Express Entry: Major changes coming in 2024

WHAT IS EXPRESS ENTRY ?

Express Entry is one of the immigration pathways to settle in Canada. The program allows invited candidates to apply for permanent residence.

This program enables candidates to immigrate to all provinces in Canada, except Quebec.

It is divided into three main categories :

• The Provincial Nominee Program
• The Canadian Experience Class
• The Federal Skilled Worker Program

Under this system, candidates are awarded points based on objective criteria such as education, proficiency in French and English… They are then placed into a pool alongside other immigration candidates.

At regular intervals, federal authorities conduct draws to invite the highest-scoring candidates from the pool to apply.

NEW SELECTION SYSTEM

The Government of Canada announced the launch of a new candidate selection system in summer 2023. To address labor shortages in Canada, new category-based invitation rounds will be introduced.

The goal: to invite candidates whose occupations match Canada’s labor market needs.

Work experience in the following fields will be prioritized in upcoming category-based draws:

– Healthcare

– Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)

– Trades, such as carpenters, plumbers, and contractors

– Transportation

– Agriculture and agri-food

These new rounds will be in addition to the existing all-program and program-specific draws.

FRENCH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

Canada aims to continue developing Francophone communities outside of Quebec to increase the rate off French language proficiency.

French proficiency, which already provides additional points under Express Entry, will become a more specifically considered criterion in category-based draws.

However, the level of French must be very advanced—candidates must be fully bilingual in French.

In other words, with equal profiles, a Francophone worker with professional-level English will have a better chance of selection than an English-only worker.

More information on how to apply, as well as the invitation schedule under this new selection system, is expected in the coming weeks.

This article discusses a recent development and is subject to change at any time. Last updated: June 7, 2023.