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Express Entry Draws & CRS Trends

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Latest Draw

Express Entry CRS Draws & Trends

Your go‑to hub for historical analysis, latest results, and data‑driven insights into Canada’s Express Entry draws.

Draw #390 – January 07, 2026

Category: Canadian Experience Class

CRS Cut‑off Score: 511

Invitations Issued: 8000

Tie‑Breaker: June 10, 2025 at 15:59:25 UTC

Table of Contents

  1. What Is an Express Entry Draw?

  2. Annual Summary (2015–Present)

  3. CRS and ITA Trend Over Time

  4. Average Invitations per Draw by Category (2015–Present)

  5. Number of Draws by Category (2020 onwards)

What is an Express Entry Draw?

An Express Entry draw, also known as a round of invitation, is the official process through which Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) selects candidates from the Express Entry pool to apply for permanent residence (PR) in Canada.

These draws occur regularly—often every two weeks, though frequency and criteria can vary based on Canada’s immigration targets and labour market needs.

Each draw includes:

  • Draw Number and Date
    Every draw is uniquely numbered and recorded by date, providing a historical reference for candidates and consultants.

  • Type of Draw (General or Targeted)
    Draws may be:

    • General (All-program or No-Program Specified) – Includes candidates from all three core Express Entry programs:

    • Program-Specific – Targets a single Express Entry program. For example:

      • A CEC-only draw or FSTP-only draw

    • Category-Based Draws – Introduced in 2023, these prioritize candidates with specific attributes or occupations. Current categories include:

      • French-language proficiency

      • Healthcare occupations

      • STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) occupations

      • Trade occupations

      • Transport occupations

      • Agriculture and agri-food occupations

  • CRS Cut-Off Score
    Each draw sets a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score threshold. Candidates with scores equal to or above this threshold receive Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for PR.

  • Number of ITAs Issued
    IRCC specifies the number of candidates selected in each draw. This number can vary significantly based on program targets and backlog management.

  • Tie-Breaking Rule
    If multiple candidates have the exact same CRS score at the cut-off, IRCC applies a tie-breaker based on the date and time the candidate submitted their profile. This ensures fairness and a transparent selection order.

Annual Express Entry Summary (2015 to Present)

  • Highest CRS Cut-off: 902 in 2018 (No Program Specified)
  • Lowest CRS Cut-off: 75 in 2021 (Draw #176 – CEC)
  • Most # of ITAs Issued in a Single Draw: 27,332 in 2021 (CEC)
  • Least # of ITAs Issued in a Single Draw: 125 in 2025 (Draw #350 – PNP)
Year Average CRS Total Invitations # of Draws Max CRS Min CRS Avg Invitations/Draw
2015 538 31,063 23 886 450 1,351
2016 491 33,782 27 786 453 1,251
2017 443 86,023 30 775 199 2,867
2018 449 89,800 28 902 284 3,207
2019 451 85,300 26 475 332 3,281
2020 530 107,350 37 808 415 2,901
2021 595 114,431 42 813 75 2,725
2022 646 46,538 24 808 491 1,939
2023 505 110,266 42 791 354 2,625
2024 544 98,903 52 816 336 1,902
2025 597 113,998 58 855 379 1,965
2026* 611 8,574 2 711 511 4,287
Grand Total 534 926,028 391 902 75 2,368

*2026 data year-to-date

📊 Data Deep Dive:

  • The lowest average CRS was in 2017 (443), coinciding with a major wave of high-volume general draws.

  • 2022 had the highest average CRS ever at 646, despite having fewer total draws.

  • 2019 saw the most generous draws, with an average of 3,281 ITAs per draw.

  • Draw volume surged in 2024, but average invitations per draw dipped as categories narrowed.

  • 2025 saw the highest number of draws (58).

  • The lowest-ever CRS cut-off (75) and highest Invites per draw (27,332) happened in 2021, but it was limited to a single CEC draw during pandemic backlog clearance.

  • While total ITAs peaked in 2021, the trend since 2023 reflects a shift away from bulk general draws toward smaller, focused invitations under the new category-based system.

Express Entry Trend Over Time - CRS Scores vs. ITAs – Last 10 Draws

Compare CRS cut-offs and invitation volumes across recent Express Entry draws, including French, PNP, and other targeted streams.

