Express Entry Draw

Explore everything you need to know about Express Entry draws, including the various categories, the scoring system, and details on the latest draws, such as the number of invitations issued and required scores. Dive into one of the most crucial steps on your journey towards Canadian residency with clarity and confidence.

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What is an Express Entry Draw?

The Canadian government routinely conducts Express Entry draws, also referred to as rounds of invitations, during which they extend invitations to candidates from the Express Entry pool to apply for permanent residence. In these draws, candidates undergo a ranking process based on their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. This score takes into account factors such as age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and other criteria, assigning each candidate a CRS score out of a total of 1200 points.

Express Entry draws typically occur at regular intervals, approximately every two weeks. However, this has changed since the integration of the new categories in 2023.

Each Express Entry draw has a CRS cut-off score, which can vary depending on the number of candidates in the pool, the immigration targets set by the Canadian government, the program or even the specific category. The draws aim to select candidates most likely to succeed and contribute to the Canadian economy. This CRS cut-off score also represents the score of the lowest-ranking candidate to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in the draw.

Those who receive an ITA, are given 60 days to complete and submit an official electronic Application for Permanent Residence (eAPR).

It’s essential for potential immigrants to monitor Express Entry draws and stay informed about the latest updates to understand their chances of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residence in Canada.

 

Key Components of an Express Entry Draw

Understanding the structure of an Express Entry draw is crucial for anyone looking to immigrate to Canada through this competitive pathway. Below is a detailed breakdown of the key components that define each draw, this list will help you grasp the essential elements that influence the outcome of each draw and better prepare your application accordingly.

  1. Number of the Draw: Identifies the sequence of the current draw within the year, helping track the frequency and schedule of the draws.
  2. Date of the Draw: Specifies when the draw took place, providing a timeline for applicants to understand recent and upcoming opportunities.
  3. Category: Indicates the specific Express Entry Category targeted by the draw, such as General, French language Proficiency, STEM Occupations, etc.
  4. Tie-Breaking Rule: In the event that multiple candidates score at the CRS cut-off score, IRCC makes use of the tie-breaking rule to better control the number of ITAs issued in each draw. Only candidates who score at or above the CRS cut-off score and submitted a profile before the tie-breaking rule will be issued an ITA. The tie-breaking rule was only instituted in November 2017.
  5. CRS Cut-Off Score: The minimum score required in the Comprehensive Ranking System for a candidate to receive an ITA during that particular draw.
  6. Number of ITAs Issued: Shows how many invitations were sent out to candidates to apply for permanent residency in that specific draw.
  7. Update of Candidates in the Express Entry Pool: Provides insights into the current composition of the pool, including the number of candidates and their CRS score distribution, which can influence strategy for future draws.

When is The Next Express Entry Draw?

There is no set schedule for Express Entry Draws to happen. Typically, you can expect a new Express Entry Draw at least every 2 weeks, though sometimes they are more frequent draws or draws can be paused.

For more information about trends and predictions, please visit our dedicated article When is the Next Express Entry Draw?

Latest Express Entry Draw Results

Below are the results from the most recent rounds of invitations issued during Express Entry:

DrawDateCategoryNumber of ITAsCRS Cut OffTie-Breaking Rule
295April 24, 2024French language proficiency1,400410April 07, 2024 at 02:06:46 UTC
294April 23, 2024General2,095529November 08, 2023 at 17:50:29 UTC
293April 11, 2024STEM occupations (2024-1)4,500491February 25, 2024 at 11:55:12 UTC
292April 10, 2024General1,280549March 21, 2024 at 03:37:24 UTC
291March 26, 2024French language proficiency 1,500388March 10, 2024 at 20:06:26 UTC
290March 25, 2024General1,980524February 25, 2024 at 14:42:38 UTC
289March 13, 2024Transport occupations 975430July 31, 2023 at 13:27:26 UTC
288March 12, 2024General2,850525March 12, 2024 at 15:56:42 UTC
287February 29, 2024French language proficiency 2,500336January 18, 2024 at 09:15:46 UTC
286February 28, 2024General1,470534January 16, 2024 at 03:51:05 UTC
285February 16, 2024Agriculture and agri-food occupations 150437January 29, 2024 at 03:32:58 UTC
284February 14, 2024Healthcare occupations 3,500422January 30, 2024 at 02:39:54 UTC
283February 13, 2024General1,490535February 11, 2024 at 15:26:56 UTC
282February 1, 2024French language proficiency 7,000365September 08, 2023 at 09:47:27 UTC
281January 31, 2024General730541July 15, 2023 at 10:52:08 UTC
280January 23, 2024General1,040543January 21, 2024 at 07:43:47 UTC
279January 10, 2024General1,510546December 31, 2023 at 18:23:22 UTC

