08 December
The Express Entry draw, which invites international skilled workers to Canada by offering permanent residency, will undergo significant changes in 2023. The government has stated that changes are required to address the country’s severe labor shortage.
Immigration Minister Sean Fraser commented on the matter that the current Express Entry all-program draws do not effectively assist Canada in attracting foreign nationals who best fit the country’s most in-demand skills and qualifications.
According to him, as a result of these adjustments, Canada “may see an improvement in retention rates [among those who settle in particular places] because individuals are coming in where they know they have potential because that was the foundation of their invitation to apply.”
As a result, starting in the next year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) plan to start holding targeted Express Entry drawings. According to the plan, individuals will be chosen for Canadian permanent residency by Express Entry based on their occupation, language proficiency, and/or educational background.
To eventually settle on the specifics of the new structure, IRCC states that it would “consult a wide variety of stakeholders to inform new categories under Express Entry.”
