
December Express Entry Draw 2024: BIG Changes You Need To Know
State of the Express Entry Pool: December 2024
Observing Patterns in Recent Express Entry Draws
As 2024 nears its conclusion, notable trends have emerged in Canada’s Express Entry system. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has already conducted the first two Express Entry draws for December, prioritizing candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and those with strong French language proficiency. This approach aligns with patterns observed in the previous months.
In October and November, IRCC issued 5,961 and 5,507 Invitations to Apply (ITAs), respectively, across six draws each month. These draws highlighted candidates from the PNP and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) categories, along with category-based selections. The focus reflects the government’s Immigration Levels Plan, which emphasizes admitting candidates already in Canada and addressing economic priorities through specific skills-based categories.
This article provides an analysis of November’s Express Entry draws and examines the composition of the Express Entry pool as of early December 2024.
Overview of November’s Express Entry Draws
November saw six Express Entry draws, distributing ITAs across the CEC, PNP, and category-based selection streams. Two draws were held for each category, continuing IRCC’s consistent focus on these streams.
A notable highlight was the healthcare category-based selection draw on November 20, which marked the first healthcare-specific draw since July 2024. This draw issued 3,000 ITAs to candidates with eligible healthcare work experience, making it the largest draw of the month. In total, 69% of November’s ITAs were issued through category-based selection draws, including those targeting French language proficiency and healthcare occupations.
Smaller draw sizes were observed for the CEC and PNP categories, with each issuing roughly 800 invitations over the month. Consequently, the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off scores for these draws remained higher compared to previous months.
The table below summarizes the details of November’s draws:
Draw Number | Date | Draw Type | Invitations Issued | CRS Score |
---|---|---|---|---|
327 | November 20, 2024 | Healthcare Occupations | 3,000 | 463 |
326 | November 19, 2024 | Canadian Experience Class | 400 | 539 |
325 | November 18, 2024 | Provincial Nominee Program | 174 | 816 |
324 | November 15, 2024 | French Language Proficiency | 800 | 478 |
323 | November 13, 2024 | Canadian Experience Class | 400 | 547 |
322 | November 12, 2024 | Provincial Nominee Program | 733 | 812 |
These draws align with IRCC’s commitment to prioritizing the “In-Canada Focus” category—primarily CEC and PNP candidates—and the “Federal Economic Priorities” category, which supports targeted skill-based selections. Both categories are integral to IRCC’s immigration strategy for 2025.
Composition of the Express Entry Pool as of December 1, 2024
On December 1, the Express Entry pool consisted of 218,490 candidates. The table below illustrates the distribution of candidates across CRS score ranges:
CRS Score Range | Number of Candidates |
0-300 | 5,615 |
301-350 | 22,280 |
351-400 | 50,609 |
401-410 | 11,239 |
411-420 | 11,602 |
421-430 | 11,217 |
431-440 | 12,313 |
441-450 | 11,219 |
451-460 | 11,872 |
461-470 | 12,521 |
471-480 | 14,371 |
481-490 | 11,905 |
491-500 | 12,316 |
501-600 | 18,673 |
601-1200 | 738 |
Percentile Ranks for CRS Scores
To better understand the competitiveness of CRS scores within the pool, percentile ranks have been calculated for the highest score in each range. Percentiles indicate the proportion of candidates with scores at or below a given score:
CRS Score Range | Number of Candidates | Percentile Range | Percentage |
0-300 | 5,615 | 0.0 - 2.57% | 2.57% |
301-350 | 22,280 | 2.57 - 12.77% | 10.20% |
351-400 | 50,609 | 12.77 - 35.93% | 23.16% |
401-410 | 11,239 | 35.93 - 41.07% | 5.14% |
411-420 | 11,602 | 41.07 - 46.38% | 5.31% |
421-430 | 11,217 | 46.38 - 51.52% | 5.14% |
431-440 | 12,313 | 51.52 - 57.15% | 5.64% |
441-450 | 11,219 | 57.15 - 62.29% | 5.13% |
451-460 | 11,872 | 62.29 - 67.72% | 5.43% |
461-470 | 12,521 | 67.72 - 73.45% | 5.73% |
471-480 | 14,371 | 73.45 - 80.03% | 6.58% |
481-490 | 11,905 | 80.03 - 85.48% | 5.45% |
491-500 | 12,316 | 85.48 - 91.12% | 5.64% |
501-600 | 18,673 | 91.12 - 99.66% | 8.55% |
601-1200 | 738 | 99.66 - 100.00% | 0.34% |
Outlook for Express Entry
IRCC’s recent draws reflect a targeted approach to meet Canada’s immigration goals, focusing on healthcare, trades, and French language proficiency. This strategy aligns with the Immigration Levels Plan’s objectives to address economic and demographic needs through tailored selection criteria.
As the Express Entry pool evolves, candidates should remain informed about IRCC’s priorities and prepare to optimize their CRS scores through avenues like improving language proficiency, securing a provincial nomination, or gaining additional work experience.
If you’re considering applying through the Express Entry system, now is a crucial time to assess your eligibility and prepare your profile. A free Express Entry assessment can help identify the best pathway to achieve your Canadian immigration goals.