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We expect 50,000 more invites to be issued this year. Use our resources to get one.
An Express Entry draw is the process used by conducted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to select profiles from the Express Entry pool and invite them to apply for Canadian permanent residence.
During an Express Entry draw, IRCC selects candidates from the Express Entry pool based on their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and other factors, like work experience or language proficiency. Those who meet or exceed the CRS score cutoff set for that particular draw are issued Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residency.
Here is a complete breakdown of Express Entry draws since they were introduced in 2015:
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores for Express Entry have remained high through 2024 due to several key factors.
Firstly, category-based draws, which have seen significant allocations of invitations for 2024, contribute to maintaining high CRS cut offs.
Second, there are high numbers of temporary residents within Canada, many of whom are eligible for Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program, further intensifying competition.
Third, Canada remains a top destination for newcomers, which drives strong demand for Express Entry. We can see the high demand for Express Entry in the candidate pool results.
Together, these factors are pushing the CRS cut off up in 2024.
You want the ITA so you can apply for PR, but you don’t have the points or the profile. Get the free email course that has helped 80k+ people on their Express Entry journey.
In the last couple of months, we have seen a shift in the draws conducted by IRCC, the obvious one being the increase in PNP draws. This doesn’t mean that more PNP applicants are being selected though.
PNP-nominated applicants can receive an ITA in any general/ all program draw. Likely, a good portion of ITAs issued during general/all program draws went to applicants with a PNP nomination. From the Express Entry report of 2023, we can see that in the second half of the year, on average 55% of candidates invited in a general draw were eligible for the Provincial Nominee Program. The return of PNP draws is a direct consequence of the lack of general/ all program draws we are seeing.
IRCC must regularly select PNP applicants from the express entry pool for various reasons. For starters, a PNP nomination is usually only valid for 6 months. IRCC can’t keep PNP-nominated applicants in the pool for an extended period out of risk their PNP may expire during the process which could lead to additional processing burdens on both provinces and the federal government.
Provinces and territories have unique economic needs and labor shortages. PNPs allow them to select candidates with skills and experience that align with their local job markets. If IRCC paused or reduced the volume of PNP ITAs issued, this would have a knock-on effect on how provinces can recover from labour shortages.
Finally, considering a large portion of PNP-nominated applicants are already in Canada, delaying ITAs once applicants have been nominated could force applicants to submit additional applications to IRCC to extend their status while they wait, adding to the backlog of applications to be processed by IRCC, affecting overall resources.
According to the latest Immigration levels plan for 2025- 2027, PNP targets have been slashed by over 50%, reducing planned admissions from 120,000 in 2025 to 55,000 in that same year. This means that for 2025, we will likely see fewer invitations in each PNP Express Entry draw in 2025, though the frequency of these draws will likely remain similar to 2024.
IRCC has not conducted a general, all-program draw since April 23rd, 2024. This draw had a CRS cut-off of 529. The lowest CRS score we have seen in a general, all-program draw this year is 524. Understandably, those waiting for a general draw are wondering 2 things: when is the next general draw and what will the CRS cut-off be.
It is impossible to tell when the next general draw will be. IRCC is focusing on PNP, CEC and category-based draws so if we do see a general draw, it may not be for some time. What can you do while you wait for a general draw? Look at ways you can use this time to increase your CRS score.
Given the lack of general draws in the last 4 months, it is highly likely that when there is a general draw, the CRS cut-off will be high, likely above 560.
From the 49 draws so far in 2024, 9 were general, all program draws, 18 were category-based draws, 12 PNP and 10 CEC. The draws from the last few months have focused on PNP and CEC applicants which could show a new trend emerging. IRCC is also establishing a schedule for conducting draws every 2 weeks.
Use our resources to be one of them.
Based on the information in the latest immigration levels plan, it is clear that Express Entry draws for 2025 will focus on Canadian Experience Class candidates as well as applicants with French language ability or those who have work experience in a Healthcare or Trade occupation.
Given the target for PNP applicants has been slashed by over 50%, we expect smaller PNP draws in 2025.
The following table shows the recent distribution of candidates in the Express Entry pool. As of November 18, 2024, there were a total of 218,167 candidates in the Express Entry pool. Here is how this draw looks in relation to the current CRS distribution:
For more tips on how your CRS score compares, check out our analysis of the current Express Entry pool.
