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This page provides a detailed record of every Express Entry draw since 2015, allowing you to track score fluctuations, analyze patterns, and strategize accordingly. Updated October 28, 2026.

Express Entry ITAs Issued per Year 2018-2026

Total Express Entry ITAs per Year

2026 (by October 28): 149409. 2025: 113998. 2024: 98903. 2023: 110266. 2022: 46539. 2021: 114224. 2020: 107350. 2019: 85300. 2018: 89800.

In 2018, IRCC sent out around 90,000 invitations, and by late October 2026 we were already past 149,000, the highest yearly total we’ve seen.

However, this reflects multiple changes made to the Express Entry system over the years. Let’s take a look at what happened each year:

  • The pandemic changed who got invited. In 2020 and 2021, with borders mostly closed, IRCC turned to people who were already here, mainly Canadian Experience Class and PNP candidates. For me, this was the moment Canada realized how valuable in-Canada talent is, and that idea never really went away. You can see how targets were growing back then in the 2019-2021 Immigration Levels Plan.
  • 2022 was the year everyone was waiting for. IRCC paused all-program draws from December 2021 to July 2022 to deal with its backlog, and invitations dropped to about 46,000. That period was stressful for candidates in the pool, who had no idea when draws would come back, even though the 2022–2024 plan was still pointing to growth.
  • 2023 is when the rules of the game changed. Category-based selection started, with targeted draws for French speakers and for workers in healthcare, STEM, trades, transport and agriculture. This is one of the biggest shifts in Express Entry’s history, because a high CRS score was no longer the only way to get an invitation, and the 2024–2026 Immigration Levels Plan kept Express Entry targets strong, at 110,770 for 2024 and 117,500 for 2025 and 2026.
  • 2025 sent mixed signals. The 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan cut overall permanent resident targets to 395,000, but Express Entry actually got more room, with a combined target of 124,680 across its two new streams. At the same time, points for arranged employment were removed in March 2025, which hit some candidates hard.
  • 2026 is all about being more selective. Under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, Express Entry had 109,000 spots this year for the Federal High Skilled category, alongside more specific categories than ever. New ones target researchers, physicians and senior managers with Canadian work experience, as well as skilled military recruits, while agriculture was removed and candidates now need at least one year of work experience in the last three years to qualify for an occupational category. The message was clear: Canada still wants skilled workers, but it wants to choose them more carefully.

The next big piece of the puzzle is the 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan, which should be announced in early November 2026, and we will be watching closely to see whether Express Entry keeps growing or Canada slows things down again.

Express Entry Draw History Results from 2015 to 2026: A Complete List.

Below is an archive of Express Entry draws since 2015. The data includes:

