The IRCC conducted its eighth Express Entry draw of the year and invited a total of 7000 eligible candidates on 23rd March 2023. 

The candidates who received the Invitations to Apply in the latest Express Entry-all program draw were required to score a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 484 points. The candidates in this blog belonged to the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). 

This draw equals the size of that of the largest-ever all-program draw, which was conducted on March 15. The number of candidates invited to that draw was also 7000 and the minimum CRS score was 490 to be eligible for the ITA. The previous high record was marked on January 18, with a total of 5,500 ITAs sent. 

This draw came as a surprise to the candidates as it was the second-consecutive week draw by IRCC. As per the guidelines, the IRCC conducts Express Entry draws bi-weekly. Also, it was a tie with the largest all-program draw ever, the 7,000 ITAs showing the second-largest Express Entry draw size of all time, behind the record-creating CEC-only draw that took place in February 2021.

All draws conducted between July and November 2022 included all the programs. And, the smallest draw on this record was on July 6, which invited just 1,500 candidates. That was the first-ever all-program draw after the draws were halted due to Covid.