In the history of Express Entry, the following CRS score cut-off records have taken place:
Once an applicant enter the Express Entry system, they are given a CRS score. Applicants are selected from the Express Entry pool during Express Entry draws, where IRCC issue invitations to apply (ITA) to candidates with the highest ranking CRS score.
The CRS cut off is determined by the number of Express Entry profiles IRCC wish to issue an ITA to in the draw. Once they have determined the number of ITA’s they wish to issue, they simply invite that number starting with the highest ranking applicants and going down the list. The CRS cut off becomes the CRS cut off score the last invited applicant.
The CRS score for Express Entry is calculated based on factors such as skills, work experience, language ability, education, and other criteria. Moving2Canada’s CRS calculator will offer you a comprehensive and personalized breakdown of your points based on those key factors.
Want to improve your Express Entry CRS score? See our updated guide for tips you might not have thought of yet.
IRCC does not publish a date for the next Express Entry draw therefore it is not possible to know for certain when the next Express Entry draw will take place but there are patterns in how IRCC conduct draws. For more information on this, check out our dedicated page on when is the next Express Entry draw.
Express Entry draws are less predictable than they once were. With the introduction of category-based draws, IRCC conducts multiple draws throughout the week but tends to group the draws to have one week of draws and one week without draws.
The quickest way to find out when an Express Entry draw has taken place is to create a free Moving2Canada account and sign up for our newsletter.
Join our community of Express Entry applicants who rely on the Moving2Canada updates and resources to manage their Express Entry application. Sign up for our free newsletter to access all the information and resources you need for a successful Express Entry application.
Like the frequency of draws, the time of day draws happen varies. IRCC use universal time, and generally conduct draws in the afternoon.
There is no minimum score needed to enter the Express Entry pool. Anyone, irrespective of their CRS can enter the Express Entry pool so long as they are eligible for an immigration program that uses the Express Entry pool. The only points requirement is that required to qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW). Applicants who wish to immigrate through the FSW program must be able to demonstrate they score at least 67 points in the FSW eligibility grid.
Express Entry profiles are selected from the Express Entry pool based on their CRS score. The CRS cut-off score depends on the specific draw. For all program draws, the cut-off will likely be around 500 whereas for category-based draws, the cut-off can be substantially lower than this depending on the category. For example, French speakers in the Express Entry pool may be selected with a CRS cut-off as low as 336.
The largest Express Entry draw took place on February 13th 2021 and saw 27,332 Canadian Experience Class applicants receive and ITA. The CRS cut off for this draw was 75. This draws remains the largest draw ever to have taken place and also holds the title of the lowest CRS score ever invited.
IRCC has conducted several CEC draws in the last couple of months, a welcome addition to those in Canada. During these CEC draws, more invitations are issued than in other types of draws IRCC conducts.
In a survey sent to Stakeholders in July 2024, it is clear that IRCC wants to focus on transitioning more temporary residents to permanent residents which means we will continue to see more and more CEC draws for the rest of 2024 and 2025.
Since Express Entry category-based draws were introduced last summer, more invitations have been issued under the French language category draws. This dwarfs any other category, with the healthcare category in second place.
Canada recently increased its goal for francophone immigration outside Quebec, from 4.4 percent to 8 percent of all permanent residents. Canada’s immigration objectives extend beyond mere economic, with societal, nation-building goals also top of mind in Ottawa. Also, it is entirely possible for a candidate with French ability to also be a STEM, healthcare, or trades professional; regardless of which category, or none, candidates are invited through, they all have proven experience in skilled employment in some form or another.
We wrote about IRCC’s allocation of ITAs in 2024 in more depth.
If you are invited, you will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA). This is your chance to apply for Canadian immigration.
You have 60 days to respond to your ITA. Once you have submitted an application, you may receive a decision on your application at any time. IRCC’s standard is six months, but it may take more or less time.
If you are approved, you will get a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR). Then it’s just a matter of following IRCC’s instructions to officially become a permanent resident of Canada!
To see if you are eligible for Express Entry, take the free Canada Immigration Quiz.
Whether it’s preparing your Express Entry profile, increasing your CRS score, applying for permanent residence, or securing a job, our Moving2Canada newsletter makes sure you never miss a step.
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