  • Draw Number: The date of the draw.
  • Draw Date: When the draw was conducted.
  • CRS Cut-off Score: The minimum score required to receive an ITA.
  • Number of ITAs Issued: Total invitations given during the draw.
  • Category: Information on the category of the draw.
Draw #DateInvitations to apply issuedMinimum CRS points requiredDraw TypeCategory
453October 28150477Category-based selectionTransport Occupations
452October 275,000407Category-based selectionFrench
451October 26792761Provincial Nominee Programn/a
450October 165,000435Category-based selectionFrench
449October 152,500519Canadian Experience Classn/a
448October 13752772Provincial Nominee Programn/a
447October 13,500476Category-based selectionTrade Occupations
446Sept 292,000518Canadian Experience Classn/a
445Sept 28733725Provincial Nominee Programn/a
444Sept 16250389Category-based selectionSenior managers with Canadian Work Experience
443Sept 152,000519Canadian Experience Classn/a
442Sept 14576734Provincial Nominee Programn/a
441Sept 43,500475Category-based selectionHealthcare and Social Services
440Sept 3229198Category-based selectionPhysicians with Canadian Work Experience
439Sept 12,000521Canadian Experience Classn/a
438Aug 31562697Provincial Nominee Programn/a
437Aug 195,000382Category-based selectionFrench
436Aug 181,000523Canadian Experience Classn/a
435Aug 17442760Provincial Nominee Programn/a
434Aug 7300470Category-based selectionTransport Occupations
433Aug 65,000391Category-based selectionFrench
432Aug 53,000516Canadian Experience Classn/a
431Aug 4507768Provincial Nominee Programn/a
430Jul 234368Category-based selectionSkilled Military Recruits
429Jul 225,000399Category-based selectionFrench
428Jul 212,000516Canadian Experience Classn/a
427Jul 20511744Provincial Nominee Programn/a
426Jul 10500392Category-based selectionSenior managers with Canadian Work Experience
425Jul 95,000420Category-based selectionFrench
424Jul 72,000517Canadian Experience Classn/a
423Jul 6534708Provincial Nominee Programn/a
422Jun 254,000475Category-based selectionHealthcare and Social Services
421Jun 24271223Category-based selectionPhysicians with Canadian Work Experience
420Jun 234,000516Canadian Experience Classn/a
419Jun 22955730Provincial Nominee Programn/a
418May 284500409Category-based selectionFrench
417May 273000518Canadian Experience Classn/a
416May 25334805Provincial Nominee Programn/a
415May 11380798Provincial Nominee Programn/a
414Apr 294000400Category-based selectionFrench
413Apr 282000514Canadian Experience Classn/a
412Apr 27473795Provincial Nominee Programn/a
411Apr 154000419Category-based selectionFrench
410Apr 142000515Canadian Experience Classn/a
409Apr 13324786Provincial Nominee Programn/a
408Apr 23000477Category-based selectionTrade Occupations
407Mar 312250509Canadian Experience Classn/a
406Mar 30356802Provincial Nominee Programn/a
405Mar 184000393Category-based selectionFrench
404Mar 174000507Canadian Experience Classn/a
403Mar 16362742Provincial Nominee Programn/a
402Mar 5250429Category-based selectionSenior managers with Canadian Work Experience
401Mar 45500397Category-based selectionFrench
400Mar 34000508Canadian Experience Classn/a
399Mar 2264710Provincial Nominee Programn/a
398Feb 204,000467Category-based selectionHealthcare and Social Services
397Feb 19391169Category-based selectionPhysicians with Canadian Work Experience
396Feb 176,000508Canadian Experience Classn/a
395Feb 16278789Provincial Nominee Programn/a
394477Feb 68,500400Category-based selectionFrench
393Feb 3423749Provincial Nominee Programn/a
392Jan 216,000509Canadian Experience Classn/a
391Jan 20681746Provincial Nominee Programn/a
390Jan 78,000511Canadian Experience Classn/a
389Jan 5574711Provincial Nominee Programn/a

Express Entry Draw History FAQs

What was the Lowest CRS cut-off score in the History of Express Entry draws?

On February 13, 2021, for a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw, the minimum CRS score was only 75 points.

What is the Highest CRS cut-off score in the History of Express Entry draws?

The highest CRS score ever recorded was on May 30, 2018, for a Provincial Nominee Program draw with a minimum CRS score of 902 points.

What is the Lowest Number of Invitations Issued in a single Express Entry draw in History?

The lowest number of invitations issued was on July 23, 2026, for the Skilled Military Recruit category, where only 4 invitations were issued.

What is the Largest Number of Invitations Issued in a single Express Entry draw in History?

On February 13, 2021, for a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw, 27,332 invitations were issued, marking the highest number of invitations in the history of Express Entry.

More Express Entry Draw Resources

About the author

Author moving2Canada

Indira Duarte

Indira specializes in creating clear, accessible, and culturally sensitive content for immigrant audiences. As an immigrant herself, she brings a personal understanding of the challenges newcomers face, crafting practical guides, informative articles, and inclusive resources that empower individuals at every stage of their immigration journey.
Read more about Indira Duarte
Citation Duarte, Indira. "Express Entry Draw History: Complete List 2015 – 2026." Moving2Canada. Last modified October 28, 2026. https://moving2canada.com/immigration/express-entry/canada-complete-express-entry-draw-history/. Copy for Citation