On September 26, 2023, IRCC sent out 3,000 invitations to apply for permanent residency (PR) in a round that did not specify a specific program.
Applicants who are interested in applying for permanent residence through the “no program specified” draw should ensure that they have a strong CRS score and that they meet all of the other eligibility requirements.
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required to be invited to apply in the “no program specified draw decreased by 27 points to 504. This means that applicants with a CRS score of 504 or higher are now eligible to be invited to apply for permanent residence in Canada through this draw.
The decrease in the CRS score is likely due to a number of factors, including the fact that fewer applications were received in the previous draw and that the pool of eligible candidates is becoming more competitive.
| Date | Express Entry | No of Invitations | CRS Score | Tie-Breaking Rule |
| September 26, 2023 | No Program Specified | 3,000 | 504 | September 11, 2023, at 20:24:18 UTC |
| September 20, 2023 | Targeted for 10 Transportation Occupation | 1,000 | 435 | June 17, 2023 at 06:44:01 UTC |
| September 19, 2023 | No Program Specified | 3,200 | 531 | September 12, 2023, at 12:16:31 UTC |
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has conducted two consecutive Express Entry draws with no specific programs in the last two weeks. The good news is that the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off score has finally dropped to around 500.
The CRS cutoff score also dropped significantly in the August 15 Express Entry draw for “no program specified,” but the lack of a draw after that caused the CRS cutoff to rise above 530.
It is hoped that IRCC will now resume regular Express Entry draws and that the CRS cut-off will be below 500 in the upcoming round of invitations. This would be a welcome change for many Express Entry candidates who have been waiting for months or even years to receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence.
A lower CRS cut-off would mean that more candidates would be eligible to apply, and this would increase the chances of those who are highly skilled and have valuable work experience in Canada being selected. It would also be a sign that the Canadian government is committed to welcoming new immigrants and growing its population.
However, it is important to note that IRCC has not announced any changes to the Express Entry program, and it is possible that the CRS cut-off could remain high in the upcoming round of invitations.
On September 8, 2023, IRCC added more jobs to the list of occupations that are eligible for an additional 50 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points if the applicant has a certificate of qualification.