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2024 Canada Express Entry Annual Review: Trends, Policies, and Outlook
Published Date: December 30, 2024

2024 Express Entry Policy

In 2024, Canada conducted 52 rounds of Express Entry draws, issuing a total of 98,903 Invitations to Apply (ITAs). Compared to previous years, the categorization of invitations has become more refined, with a particular focus on Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and French language proficiency. This shift reflects Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) more targeted approach to immigration selection.

Invitation CategoryNumber of DrawsLowest CRS ScoreHighest CRS Score
Provincial Nominee Program14663816
French Language Proficiency11336478
Canadian Experience Class10507547
General9524549
Healthcare Occupations3422463
Trade Occupations2433436
Agriculture and Agri-Food Occupations1437437
STEM Occupations1491491
Transport Occupations1430430

A detailed summary of 2024 Express Entry draws can be found at the end of this article.

Compared to 2023, the CRS score thresholds in Express Entry showed noticeable fluctuations, closely tied to an increase in the number of candidates and policy changes. By December 2024, the number of profiles in the Express Entry candidate pool reached 221,310, an increase of nearly 5,000 compared to 2023.

Policy and Trend Analysis: Insights from 2024 to 2025

1. Elimination of LMIA Points: A Pivotal Policy Change

At the end of 2024, Canada’s Minister of Immigration announced the removal of additional CRS points for valid LMIA in the spring of 2025. Currently, candidates with a valid LMIA can receive an additional 50 or 200 CRS points. The elimination of these points will directly affect CRS score thresholds.

Although IRCC has yet to specify the exact implementation date of this policy, it will undoubtedly change the scoring structure in Express Entry, creating opportunities for more candidates without job offers and reducing overall competition.

2. New Immigration Quota Plan: Federal Pathways Take the Lead

According to the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan announced by IRCC in November 2024, the allocation for the “Federal High-Skilled” category under Express Entry will increase from 110,770 in 2024 to 124,590 in 2025.

Notably, for the first time in 2025, the Federal High-Skilled category will be divided into two subcategories:

  • “In-Canada Focus”: Representing 66% of the total allocation, focusing on CEC and PNP candidates.
  • “Federal Economic Priority” Category: Targeting specific occupational skills and language abilities, including healthcare, trades, and French proficiency candidates.

This quota allocation change indicates that 2025 Express Entry invitations will increasingly prioritize candidates with Canadian experience while continuing to support specific occupations needed in the labor market.

3. Prioritization of Specific Occupation Categories: Focus on Healthcare and French Proficiency

In 2024, IRCC prioritized agricultural, transportation, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) occupations through category-based selections in Express Entry. However, based on the 2025 plan, IRCC will focus more on the following occupation categories:

  • Healthcare Occupations: Addressing Canada’s urgent need for healthcare resources.
  • Trade Occupations: Helping fill critical skills gaps.
  • French Proficiency Candidates: Continuing to support French-speaking immigration under the Official Languages Act, with a goal of having 7% of immigrants in 2025 as French speakers.

Outlook: Potential Changes in Express Entry in 2025

With the removal of LMIA points and the implementation of new immigration plans, the Express Entry system in 2025 is expected to be more flexible and diverse. Here are some potential trends:

  1. Lower CRS Score Thresholds: The removal of LMIA points may lower overall CRS score requirements, although high-demand categories may maintain higher thresholds.
  2. Occupation-Specific Invitations: Draws and allocations for healthcare and trade occupations are expected to increase significantly.
  3. Increased Support for French-Speaking Immigrants: With the federal government’s enhanced commitment to French-speaking immigration, invitations for the French proficiency category are likely to increase further.

In summary, Canada’s adjustments to Express Entry in 2024 demonstrate the federal government’s flexibility and foresight in immigration policies. Looking ahead, prospective immigration candidates should closely monitor policy updates and optimize their application strategies based on their qualifications to better adapt to changes in the Express Entry system.

Appendix:

2024 Express Entry Draw Details. Click here to calculate your CRS score online.

DateRound TypeInvitations IssuedCRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited
December 16Provincial Nominee Program1085727
December 03French language proficiency800466
December 02Provincial Nominee Program676705
November 20Healthcare occupations3000463
November 19Canadian Experience Class400539
November 18Provincial Nominee Program174816
November 15French language proficiency800478
November 13Canadian Experience Class400547
November 12Provincial Nominee Program733812
October 23Trade occupations1,800433
October 22Canadian Experience Class400539
October 21Provincial Nominee Program648791
October 10French language proficiency1,000444
October 09Canadian Experience Class500539
October 07Provincial Nominee Program1,613743
September 19Canadian Experience Class4,000509
September 13French language proficiency1,000446
September 09Provincial Nominee Program911732
August 27Canadian Experience Class3,300507
August 26Provincial Nominee Program1,121694
August 15French language proficiency2,000394
August 14Canadian Experience Class3,200509
August 13Provincial Nominee Program763690
July 31Canadian Experience Class5,000510
July 30Provincial Nominee Program964686
July 18French language proficiency1,800400
July 17Canadian Experience Class6,300515
July 16Provincial Nominee Program1,391670
July 08French language proficiency3,200420
July 05Healthcare occupations3,750445
July 04Trade occupations1,800436
July 02Provincial Nominee Program920739
June 19Provincial Nominee Program1,499663
May 31Canadian Experience Class3,000522
May 30Provincial Nominee Program2,985676
April 24French language proficiency1,400410
April 23General2,095529
April 11STEM occupations4,500491
April 10General1,280549
March 26French language proficiency1,500388
March 25General1,980524
March 13Transport occupations975430
March 12General2,850525
February 29French language proficiency2,500336
February 28General1,470534
February 16Agriculture and agri-food occupations150437
February 14Healthcare occupations3,500422
February 13General1,490535
February 01French language proficiency7,000365
January 31General730541
January 23General1,040543
January 10General1,510546

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