Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released its annual report for the year 2022 on Express Entry. Each year, IRCC releases an annual report that provides a wealth of information on Express Entry’s performance and trends.
Let’s dive into the details of the 2022 Annual Report on Express Entry of IRCC:
Jump to:
What is Express Entry?
Express Entry is Canada’s application management system designed to attract skilled foreign workers seeking permanent residence.
The system consists of three primary programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
Stay Updated with +1 News about the Latest Express Entry Draws
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP):
Express Entry also manages a portion of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), though PNP candidates must also be eligible for one of the three core programs.
Express Entry Profiles in 2022
In 2022, a total of 428,391 Express Entry profiles were submitted, reflecting a slight 3% decrease from the previous year but a significant 19% increase from 2020.
Of these profiles, at least 74% were eligible for at least one of the immigration programs managed by Express Entry, a statistic consistent with 2021.
| Profile Eligibility | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Eligible | 318,828 | 326,257 | 266,658 |
| Ineligible | 109,563 | 116,746 | 94340 |
| Total | 428,391 | 443,003 | 360,998 |
Profile Submissions by Gender
In 2022, men submitted a higher number of profiles (56%) compared to women (44%).
While the proportion of profiles eligible for immigration programs remained stable for men (71%), women saw a slight increase in eligibility (78%) in 2022 compared to previous years.
Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) Scores
CRS scores rank Express Entry candidates based on criteria like age, language ability, education, work experience, and more.
Score Distribution:
Despite fluctuations in eligible profiles, CRS scores for eligible candidates consistently concentrated in the 301-500 range in 2022.
| CRSScoreRange | 2022 | 2021 |
| 701-1200 | 11 | 79 |
| 651-700 | 71 | 38 |
| 601-650 | 240 | 133 |
| 551-600 | 1,126 | 786 |
| 501-550 | 10,725 | 6,847 |
| 451-500 | 76,504 | 69,195 |
| 401-450 | 77,447 | 86,626 |
| 351-400 | 93,621 | 99,623 |
| 301-350 | 49,923 | 50,759 |
| 251-300 | 6,225 | 7,583 |
| 201-250 | 1,986 | 2,928 |
| 151-200 | 731 | 1,239 |
| 101-150 | 190 | 367 |
| 1-100 | 28 | 54 |
| Total | 318,828 | 326,257 |
Additional Points:
Candidates can earn additional CRS points for factors such as education in Canada, French language proficiency, or having siblings in Canada.
| Additional point type | 2022 | 2021 |
| No additional points | 176,777 | 190,664 |
| Arranged employment | 20,495 | 20,927 |
| Education in Canada | 74,654 | 69,148 |
| French-language proficiency | 18,681 | 18,140 |
| Siblings in Canada | 44,483 | 41,618 |
| Total | 318,828 | 326,257 |
Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in 2022
IRCC issued 46,539 ITAs in 2022, marking a 59% decrease from the previous year. This decline was due to the temporary pause on ITAs for certain programs.
- Program Distribution: Most ITAs were issued for Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), with none issued for the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) in 2022.
- Gender Disparity: Men received the majority of ITAs (58%), with a similar gender distribution seen in the CEC and PNP programs.
| Program | 2022 | 2021 |
| CEC | 18,894 | 99,646 |
| PNP | 19,258 | 14,778 |
| FSWP | 8,385 | 0 |
| FSTP | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 46,537 | 114,424 |
ITAs by Gender and Age
Men continued to receive a higher number of ITAs (58%) compared to women.
In terms of age, candidates aged 20-29 received the most ITAs (50%). Notably, the age group 30-34 witnessed a significant increase in ITA allocation (29%) from the previous year.
ITAs by Education and Language Proficiency
Most ITAs were awarded to candidates with post-secondary credentials or higher (46%), including a substantial portion (46%) to master’s degree holders.
Proficiency in Canada’s official languages played a significant role in ITA distribution, with higher CLB/NCLC scores receiving more ITAs.
In order of score, the following lists the number of ITAs given to applicants at each CLB/NCLC level in 2022:
- CLB/NCLC 4: 7 ITAs issued
- CLB/NCLC 5: 817 ITAs issued
- CLB/NCLC 6: 2,094 ITAs issued
- CLB/NCLC 7: 9,444 ITAs issued
- CLB/NCLC 8: 8,709 ITAs issued
- CLB/NCLC 9: 15,587 ITAs issued
- CLB/NCLC 10: 9,881 ITAs issued
ITAs by Canadian Work Experience
A significant percentage of ITA recipients had one year of Canadian work experience (41%). Others had no Canadian experience (35%).
Candidates with the following amount of Canadian work experience received four or less percent of all Express Entry ITAs in 2022.
- Less than one year (1,957 ITAs, 4%)
- 3 years (1,528 ITAs, 3%)
- 4 years (480 ITAs, 1%)
- 5 years (276 ITAs, less than 1%)
ITAs by Foreign Work Experience
ITAs also went to candidates with varying degrees of foreign work experience. Those with 5 or more years of experience received the highest percentage (35%).
