Express Entry Draw History

Express Entry is Canada's application management system for three federal economic immigration programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST), and Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Candidates create profiles and are ranked using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The highest-ranking candidates receive Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence through regular draws.

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) assigns points based on factors like age (max 110 points), education (max 150 points), language proficiency (max 160 points), work experience (max 80 points), and additional factors like a job offer or provincial nomination (max 600 points). Total scores range from 0-1,200. Each Express Entry draw has a minimum CRS cutoff score - only candidates above this score receive ITAs. Check our CRS Trends page to see historical cutoffs.

Category-based selection draws were introduced in 2023 to target candidates with specific skills or qualifications. Categories include: French language proficiency, Healthcare occupations, STEM professions, Trades workers, Transport occupations, and Agriculture & Agri-food. These draws often have lower CRS cutoffs than general draws, making it easier for candidates in these categories to receive ITAs. You can see which draws were category-specific in the table's "Category" column.

CRS cutoffs vary based on: (1) The number of candidates in the pool at higher score ranges, (2) Time between draws (longer gaps = more high-scoring candidates accumulate), (3) Number of ITAs issued in the draw, (4) Draw type (general vs category-specific), and (5) Provincial nominations adding 600 points to candidates' scores. Track these patterns on our charts above to better predict future draw scores.

Study trends in CRS cutoffs for your target category. If you're close to recent cutoffs, identify ways to boost your score: retake language tests (IELTS/CELPIP/TEF), obtain additional education credentials, gain more Canadian work experience, or pursue a provincial nomination. Monitor draw frequency for your category to know when to expect the next invitation round. Compare your CRS score to the historical average and minimum scores to gauge your competitive position.

"Highest" marks the draw with the maximum CRS cutoff score in our entire dataset (most competitive draw), while "Lowest" marks the minimum CRS cutoff (easiest draw to qualify for). These outliers help contextualize typical draw scores. Very low scores often indicate category-specific draws with smaller candidate pools, while high scores typically occur after long gaps between general draws.