New Express Entry Report Reveals What Drove Most PR Invitations in 2024
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Published on November 3, 2025, the latest Express Entry report reveals that foreign work experience is often more critical than Canadian experience for successful permanent residency (PR). Indians topped ITAs amid category-based draws.
According to the latest Express Entry report, published on November 3, 2025, foreign work experience is more important than Canadian work experience in obtaining Permanent Residence (PR).
The report provides an in-depth analysis of the Express Entry system for 2024 and reveals that Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates received the most invitations to apply (ITAs) last year, with more than one-third of all invited candidates having no Canadian work experience.
In 2024, a total of 98,903 ITAs were issued, with India being the top country of citizenship among those invited. Indians were issued more than four times the number of ITAs of the second most common source country (Federal Republic of Cameroon).
Follow along and read this news, which covers:
- Programme/Category
- Work Experience
- Profession; and
- Country of citizenship and residence.
Performance of All Express Entry Programs and Categories
In line with the federal government's priority of transitioning in-Canada candidates to permanent residency, the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) led the programme-specific draws, issuing 26,500 ITAs (27% of the total).
The category-based selections introduced in 2024 had a substantial impact, particularly for those with proficiency in French:
- French-language proficiency draws issued the second-highest number of ITAs at 23,000 and, significantly, featured the lowest average Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off score at 409 points.
- The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), which often selects candidates with specialized skills, had the highest average CRS cut-off score at 725 points, issuing 15,483 ITAs.
|
Draw Type |
Total ITAs Issued (2024) |
Average CRS Cut-off |
|
Canadian Experience Class |
26,500 |
524 |
|
French-language proficiency |
23,000 |
409 |
|
Provincial Nominee Program |
15,483 |
725 |
Also Read: New PR Pathways Coming Up for Canada in 2026
IT and Healthcare Jobs are Among the Top Ten Occupations
When examining the professional backgrounds of invited candidates, a clear concentration can be observed in Information Technology (IT) and healthcare fields. The top specific roles invited included Software engineers and designers, Food service supervisors, and Software developers and programmers.
|
Primary Occupation |
TEER |
2024 ITAs Issued |
|
Software engineers and designers (21231) |
1 |
3,715 |
|
Food service supervisors (62020) |
2 |
3,608 |
|
Software developers and programmers (21232) |
1 |
3,142 |
|
Administrative assistants (13110) |
3 |
2,669 |
|
Secondary school teachers (41220) |
1 |
2,136 |
|
Information systems specialists (21222) |
1 |
2,091 |
|
Financial auditors and accountants (11100) |
1 |
2,079 |
|
Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (33102) |
3 |
1,946 |
|
Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations (11202) |
1 |
1,945 |
|
General practitioners and family physicians (31102) |
1 |
1,841 |
|
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (31301) |
1 |
1,776 |
|
User support technicians (22221) |
2 |
1,733 |
|
Retail sales supervisors (62010) |
2 |
1,718 |
|
Administrative officers (13100) |
3 |
1,708 |
|
Business systems specialists (21221) |
1 |
1,517 |
|
Other occupations |
— |
65,279 |
|
Total ITAs |
— |
98,903 |
Also Read: Canada Revenue Agency Releases Federal Income Tax Brackets for 2026
India is the Top Source Country in Category-Based Draw Performance
India continued its dominance as the top source country, with 43,004 Indian citizens receiving ITAs, making up a significant portion of the total. The second-ranked country was the Federal Republic of Cameroon (10,141 ITAs). This shift highlights the growing influence of French-speaking countries, largely driven by the French-language proficiency category-based draws introduced in 2023 and expanded in 2024.
Country of Citizenship | Number of ITAs (2024) |
India | 43,004 |
Federal Republic of Cameroon | 10,141 |
Nigeria | 6,696 |
People’s Republic of China | 3,689 |
Philippines | 2,561 |
Morocco | 2,227 |
Algeria | 1,989 |
Iran | 1,982 |
Pakistan | 1,785 |
France | 1,701 |
Subtotal (Top 10) | 75,775 |
Other countries combined | 23,128 |
Total | 98,903 |
Stay Ahead in Canada's Express Entry with GetGIS
Unlocking permanent residence through Express Entry requires understanding key trends like foreign work experience advantages, top ITAs for Indians, and category-based draws. If you need personalised guidance on boosting your CRS score, preparing for CEC or French proficiency draws, or navigating occupation-specific opportunities, connect with GetGIS. Our experts provide tailored Express Entry assessments, PR applications, and settlement support to help you succeed in Canada.
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- Profiles Receiving Maximum ITAs in the Most Recent Express Entry CEC Draws
- IRCC Prioritizes In-Canada Candidates for Permanent Residence Under New Immigration Levels Plan 2026-2028
