Express Entry Draw – Latest Figures

Express Entry draw figures for the February 13 draw are below.

The largest ever Express Entry draw in history took place the morning of February 13, with 27,332 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) issued to Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates only. For these candidates, the CRS cut-off has plummeted to a record low of 75 points.

If you received an ITA in the February 13 draw and you’re currently working on your application for permanent residence, consider attending our free livestream information session. We’ll be discussing the requirements for your PR application and taking questions from viewers — live! Get more information here.

What to make of the bizarre February 13 draw?

Our team is still trying to make sense of the bizarre February 13 Express Entry draw which is unlike any draw in Express Entry history. One possibility — and, remember, this is just one hypothesis — is that Canada may be streamlining the process for candidates who are already in Canada. This would allow the country to continue processing new permanent residents, even while COVID-19 travel restrictions continue to intensify with no immediate end in sight.

In a news release, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) stated that the anomalous draw was part of “an effort to help more skilled workers stay in Canada and bolster our economic recovery.” A trusted legal source has indicated to Moving2Canada that there will be more measures coming, although details are not available as to what those measures may be.

Canada has set out its most ambitious immigration targets on record for 2021, yet COVID-19 restrictions have been limiting the ability for Canadian immigration programs to operate normally.

At this time, we cannot tell you when Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) candidates will be considered in a draw — or, for that matter, when the next Express Entry draw may take place. Bear in mind that today’s draw was more than five times the size of the previous record-high draw, so it is possible that there may be a break from draws.

In the meantime, we’re here to keep you updated on the latest. To stay updated on the latest developments, make sure that you’ve registered for a Moving2Canada account and subscribed to our newsletter.

You can also keep up with Canada’s travel restrictions and special pandemic immigration measures with our COVID-19 Newsfeed.

CRS score distribution of candidates in the Express Entry pool as of February 8, 2021

The following table shows the distribution of candidates in the Express Entry pool several days before the latest Express Entry draw. As of February 8, there were a total of 152,714 candidates in the Express Entry pool. The score distribution may change as people submit new profiles and other profiles expire.

Want to improve your Express Entry CRS score? See our updated guide for tips you might not have thought of yet.

How are COVID-19 and the Canadian border closure impacting Express Entry?

COVID-19 is a global pandemic and the Government of Canada has enacted exceptional measures to mitigate the spread of coronavirus in Canada. To be kept up to date on the latest news about COVID-19 and how it is impacting Canadian immigration, please follow our regularly updated COVID-19 newsfeed.

Here are some of the questions we’ve received about how COVID-19 will impact Express Entry:

Is Canada still issuing Express Entry invitations despite COVID-19?

Canada is still issuing Express Entry invitations. Since September, 2020, the pattern for Express Entry draws has been strikingly similar to what it looked like before the pandemic.

In the early days of the pandemic, between March and June, most Express Entry draws were restricted to candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or those with provincial nominations. 

Is Canada still processing Express Entry applications during COVID-19?

Yes. Canada is still processing immigration applications for Express Entry, but processing delays should be expected.

I have an ITA, but I can’t get the documents I need because everything is shut down due to COVID-19. What do I do?

Start by consulting IRCC’s special instructions for applications being submitted during the COVID-19 pandemic. IRCC has stated that they will not refuse an incomplete application missing documents due to COVID-19.

If your Express Entry PR application is due, you may submit your application with missing documents, but ensure that you include a letter of explanation explaining the missing documentation and the reasoning for this. IRCC will give you 90 days to complete missing steps in your application.

Please note that biometrics letters will still state that biometrics are due in either 30 or 90 days, but IRCC will not close an application if an applicant cannot obtain biometrics due to COVID-19 closures. There are also special biometrics exemptions in place impacting some PR applicants.

I have been approved through Express Entry and I have my COPR, but I am outside Canada. Can I travel to Canada to activate my status?

The answer to this question depends on when your COPR was issued and where you are currently residing. According to official guidelines published by IRCC, individuals who meet one of following conditions may still enter Canada:

• COPR-holders with a valid COPR who are residing in any country other than the United States and were approved for their COPR before 12pm EDT on March 18, 2020, and who are travelling to Canada to settle permanently;
• COPR-holders with a valid COPR who are residing in the United States and were approved on any date (even after March 18, 2020) and who are travelling to Canada to settle permanently.

In an update posted on January 5, IRCC stated that applicants residing outside Canada who have received their confirmation of permanent residence (COPR), but whose COPRs have expired should no longer be contacting IRCC through the Web form or processing office email. IRCC will be contacting these applicants once they are approved to come to Canada.

How will COVID-19 impact the CRS score cut-off?

