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.
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.
- Number of the Draw: Identifies the sequence of the current draw within the year, helping track the frequency and schedule of the draws.
- Date of the Draw: Specifies when the draw took place, providing a timeline for applicants to understand recent and upcoming opportunities.
- Category: Indicates the specific Express Entry Category targeted by the draw, such as General, French language Proficiency, STEM Occupations, etc.
- 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.
- CRS Cut-Off Score: The minimum score required in the Comprehensive Ranking System for a candidate to receive an ITA during that particular draw.
- Number of ITAs Issued: Shows how many invitations were sent out to candidates to apply for permanent residency in that specific draw.
- 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:
| Draw | Date | Category | Number of ITAs | CRS Cut Off | Tie-Breaking Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 343 | April 28, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 421 | 727 | September 09, 2024 at 17:11:19 UTC |
| 342 | April 14, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 824 | 764 | August 17, 2024 at 18:35:52 UTC |
| 341 | March 21, 2025 | French language proficiency (Version 1) | 7,500 | 379 | March 06, 2025 at 02:53:27 UTC |
| 340 | March 17, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 536 | 736 | March 12, 2025 at 14:02:14 UTC |
| 339 | March 6, 2025 | French language proficiency (Version 1) | 4,500 | 410 | February 11, 2025 at 07:47:29 UTC |
| 338 | March 3, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 725 | 667 | June 05, 2024, at 18:25:22 UTC |
| 337 | February 19, 2025 | French language proficiency (Version 1) | 6,500 | 428 | February 10, 2025 at 16:41:38 UTC |
| 336 | February 17, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 646 | 750 | July 23, 2024 at 17:41:11 UTC |
| 335 | February 5, 2025 | Canadian Experience Class | 4,000 | 521 | November 14, 2025 at 02:52:14 UTC |
| 334 | February 4, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 455 | 802 | December 07, 2024 at 19:39:25 UTC |
| 333 | January 23, 2025 | Canadian Experience Class | 4,000 | 527 | July 23, 2024 at 07:06:43 UTC |
| 332 | January 8, 2025 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,350 | 542 | December 07, 2024 at 01:10:06 UTC |
| 331 | January 7, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 471 | 793 | November 25, 2024 at 16:57:27 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 Range | Number of Candidates |
|---|---|
| 601-1200 | 416 |
| 501-600 | 20,708 |
| 451-500 | 72,523 |
| 491-500 | 12,291 |
| 481-490 | 12,544 |
| 471-480 | 16,411 |
| 461-470 | 16,313 |
| 451-460 | 14,964 |
| 401-450 | 68,267 |
| 441-450 | 14,230 |
| 431-440 | 14,909 |
| 421-430 | 13,385 |
| 411-420 | 13,274 |
| 401-410 | 12,469 |
| 351-400 | 53,640 |
| 301-350 | 22,553 |
| 0-300 | 8,566 |
| Total | 246,673 |
| Updated | April 27, 2025 |
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: Each year, the Minister of Immigration establishes specific categories to fulfill particular economic goals across Canada. Once the categories are defined, top-ranking candidates in the pool who are eligible for these categories will receive invitations.
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.
- French-language proficiency
- Healthcare occupations
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations
- Trade occupations
- Transport occupations
- Agriculture
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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