Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued 2,000 invitations to apply (ITA) for permanent residence in a new Express Entry draw restricted to Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required to receive an invitation in this draw was 518.

The draw adds to the steady flow of invitations IRCC has issued through the Express Entry system this year. Because this round targeted only one category — the Canadian Experience Class — candidates in other Express Entry streams, such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Federal Skilled Trades Program, were not eligible for consideration in this specific draw.

Who is the Canadian Experience Class for?

The Canadian Experience Class serves candidates who already have skilled work experience gained inside Canada. For workers on temporary permits, the program offers one of the most direct routes from temporary status to permanent residence, since their Canadian employment history earns them a competitive position in the Express Entry pool.

This means the 2,000 candidates invited in this draw are, by definition, people already working or having worked in Canada. Once they receive an ITA, they can submit a complete application for permanent residence to IRCC.

What does a CRS score of 518 mean for candidates?

The CRS score of 518 functioned as the cut-off line for this draw. Candidates in the CEC pool with a score of 518 or above received an invitation. Candidates scoring below that threshold were not selected in this round and remain in the pool for future draws.

A program-specific draw such as this one typically produces a different cut-off than a general draw, because the candidate pool is smaller and limited to one eligibility category. Candidates still in the pool can improve their CRS scores through factors such as additional language test results or qualifying work experience, which may raise their chances in subsequent rounds.

What happens after an invitation?

Candidates who received one of the 2,000 ITAs in this draw now have a limited window to submit their complete application for permanent residence. Once IRCC approves an application, the candidate becomes a permanent resident of Canada.

IRCC publishes the parameters of each draw — the number of invitations and the minimum CRS score — through official Express Entry draw results. Candidates and prospective applicants should check IRCC's official channels for the details of each round, as draw size, cut-off scores and eligible categories can change from one draw to the next.

This article reports on a program announcement and does not constitute legal advice for any individual case.