Draw # Date CRS Cut-off Invitations Issued Draw Type Interval between draws
Draw #381 26-Nov-25 531 1000 Canadian Experience Class 1
Draw #382 28-Nov-25 408 6000 French 2
Draw #383 8-Dec-25 729 1123 Provincial Nominee Program 10
Draw #384 10-Dec-25 520 6000 Canadian Experience Class 2
Draw #385 11-Dec-25 476 1000 Healthcare 1
Draw #386 15-Dec-25 731 399 Provincial Nominee Program 4
Draw #387 16-Dec-25 515 5000 Canadian Experience Class 1
Draw #388 17-Dec-25 399 6000 French 1
Draw #389 5-Jan-26 711 574 Provincial Nominee Program 19
Draw #390 7-Jan-26 511 8000 Canadian Experience Class 2

Express Entry: Average Invitations per Draw by Category (2015–Present)

Visual summary of average ITAs issued per draw by year, highlighting the rise of category-based draws introduced in mid-2023. New 2025 updates to in-demand and paused categories available here.

Category-Based Invitations by Year

Year Agri CEC FSTP FSWP French Healthcare No Program Specified PNP STEM Trade Transport Education
2015 — 849 — — — — 1373 — — — — —
2016 — — — — — — 1278 559 — — — —
2017 — 453 — — — — 3257 217 — — — —
2018 — 450 — — — — 3548 200 — — — —
2019 — 500 — — — — 3513 — — — — —
2020 — 3422 250 — — — 4256 479 — — — —
2021 — 5862 — — — — — 591 — — — —
2022 — — — — — — 3250 830 — — — —
2023 500 — — 3300 1386 1867 3956 1649 3200 1250 670 —
2024 150 2650 — — 2091 3417 1605 1106 4500 1800 975 —
2025 — 2390 — — 5333 2071 — 454 — 1250 — 1750
2026* — 8000 — — — — — 574 — — — —
Average 383 3798 436 3300 2989 2335 2885 705 3633 1470 823 1750

*2026 thus far

Express Entry: Average Invitations per Draw by Category (2024–Present) Quarterly Breakdown

A closer look: Quarterly average ITAs per draw since 2024, spotlighting trends post category-based draw shift.

Quarter-wise ITAs by Category (2024–2026)

Period Agri Canadian Experience Class French Healthcare No Program Specified Provincial Nominee Program STEM Trade Transport Education Cumulative Avg.
2024 150 2650 2091 3417 1605 1106 4500 1800 975 — 1902
Q1 2024 150 — 3667 3500 1581 — — — 975 — 2053
Q2 2024 — 3000 1400 — 1688 2242 4500 — — — 2394
Q3 2024 — 4360 2000 3750 — 1012 — 1800 — — 2436
Q4 2024 — 425 867 3000 — 822 — 1800 — — 935
2025 — 2390 5333 2071 — 454 — 1250 — 1750 1965
Q1 2025 — 3117 6167 — — 567 — — — — 2789
Q2 2025 — 2167 — 500 — 444 — — — 1000 930
Q3 2025 — 1667 3500 3250 — 249 — 1250 — 2500 1500
Q4 2025 — 2500 5625 2333 — 610 — — — — 2535
2026 — 8000 — — — 574 — — — — 4287
Q1 2026 — 8000 — — — 574 — — — — 4287
Cumulative Average 150 3797 3300 2989 1605 823 4500 1470 975 1750 2380

*Data current as of Q1 2026

Express Entry: Number of Draws by Category (2020 onwards)

Track how often each program or category has been targeted over time. Category-based draws began in 2023 and include STEM, Healthcare, Trades, French, Transport & Agri-Food. Full list of 2025 updates and paused streams here.

Annual Draw Counts by Category (2020–2026)

Year Agri CEC FSTP FSWP French Healthcare No Program Specified PNP STEM Trade Transport Education Total Draws
2020 — 10 1 — — — 16 10 — — — — 37
2021 — 17 — — — — 25 — — — — — 42
2022 — — — — 11 13 — — — — — — 24
2023 2 — — 1 7 3 18 6 2 2 1 — 42
2024 1 10 — — 11 3 9 14 1 2 1 — 52
2025 — 15 — — 9 7 — 24 — 1 — 2 58
2026* — 1 — — — — — 1 — — — — 2
Grand Total 3 53 1 1 27 13 54 93 3 5 2 2 257

*2026 thus far

You’ve Seen the Trends — Now Let’s Get You Invited.

Use our insights to your advantage. Book a personalized strategy session and take control of your Express Entry pathway.

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