Changes to Canada’s Express Entry System Coming in 2023
With the Canadian government’s announcement of new immigration plans for 2023 to 2025, new versions of NOC codes, and the passing of Bill C-19, Canada’s Express Entry system will undergo some changes in 2023.
Bill C-19 and Express Entry
Express Entry is the most popular method of permanent immigration to Canada for skilled workers worldwide. The Express Entry system manages three main programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
- Federal Skilled Trades (FST)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Canada recently passed Bill C-19, which will amend the Immigration Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and bring changes to Canada’s Express Entry system.
Bill C-19 will allow Express Entry applicants to be invited based on “groupings” set out by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (“IRCC”). This will allow the IRCC to begin conducting targeted draws to invite applicants based on occupation, education or language skills to fill specific labour shortages, such as in health care, construction, manufacturing and technology. These targeted Express Entry draws will likely begin in the first quarter of 2023.
2023-2025 Canada Immigration Plans
Canada has released its Immigration Levels Plan for 2023-2025. The Immigration Levels Plan is an immigration guide and sets out Canada’s immigration targets over the next three years.
Under the new plan, immigration is seen as a tool to help manage Canada’s economic challenges in the next decade and address Canada’s labour shortages.
Under the plan, Canada aims to welcome 465,000 new immigrants in 2023, 485,000 new immigrants in 2024 and 500,000 new immigrants in 2025. Under the plan, there will also be an increased focus on attracting immigrants to various regions of Canada, including small towns and rural communities, through the Provincial Nominee Program, the Atlantic Immigration Program, and the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot.
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By Kaveh Rezaei – Attorney at KR Law Firm
Disclaimer
This article contains information of a general nature only and does not constitute legal advice. All legal matters have their own specific and unique facts and will differ from each other. If you have a specific legal question, it may be appropriate to seek the services of a lawyer.
