January 7, 2016 – Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has invited 1,463 Express Entry candidates to apply for Permanent Residence in Canada. The lowest qualifying score was 461 points.

Express Entry uses a comprehensive scoring system to rank prospective immigrants to Canada. Candidates are awarded up to 600 points based on a variety of factors meant to assess their ability to succeed in Canada, including age, language skill, education and work experience. An additional 600 points are awarded for holding a valid job offer supported by a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

In recent draws, Canada has consistently issued roughly 1,500 invitations to apply. Minimum scores have ranged between 460 and 484 in the past five draws.  This first round of invitations in 2016 continues this trend, with the qualifying score well below the 600 point benchmark. It is anticipated that the total number of applicants invited to apply will rise in 2016 as Express Entry becomes the principal source of immigration applicants to Canada.

The Government of Canada has announced its intention to rectify certain structural problems that made it difficult for international graduates and certain LMIA-exempt foreign nationals already in Canada to be invited through the system. It remains to be seen how these issues will be rectified.