With amazing people a thriving economy and a diverse culture, Canada attracts individuals from around the world to become permanent residents. Becoming a permanent resident is a complex process and everyone’s situation differs.

One of the larger communities in Canada is the Pakistani diaspora. There are about 200,000 Canadians with Pakistani ancestry living in Canada. Pakistani immigrants are one of the top sources of immigrants to Canada. In 2022, nearly 12,000 permanent residents admitted to the country came from Pakistan.

Understanding the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) and how it works is an important step in navigating the Express Entry immigration system.

If you are considering immigration to Canada, you have most likely heard of the Express Entry system. It is the fastest and most popular pathway for immigration to Canada.

Canada is welcoming 1.3 million newcomers to the country over the next three years. This has made the country an attractive destination for many people who are seeking a new home.

Canada continues to experience a significant labour shortage. At the end of 2022, Canada had nearly 900,000 job openings. The challenge for businesses to fill job openings continues to be a concern for governments at all levels, exploring various solutions to attract and retain talent ranging from training programs to immigration policies, continues to be a top priority for Canadian governments.

On Jan. 12, 2022, the government of Ontario issued 502 Notifications of Interest (NOI) through its Human Capital Priorities Stream.

Express Entry candidates with scores between 464 and 467 in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) were eligible for the NOIs. This recent round targeted candidates with experience in the following National Occupations Codes (NOC):

The PNP is only one of the many programs open to foreign nationals who want to immigrate to Canada. Other than government policy, immigration trends also reflect international developments. According to the Express Entry Year-End Report of 2020, the IRCC started to focus on Canadian Experience Class after the COVID-19 pandemic began. In 2019, about half of all Invitations To Apply (ITA) were issued to candidates from the Federal Skilled Worker category. In 2020, that number dropped to 32 per cent. However, the government of Canada is projected to draw more than 25 per cent of 2022’s immigrants from the Federal High Skilled category. This includes popular immigration streams such as Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades and Canadian Experience Class.

The latest round of invitations for Permanent Residence had a cut-off score of 720. Obtaining a nomination through eligible PNP programs gives a candidate a 600-point boost in the Express Entry System. Candidates can apply for the PNP once they file an Express Entry application. Certain PNP streams are also open for candidates to apply directly.