The list below outlines the remaining ITAs issued according to candidates’ foreign work experience in years:
- 1 year: 3,796 ITAs (8%)
- 2 years: 3,267 ITAs (7%)
- 3 years (6,035 (13%)
- 4 years (4,621 (10%)
Read More: What Qualifies As Eligible Work Experience For Canadian Express Entry?
Additional Points and Criteria
Education in Canada and Arranged Employment were the most common additional point types.
Men and women had slightly different profiles in meeting the criteria for additional points, with men having a higher proportion meeting the criteria for Arranged Employment points.
Top Occupations
In 2022, technological and food service occupations dominated the list of top ITA-awarded occupations.
Software engineers and designers emerged as the top occupation group, signaling the importance of technology-related skills.
| Primary Occupation | TEER | 2022 Invitations |
| 21231 Software engineers and designers | 1 | 3,848 |
| 21222 Information systems specialists | 1 | 1,889 |
| 21230 Computer systems developers and programmers | 1 | 1,855 |
| 62020 Food service supervisors | 2 | 1,558 |
| 11202 Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations | 1 | 1,025 |
| 21223 Database analysts and data administrators | 1 | 1,025 |
| 41200 University professors and lecturers | 1 | 955 |
13200 Customs, ship and other brokers | 3 | 945 |
| 11201 Professional occupations in business management consulting | 1 | 901 |
| 11100 Financial auditors and accountants | 1 | 857 |
| 20012 Computer and information systems managers | 0 | 855 |
| 22221 User support technicians | 2 | 842 |
| 10022 Advertising, marketing and public relations managers | 0 | 812 |
| 13100 Administrative officers | 3 | 800 |
63200 Cooks | 3 | 728 |
| Others | N/A | 27,664 |
| Total | 46,539 |
Countries of Residence Among ITAs Recipients
Most ITA recipients resided in Canada, followed by India and Nigeria.
The complete list of the top 10 countries of residence among 2022 ITA recipients is as follows:
| Rank | Country | Number of ITAs Issued |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canada | 31,486 |
| 2 | India | 3,787 |
| 3 | Nigeria | 1,730 |
| 4 | Cameroon | 1,063 |
| 5 | United States of America | 842 |
| 6 | Morocco | 793 |
| 7 | United Arab Emirates | 683 |
| 8 | Lebanon | 559 |
| 9 | Algeria | 550 |
| 10 | France | 381 |
Countries of Citizenship Among ITA Recipients
India held the top spot for citizenship among ITA recipients, followed by Algeria and China.
The complete list of the top 10 countries of citizenship among ITA recipients in 2022 is given below.
| Rank | Country | Number of ITAs |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 20,769 |
| 2 | Algeria | 2,909 |
| 3 | People’s Republic of China | 2,456 |
| 4 | Cameroon | 1,218 |
| 5 | Iran | 1,210 |
| 6 | France | 1,069 |
| 7 | Morocco | 978 |
| 8 | United States of America | 939 |
| 9 | Philippines | 934 |
| 10 | Pakistan | 923 |
Provinces of Settlement
Ontario remained the top destination for Express Entry applicants, followed by British Columbia and Alberta.
The percentage of applicants settling in Ontario decreased slightly from 61% in 2021 to 48% in 2022.
| Province/Territory | 2022 | 2021 |
| Ontario | 60,194 | 96,561 |
| British Columbia | 19,974 | 35,738 |
| Alberta | 13,140 | 12,090 |
| Saskatchewan | 6,751 | 2,716 |
| Manitoba | 5,839 | 2,801 |
| Nova Scotia | 5,293 | 3,157 |
| New Brunswick | 3,724 | 1,394 |
| Prince Edward Island | 613 | 875 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 547 | 332 |
| Yukon | 83 | 102 |
| Northwest Territories | 55 | 72 |
| Nunavut | 15 | 13 |
| Total | 116,228 | 155,851 |
Application Processing Times
In 2022, application processing times increased significantly. FSTP applications experienced the most substantial delay.
On average, 80% of CEC applications were processed within 19 months, FSWP applications took 29 months, and PNP applications took 13 months.
Seventh Year of Express Entry
In its seventh year of operation, the Express Entry system continued to be a reliable source of immigration for Canada’s federal government.
- Contributions to Canada: Despite the decrease in ITAs, the program continues to attract highly skilled foreign nationals who can contribute to Canada’s economy and society.
- Future Prospects: The Express Entry system is evolving to address specific labor market needs. It now includes category-based draws, targeting candidates with proficiency in French or experience in key occupational groups. As of writing, IRCC has issued 11,900 ITAs to candidates across these targeted categories in 2023.
Stay Updated with +1 News about the Latest Express Entry Draws
Conclusion
Canada’s Express Entry system remains an attractive option for skilled workers worldwide, offering a simplified and accessible path to permanent residence.
While the number of ITAs decreased in 2022, the program’s significance in Canada’s immigration strategy is undiminished.
Stay updated with evolving changes in the Express Entry system for promising opportunities in the future.
