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(IRCC) has issued 600 (ITAs) in the first ever category-based draw for agriculture and agri-food occupations. Ìý

Candidates required a minimum (CRS) score of 354.Ìý

IRCC says focusing on candidates with experience in the agriculture and agri-food sector—including agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors, and retail and wholesale butchers—will help the sector attract the skilled talent it needs across the country.Ìý

Canada’s agriculture and agri-food industry exported nearly $92.8 billion in agriculture and food products globally in 2022.Ìý

Today’s draw is the third Express Entry draw of the week. Yesterday, September 27, saw 500 candidates with a minimum CRS of 472 invited from the French-speaking proficiency category. Ìý

On September 26, 3,000 candidates were invited in an all-program draw with a minimum CRS of 504.Ìý

Summary of Express Entry draw results since June 2023

Date	Draw Type	Number of ITAs	Minimum CRS
Dec 19	Trade occupations	1,000	425
Dec 18	All-program	1,325	542
Dec 8	STEM occupations	5,900	481
Dec 7	French language proficiency	1,000	470
Dec 6	All-program	4,750	561
Oct 26	Healthcare occupations	3,600	431
Oct 25	French language proficiency	300	486
Oct 24	PNP-only	1,548	776
Oct 10	All-program	3,725	500
Sept 28	Agriculture and agri-food occupations	600	354
Sept 27	French language proficiency	500	472
Sept 26	All-program	3,000	504
Sept 20	Transport occupations	1,000	435
Sept 19	All-program	3,200	531
Aug 15	All-program	4,300	496
Aug 3	Trade occupations	1,500	388
Aug 2	French language proficiency	800	435
Aug 1	All-program	2,000	517
July 12	French language proficiency	3,800	375
July 11	All-program	800	505
July 7	French language proficiency	2,300	439
July 6	Healthcare occupations	1500	463
July 5	STEM occupations	500	486
July 4	All-program	700	511
June 28	Healthcare occupations	500	476
June 27	All-program	4,300	486
June 8	All-program	4,800	486

What is category-based selection

In May this year, IRCC announced that it would begin holding some draws for Express Entry candidates based on one specific attribute rather than their overall CRS score.

The introduction of categories was expected to take place this year following a change to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) in 2022 that gives the immigration minister the authority to select Express Entry candidates who are likely to help Canada meet its mandate to strengthen the economy and promote the French language outside of .

To that end, six new categories were created for in-demand occupations and newcomers with strong French-language abilities. The five occupation-based categories are:

• Healthcare;
• STEM professions;
• Trades;
• Transport; and
• Agriculture and agri-food

Since the first category-based draw for healthcare workers on June 28, IRCC has held draws in each of these categories except for Agriculture and agri-food. The highest number of category based ITAs (6,900) have been issued to candidates with strong abilities in French.

Those who wish to immigrate to Canada through category-based selection must be in the Express Entry pool and meet a minimum CRS score.

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry is an application management system for economic immigration candidates in the (FSWP), the (FSTP) and the (CEC).

Each of these programs uses the Comprehensive Ranking System to evaluate and rank candidates according to specific human capital factors such as work experience, occupation, education, age, and language ability. Each attribute has a specific point value and the candidates who obtain the highest overall scores are the most likely to receive an invitation to apply in an upcoming Express Entry draw.

Eligibility for Express Entry depends on the program. For example, the FSWP and the FSTP program have different minimum requires and while the FSTP and FSWP require a minimum amount of settlement funds, the CEC does not require that candidates have them.