Composition of the Express Entry pool

IRCC published information regarding the composition of the Express Entry pool in the days shortly before each draw. Below is the CRS score distribution of candidates in the Express Entry pool:

CRS Score RangeNumber of Candidates
601-12001,057
501-60010,625
451-50060,933
491-5007,520
481-49011,495
471-48016,928
461-47013,558
451-46011,432
401-45052,475
441-45010,646
431-44010,645
421-4309,645
411-42010,740
401-41010,799
351-40056,383
301-35027,740
0-3005,484
Total214,697
UpdatedApril 23, 2024

What type of Express Entry Draws are there?

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) holds different types of rounds of invitations throughout the year. There are 3 different types of Express Entry draws that are held:

  • General round of invitations: General rounds of invitations invites the top-ranking candidates in the Express Entry pool who are eligible for 1 of the 3 Express Entry Programs. The 3 programs include the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
  • Program-specific rounds of invitations: Program-specific rounds invite the top-ranking candidates who are eligible for a specific Express Entry program. For example, the IRCC often has draws specifically for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), where only candidates who are eligible for a PNP are invited.
  • Category-based rounds of invitations: The Minister of Immigration will establish specific categories to meet specific economic goals across Canada. Once the categories are established, the top-ranking candidates in the pool who are eligible for this category will receive an invitation.

Categories chosen for this year

Categories are chosen based on labour market information and projections, as well as input received from provinces and territories. Each year IRCC will report to Parliament about the categories chosen the previous year and assess future categories.

  1. French-language proficiency
  2. Healthcare occupations
  3. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations
  4. Trade occupations
  5. Transport occupations
  6. Agriculture and agri-food occupations

What do I need to do to have my profile selected in an Express Entry Draw?

Most Express Entry Draws focus on an applicant’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. For this reason, once you have submitted your Express Entry profile to the pool, you should examine all the ways you may increase your CRS score ranking within the pool.

What is the lowest CRS score accepted for Express Entry Draws?

The lowest accepted CRS score varies with each Express Entry draw.

Since the Express Entry system was introduced in 2015, the lowest ever accepted CRS score has been 75. This was from a CEC Draw that took place in February 2021.

The lowest CRS score from an all-program draw, targeting Federal Skilled Workers was 413.

How many profiles are selected in each Express Entry Draw?

There is no set number of Express Entry Profiles selected in each Express Entry draw. How many profiles are selected with each Express Entry draw depends on the number of candidates in the pool, the quality of candidates in the pool and the Canadian labour market needs at the time of the draw.

What do you do if your profile has been selected from an Express Entry Draw?

If your profile has been selected from an Express Entry Draw, you will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA). With an ITA, you have 60 days to submit a full Application for Permanent Residence (eAPR). Please refer to our guide to receiving an ITA and submitting an eAPR for more information.

Am I more likely to be selected during an Express Entry Draw if I have a job offer?

Having an approved Canadian job offer does not guarantee that you will receive an ITA from an Express Entry Draw. It will however increase your chances. When you apply to the Express Entry pool with an approved Canadian job offer, you will receive either 50 or 200 points CRS points depending on the type of job you have been offered.

In addition to this, a Canadian job offer may make your profile more desirable to the province where the job offer is located.

How can you improve your CRS score to make sure you receive an invitation in the next Express Entry Draw?

If a candidate’s CRS score is significantly lower than the minimum cut-off in the pool, they should consider trying to improve their score. They could also update their profile to appeal to one of the specific category-based draws where the pool is likely to be a lot lower. For example, updating your French language scores to reflect those to meet the French-language proficiency category, could give you a better chance at selection compared to a general round of invitations. 

For more information on improving ranking, please refer to Canadim’s guidelines for improving the CRS score and ranking.

Why is the Express Entry Draw Delayed?

In recent times, there has been a noticeable delay in the regular scheduling of Express Entry draws by the Canadian government. Several factors contribute to these delays, such as the introduction of new categories draws, adjustments in immigration policies, shifts in governmental priorities, or the plan of the new immigration targets. Prospective candidates need to stay informed about these delays and monitor official announcements for updates on the resumption of Express Entry draws.

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