The largest Express Entry draw of all time has taken place, with 2,080 candidates in the pool receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence on November 2, 2016. This is the first time in which the number of ITAs issued in any one draw has surpassed the two thousand mark, and draw sizes are now nearly three times what they were through the summer months. Moreover, the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off mark continues to go down; the latest draw required candidates to have 472 or more CRS points in order to receive an ITA.

Individuals who received an ITA in the November 2 draw may now submit an application for permanent residence to the federal government. After receiving an ITA, recipients have 60 days to submit an application. The government aims to process complete submitted applications within six months. Principal applicants may also include their accompanying spouse or common-law partner, as well as any dependent children, on their application.

The latest positive Express Entry news follows two days after the government of Canada released its 2017 Immigration Plan. This plan outlines the government's strategy to bring in more economic immigrants next year, particularly through the immigration programs that are managed through Express Entry, namely the Canada Federal Skilled Class, the Canada Federal Skilled Trades Class, and the Canadian Experience Class.

In an a detailed article published earlier this week that provided further details of this plan, CICNews.com states that: 'Together, up to 75,300 new immigrants will land in Canada through one of these programs in 2017. This includes applicants who applied prior to the launch of Express Entry and whose applications remain in the inventory of applications that have not yet been processed to completion. Last year, the government set an upper target range of 59,000 for these programs. Moreover, the inventory of applications submitted before 2015 was larger at that time. Consequently, the number of people to be invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence through Express Entry in 2017 is expected to go up considerably.'

The charts below show the results of recent Express Entry draws.

Express Entry

Express Entry is not an immigration program, rather, it is the system Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses to select candidates for immigration to Canada through the federal economic immigration programs.

Eligible candidates may submit a profile into the Express Entry pool, where they are ranked according to the CRS. Top-ranked candidates are selected from the pool on a priority basis during frequent draws. Candidates who are issued an ITA for permanent residence then have 60 days to submit a complete e-application, from which point the government of Canada aims to process the application within six months.

There are a number of ways in which candidates in the pool may increase their CRS score — and therefore improve their ranking in the pool. To learn more about increasing CRS score and ranking, click here.

For more information on draws from the Express Entry pool that have taken place so far, click here.

Express Entry quick facts, from January 1, 2015 to November 2, 2016

• Launch date: January 1, 2015

• First draw from the pool: January 31, 2015

• Most recent draw from the pool: November 2, 2016

• Minimum CRS points required for selection in any one draw: 450 (September 18, 2015 & October 2, 2015)

• Largest number of invitations to apply issued in any one draw: 2,080 (November 2, 2016)

• Fewest invitations to apply issued in any one draw: 715 (April 17, 2015)

• Largest decrease in CRS points required between two consecutive draws: 273 (from May 22, 2015 to June 12, 2015 draws)

• Smallest decrease in CRS points required between two consecutive draws: 0 (on three occasions)

• Largest increase in CRS points required between two consecutive draws: 302 (from April 17, 2015 to May 22, 2015 draws)

• Smallest increase in CRS points required between two consecutive draws: 0 (on three occasions)

• Longest gap between two consecutive draws: 35 days (from April 17, 2015 to May 22, 2015 draws)

• Shortest gap between two consecutive draws: 7 days (on seven occasions)

• Total number of ITAs issued in 2015: 31,063

• Total number of ITAs issued in 2016: 24,178

• Total number of ITAs issued since system was launched: 55,271

Express Entry Draws: 2016

Express Entry Draws: 2015

To find out if you are eligible for immigration to Canada, please fill out a free online assessment form today.