On March 4, Canada sent out its latest round of invitations through the Express Entry system.

During this round, over 3,900 candidates with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score requirement of 471 were issued invitations. 

From the February 19 draw score of 470, the current cut-off score is an increase of one point at 471.

This new invitation round comes two weeks after the largest draw historically held by the Government of Canada, in which 4,500 Express Entry candidates received ITAs.

Canada’s Express Entry system oversees the profiles of candidates from the following classes: the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class and Canadian Experience Class.

Based on Express Entry’s Comprehensive Ranking System, candidates are given a score that considers factors such as age, education, skilled work experience and language ability in English or French.

Through regular draws from the pool, candidates with the highest-ranking scores are issued ITAs for Canadian permanent residence. According to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) the aim is for applications for permanent residence within six months.

This year, the government has aimed for an 85,800 ITA target for new permanent resident admissions, and has been issuing larger draws since the beginning of the year.

This latest draw, the 5th of this year, raises the total number of ITAs issued this year to 18,700,.

On February 24, 2020 at 06:02:57 UTC, a tie break was applied for March 4. All candidates with CRS scores above 471, including those who entered their profile in the Express Entry pool before this date and time, received an ITA.