Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) resumed its Express Entry draws for all immigration programs in July after a pause of nearly 18 months due to the COVID pandemic. The last time Canada used the Express Entry system to invite skilled immigrants was in December 2020.
Canada’s Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said, “Today, I am pleased to announce that Express Entry draws have officially resumed and applications will be processed at our 6 month processing standard. I want to thank the candidates from around the world for their patience, as we worked to reduce the backlog before resuming Express Entry draws. I look forward to welcoming skilled workers who will are essential in addressing Canada’s labour shortages.”
Today, I am pleased to announce that Express Entry draws have officially resumed and applications will be processed at our 6 month processing standard.
Sean Fraser, Immigration Minister
What is Express Entry?
Express Entry is the fastest and most efficient pathway to permanent residence for skilled immigrants seeking a life in Canada. The Express Entry system is used by the Government of Canada to centralize the intake of permanent residence applications under its various economic immigration programs. It is used to implement a single, coherent national immigration strategy by creating a common pool of approved candidates who are most likely to succeed in Canada. Without Express Entry, each immigration program could adopt differing qualification criteria and procedures, leading to inefficiency and confusion.