We do not know the answer to this question. In the midst of the public health crisis, our goal is to provide our community with objective and factual information. We are refraining from speculating about possible impacts of the coronavirus on the CRS score cut-off. There are simply too many variables at play.

The Express Entry Year-End Report

The most recent Express Entry Year-End Report was published in June 2020, covering activity from 2019. We read the entire report (so you don’t have to!) and wrote a series of short articles on the highlights.

Check out the following summaries to learn more about the topics you care about most:

• Invitations by occupation
• Invitations by program
• Invitations by country of citizenship
• Invitations by country of residence
• Which provinces are Express Entry newcomers moving to?
• Updated processing times for Express Entry applications

About the Express Entry CRS

The Comprehensive Ranking System is a score out of 1,200 used to benchmark federal economic applicants against one another. It’s a part of the Express Entry mechanism, which was established in January 2015 to process permanent residence applications.

The score is used as a cut-off point in Express Entry draws. It is designed to project a candidate’s likelihood of being economically successful in Canada.

To enter the pool, candidates must be eligible under either the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Canadian Experience Class, or Federal Skilled Trades Class. Candidates who obtain a provincial nomination through one of the Express Entry-aligned Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams receive 600 additional CRS points and an ITA at a subsequent draw from the pool.

A single candidate can earn up to 260 points for high proficiency in English and French, while a couple can earn up to 270 points. Moving2Canada readers can now avail of a seven-day free trial of online language tutorials to prepare for their approved language test. Simply select to Learn English or Learn French and complete the online form.

If you are in the Express Entry pool but are yet to receive an invitation to apply, please visit our page on tips to improve your CRS score.

Are there any alternatives to Express Entry?

Yes! In fact, we have a great new resource showcasing your potential Canadian immigration options outside the Express Entry system. To learn about your options, see this page.

When will the next Express Entry draw take place?

There is no public schedule of future Express Entry draws, and so it is not possible to know for certain exactly when the next Express Entry draw will take place. However, IRCC has historically tended to conduct Express Entry draws about every two weeks, and often these draws take place on Wednesdays. However, Express Entry draws can, and do, take place on other days of the week, and sometimes there is a longer or shorter gap between one Express Entry draw and the subsequent, or previous, draw.

The quickest way to find out when an Express Entry draw has taken place is to register a Moving2Canada profile and sign up for our newsletter updates.

Those interested in finding work in construction or engineering can seek help through our recruitment agency, Outpost Recruitment. Since 2012, we’ve helped great candidates get work across civil, infrastructure, and buildings projects in Canada.

Health insurance

Permanent Residency applicants can consider more comprehensive health insurance policies, above typical travel insurance plans.

Expatriate health insurance ensures access to the best possible healthcare while living and working abroad. Cigna Global is a leader in these policies and provides 12-month cover for those moving to Canada, regardless of nationality or age.

Click here to get a free online quote in under 60 seconds.

And if you’re interested in saving money when moving abroad, you can find out how in our international money transfers guide.

Express Entry CRS cut-off all-time records

• Lowest CRS points cutoff in any Express Entry draw: 413 (all programs), 199 (FSTC)
• Highest CRS points cutoff in any Express Entry draw: 886 (all programs), 902 (PNP)

Express Entry draw list: 2021

Express Entry draw list: 2020

• Lowest CRS points cutoff in a 2019 Express Entry draw: 468 (all programs, including FSW); 431 (CEC-specific); 415 (FST-specific)
• Highest CRS points cutoff in a 2020 Express Entry draw: 478 (all programs, including FSW); 808 (PNP-specific)

Express Entry draw list: 2019

• Lowest CRS points cutoff in a 2019 Express Entry draw: 438
• Highest CRS points cutoff in a 2019 Express Entry draw: 475

Express Entry draw list: 2018

• Lowest CRS points cutoff in a 2018 Express Entry draw: 439 (all programs), 288 (FSTC)
• Highest CRS points cutoff in a 2018 Express Entry draw: 456 (all programs), 902 (PNP)

Express Entry draw list: 2017

• Lowest CRS points cutoff in a 2017 Express Entry draw: 413 (all programs), 199 (FSTC)
• Highest CRS points cutoff in a 2017 Express Entry draw: 468 (all programs), 775 (PNP)

Express Entry draw list: 2016

• Lowest CRS points cutoff in a 2016 Express Entry draw: 453
• Highest CRS points cutoff in a 2016 Express Entry draw: 786

Express Entry draw list: 2015

• Lowest CRS points cutoff in a 2015 Express Entry draw: 450
• Highest CRS points cutoff in a 2015 Express Entry draw: 886

Get help with your application

Do you need assistance in preparing an application for Canadian permanent residence? If so, view Moving2Canada’s Book an Immigration Consultant page to see our list of recommended, accredited representatives who can assist you in your goals.