The first Express Entry draw of the new year, and the 24th since the Canadian immigration selection system came was launched last year, took place on Wednesday, January 6, 2016. A total of 1,463 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for Canadian permanent residence were issued to candidates with 461 or more Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points. Entering year two of Express Entry While this latest draw represents a marginal increase in the CRS requirement from the previous (23rd) draw, candidates in the Express Entry pool have cause for optimism in the new year. During a webinar hosted by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) on December 16, 2015, a CIC Policy Analyst made some important announcements regarding the short- and medium-term future of Express Entry. “The number of invitations issued per round is expected to increase as the pre-Express Entry inventory of applications is finalised. In turn, it is expected that the minimum score of those that are invited to apply will drop,” she stated. The Policy Analyst added that "we expect that in the new year when our rounds start growing — to meet our new levels plan — that the score will reduce." Express Entry Express Entry is Canada's immigration management system for the federal economic immigration programs, namely: Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades, and the Canadian Experience Class. Express Entry came into operation on January 1, 2015. Eligible candidates may submit a profile into the Express Entry pool, where they are ranked according to the CRS. The government of Canada selects the top-ranked candidates on a priority basis when it performs one of its frequent draws from the pool. Candidates who are issued an invitation to apply for permanent residence then have 60 days to submit a complete e-application, from which point the government of Canada aims to process the application within six months. Click here for more information on draws from the Express Entry pool that have taken place so far. Express Entry quick facts, from January 1, 2015 to January 6, 2016 Launch date: January 1, 2015 First draw from the pool: January 31, 2015 Most recent draw from the pool: January 6, 2016 Minimum CRS points required for selection in any one draw: 450 (September 18, 2015 & October 2, 2015) Largest number of invitations to apply issued in any one draw: 1,637 (March 27, 2015) Fewest invitations to apply issued in any one draw: 715 Largest decrease in CRS points required between two consecutive draws: 273 (from May 22, 2015 to June 12, 2015 draws) Smallest decrease in CRS points required between two consecutive draws: 0 (from September 18, 2015 to October 2, 2015 draws) Largest increase in CRS points required between two consecutive draws: 302 (from April 17, 2015 to May 22, 2015 draws) Smallest increase in CRS points required between two consecutive draws: 0 (from September 18, 2015 to October 2, 2015 draws) Longest gap between two consecutive draws: 35 days (from April 17, 2015 to May 22, 2015 draws) Shortest gap between two consecutive draws: 7 days (on six occasions) Total number of invitations to apply issued: 32,526