express profile entry. Otherwise, you will have to start over again. 

Types of rounds of invitations

After you submit your express entry profile, your profile will be evaluated based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). A CRS score out of 1200 points will be assigned to each candidate. 

You will compete with other candidates and if your score is high enough, you will be invited to apply for permanent residence. 

When the government identifies you as one of the highest-ranking candidates, you will receive an invitation. 

There are different types of rounds of invitation. The Canadian government will decide on the rounds of invitations and number of candidates who will be invited. 

Here are the different rounds of invitation: 

1. 1. General rounds of invitations: This is for top-ranking candidates who are eligible for one of the 3 programs; Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class. 

• Program-specific rounds of invitations: In these invitations, high-ranking candidates eligible for a specific Express Entry Program will be invited. 

• Category-based rounds of invitations: In these invitations, the minister established a category to meet a specific economic goal. 

Instructions for rounds of invitations 

Each round of invitations has its own instructions. These instructions are used to invite the candidates from the pool. You need to be eligible for one of the three programs to enter the pool.

Instructions can be found online at the time of the round. The instructions include:

• The date and time of the round
• The number of candidates who will receive an invitation
• The round type
• Immigration programs included for program-specific rounds
• Eligibility for the category for category-based rounds

Express Entry reports

Express entry was launched in 2015 and has been Canada’s flagship application management system for for immigration programs, including:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Also, many temporary residents already in Canada transition to permanent residence through the Express Entry (EE).

In 2022 a new invitations round type was added, referred to as category-based selection. This type of round increases flexibility to invite candidates aligned with Canada’s economic needs. 

Express entry reports are summaries showing the outcome of each draw, including:

• The number of invitations
• Minimum CRS scores
• Program categories 
• Trends and analysis

You can find out how competitive your profile is by analyzing previous Express Entry reports. 

How many Express Entry draws in 2022?

New occupations have been added to the immigration programs in 2022, including bus driving, transport truck driving, several occupations in the field of health, etc. Also, the category-based selection was introduced in 2022. 

The number of invitations decreased by 59% in 2022 compared to 2021. In general, the IRCC held 24 Express Entry draws in 2022 and issued 46,539 invitations to apply. The majority of the invitations were issued to candidates under two programs: 

• PNP: the Provincial Nominee Program
• CEC: Canada Experience Class

The remaining invitations were issued to candidates under FSWP. 

How does Express Entry work?

Express Entry is Canada’s main system for managing applications for permanent residency. It includes three economic immigration programs (FSWP, FSTP, CEC). It also includes a part of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). 

Candidates are evaluated based on their  score according to the Comprehensive Ranking System of the IRCC (CRS score). 

Candidates who are eligible for one of the following programs can submit an Express Entry profile. They will be added to the pool if they are eligible. Then the highest-ranking candidates will receive an invitation to apply for Canada’s permanent residency. 

Each year, there will be several rounds of invitation and the number of candidates receiving an invitation will be determined by the Canada federal government in each draw. Candidates who receive an invitation can apply for permanent residency. 

You can check if you are eligible and submit an Express Entry profile. However, you will not necessarily receive an invitation. 

What is CRS score cut off 2022 Express Entry?

The minimum score required for eligibility (cut-off score) depends on various factors, including:

• The number of candidates in the pool
• Canada’s immigration targets
• Specific program priorities

In 2022, the cut-off score was varied during different draws of the year. The very first draws of 2022 were focused on PNP candidates. As a result, the initial cut-off score was higher, usually about 700 points (PNP candidates receive an extra 600 points).

In July 2022, Canada resumed all-program after stopping it due to the pandemy. So the cut-off scores decreased to 557. By the end of the year, the cut-off scores experienced more decrease to 490. 

What is the latest score Canada Express Entry draw?

The minimum score for eligibility is varied depending on the program in 2024. The PNP candidates require a minimum of 791 scores. However, CEC candidates are required a minimum of 539 points, and the cut-off score for candidates in all-program draw was 444 in October of 2024. 

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