Express Entry Draws & CRS Trends

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 #346 – May 12, 2025

Category: Provincial Nominee Program

CRS Cut‑off Score: 706

Invitations Issued: 511

Tie‑Breaker: March 04, 2025 at 22:35:42 UTC

See our full analysis in the latest draw blog post.

What Is an Express Entry Draw?
Annual Summary (2015–Present)
CRS and ITA Trend Over Time
Average Invitations per Draw by Category (2015–Present)
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Every draw is uniquely numbered and recorded by date, providing a historical reference for candidates and consultants.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 (Draw #176 – CEC)
Least # of ITAs Issued in a Single Draw: 250 in 2020 (Draw #147 – FST)

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*	609	33,940	16	802	379	2,121

*2025 thus far

📊 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.

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
Draw #337	19-Feb-25	428	6,500	French
Draw #338	03-Mar-25	667	725	PNP
Draw #339	06-Mar-25	410	4,500	French
Draw #340	17-Mar-25	736	536	PNP
Draw #341	21-Mar-25	379	7,500	French
Draw #343	28-Apr-25	727	421	PNP
Draw #344	01-May-25	479	1,000	Education
Draw #345	02-May-25	510	500	Healthcare
Draw #346	12-May-25	706	511	PNP

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.

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*	—	3117	—	—	6167	500	—	574	—	—	—	1000
Average	383	4160	436	3300	2438	2336	2885	769	3633	1525	823	1000

*2025 thus far

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.

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*	—	3	—	—	3	1	—	8	—	—	—	1	16
Grand Total	3	40	1	1	21	7	54	76	3	4	2	1	213