Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC, formerly CIC) has issued 799 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in the latest Express Entry draw for immigration to Canada. The number of Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points required in order for candidates to be invited to apply was 534, representing a significant increase compared with other draws that have taken place so far this year.

The number of ITAs issued (799) is by far the fewest in that have been issued in a single draw for over a year. This factor is likely to have had some bearing on the increase in the CRS point requirement for this draw, which represents something of an anomaly. More than 1,000 ITAs are issued in a typical Express Entry draw.

Candidates who have been issued an ITA are now in a position to submit an application for Canadian permanent residence. Accompanying family members, including spouses or common-law partners as well as dependent children, may also come to Canada along with the principal applicant.

Express Entry

Express Entry is Canada's immigration management system for the federal economic immigration programs, namely: Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades, and the Canadian Experience Class. The system was first launched on January 1, 2015.

Eligible candidates may submit a profile into the Express Entry pool, where they are ranked according to the CRS. The government of Canada selects the top-ranked candidates on a priority basis when it performs one of its frequent draws from the pool. Candidates who are issued an ITA for permanent residence then have 60 days to submit a complete e-application, from which point the government of Canada aims to process the application within six months.

For more information on draws from the Express Entry pool that have taken place so far, click here.

Express Entry quick facts, from January 1, 2015 to May 6, 2016

• Launch date: January 1, 2015
• First draw from the pool: January 31, 2015
• Most recent draw from the pool: May 6, 2016
• Minimum CRS points required for selection in any one draw: 450 (September 18, 2015 & October 2, 2015)
• Largest number of invitations to apply issued in any one draw: 1,637 (March 27, 2015)
• Fewest invitations to apply issued in any one draw: 715 (April 17, 2015)
• Largest decrease in CRS points required between two consecutive draws: 273 (from May 22, 2015 to June 12, 2015 draws)
• Smallest decrease in CRS points required between two consecutive draws: 0 (on two occasions)
• Largest increase in CRS points required between two consecutive draws: 302 (from April 17, 2015 to May 22, 2015 draws)
• Smallest increase in CRS points required between two consecutive draws: 0 (on two occasions)
• Longest gap between two consecutive draws: 35 days (from April 17, 2015 to May 22, 2015 draws)
• Shortest gap between two consecutive draws: 7 days (on seven occasions)
• Total number of ITAs issued since system was launched: 43,299
• Total number of ITAs issued in 2016: 12,236
• Total number of ITAs issued in 2015: 31,063

Express Entry Draws: 2016