Express Entry Draw 262 | 4,300 Invited in All-Program Draw
The latest Canadian Express Entry draw was just held. Express Entry draw 262 saw a CRS score of 496 and invited 4,300 candidates from all programs to apply.
Express Entry Draw 262
Date of Draw: August 15, 2023
Number of Invitations Issued: 4,300
Minimum CRS: 496
Program Specified: Non-specified
Tie-breaking rule: August 01, 2023 at 12:59:52 UTC
Second Express Entry Draw – No Program Specified
Express Entry draw 262 issued 4,300 Invitations to Apply (ITA) to candidates with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) of 496. There was no program specified for this draw, meaning that invitations to apply may be issued to candidates from the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) and Provincial Nominee Program.
This draw saw over double the number of invites compared to the previous draw issued on August 1st. There was also a significantly lower CSR score by 21 points.
Out of the last 10 draws, including category-specific draws, since June 28th, this draw had the highest number of invitations issued. Today 4,300 ITA’s were issued to apply for Permanent Residency through Express Entry.
Since the first category-specific draw nearly two months ago, a total of seven category-based draws have taken place. Draws for all the four categories: STEM occupations, Healthcare occupations, French speakers and Trade Occupations have all had at least one draw. Combined, they have invited almost 11,000 candidates. So far, the largest category has been for Francophones. A total of 6,900 candidates have been invited to apply in the French language draws.
How Does Express Entry work?
Express Entry is a system used by the Canadian government to manage skilled workers applications for Canadian permanent residency.
The system manages three main programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST); and Canadian Experience Class (CEC). This also includes draws for category-specific targets that have recently begun to take place.
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) uses a point-based system, that assigns a score to the candidate’s profile in order to ranking it in the Express Entry pool.
Find Out if You are Eligible
As mentioned above, the Express Entry points system assigns a score to your profile, depending on different factors such as your age, education degrees, skilled work experience, proficiency in English and/or French, siblings in Canada, and others.
You can get an estimate of the score you will get based on your profile using our CRS Score Calculator.
You must also make sure you meet the requirements of at least one of the following Federal programs in order to submit a profile through the Express Entry system:
- Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
- Federal Skilled Trades (FST)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
How to Apply for Express Entry?
The first step to apply is submitting your profile with the required documents. Required documents usually consist of language test results, educational credentials, and passport or travel documentation.
After you submit a profile and receive an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence, you can submit your complete application for the IRCC to review. Your complete application should include supporting documents such as reference letters, additional identity documents, police clearance certificates, and results of a medical examination.
Who Makes Up the Current Express Entry Pool?
The IRCC updates the number of people in the Express Entry pool a few days before an invitation round takes place. Numbers change as new profiles are submitted, profiles expire or are issued an ITA.
As of today the composition of the Express Entry pool is:
| CRS Score Range | Number of Candidates |
|---|---|
| 601-1200 | 345 |
| 501-600 | 25,411 |
| 451-500 | 70,641 |
| 491-500 | 12,289 |
| 481-490 | 12,571 |
| 471-480 | 15,370 |
| 461-470 | 15,698 |
| 451-460 | 14,713 |
| 401-450 | 72,026 |
| 441-450 | 13,923 |
| 431-440 | 14,694 |
| 421-430 | 14,918 |
| 411-420 | 14,783 |
| 401-410 | 13,708 |
| 351-400 | 52,448 |
| 301-350 | 19,496 |
| 0-300 | 7,975 |
| Total | 248,342 |
| Updated | October 15, 2025 |
Previous Express Entry – All Program Draws
- Express Entry Draw 259 | 2,000 Invited in All-Program Draw – Canadim
- Express Entry Draw 257 | 800 Invited in All-Program Draw – Canadim
- Express Entry Draw 253 | 700 Invited in All-Program Draw – Canadim
Interested in learning more about your options to apply through Express Entry? Complete our free online assessment form!
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