A record-breaking number of Express Entry candidates for immigration to Canada were issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in a draw that took place on January 11, 2017. A total of 3,334 candidates with 459 or more Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points were invited to apply. This is the first time the number of candidates issued an ITA has passed the 3,000 mark. In addition, it is the first time in almost a year that the CRS requirement has dipped below 460.
Candidates who received an ITA are now in a position to submit an application for Canadian permanent residence to IRCC. Accompanying family members, including spouses or common-law partners, as well as dependent children, may also come to Canada along with the principal applicant.
The increase in draw sizes over the final months of 2016 into early 2017 has been remarkable, if not unexpected. Senior staff at the department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) had stated that an increase in draw sizes would allow the department to make Express Entry the main driver of economic immigration to Canada. Indeed, it is possible that draw sizes will continue to increase, with the possibility of a further decrease in the CRS requirement.
Individuals who wish to apply for Canadian permanent residence through the Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC), Federal Skilled Trades Class (FTSC), or Canadian Experience Class (CEC), are first required to enter the Express Entry pool. Upon entering the pool, they are assigned a CRS score based on factors including civil status information, education, work experience, language ability, and other criteria. Candidates are ranked in the pool according to their CRS score, and IRCC periodically conducts draws to invite the highest-ranking candidates to submit an application.
Candidates in the pool may increase their ranking in a number of ways. Learn more about increasing CRS score and ranking.
For more information on draws from the Express Entry pool that have taken place so far, consult this table.
Express Entry quick facts, from January 1, 2015 to January 11, 2017
- Launch date: January 1, 2015
- First draw from the pool: January 31, 2015
- Most recent draw from the pool: January 11, 2017
- 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: 3,334 (January 11, 2017)
- Fewest invitations to apply issued in any one draw: 559 (November 30, 2016. Note: This draw invited candidates with a provincial nomination only.)
- 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: 316 (from November 16, 2016 to November 30. Note: The latter draw invited candidates with a provincial nomination only.)
- 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 eight occasions)
- Total number of ITAs issued in 2015: 31,063
- Total number of ITAs issued in 2016: 33,782
- Total number of ITAs issued in 2017: 6,236
- Total number of ITAs issued since system was launched: 71,081
Draws From The Express Entry Pool (Updated)
Express Entry Draws: 2017
| Draw # | Minimum CRS Score Required | Date of Draw | # of ITAs Issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| 52 | 459 | January 11, 2017 | 3,334 |
| 51 | 468 | January 4. 2017 | 2,902 |
Express Entry Draws: 2016
| Draw # | Minimum CRS Score Required | Date of Draw | # of ITAs Issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 475 | December 22, 2016 | 2,878 |
| 49 | 497 | December 16, 2016 | 1,936 |
| 48 | 786 (*Provincial Nominee Programs only) | November 30, 2016 | 559 |
| 47 | 470 | November 16, 2016 | 2,427 |
| 46 | 472 | November 2, 2016 | 2,080 |
| 45 | 475 | October 19, 2016 | 1,804 |
| 44 | 484 | October 12, 2016 | 1,518 |
| 43 | 483 | September 21, 2016 | 1,288 |
| 42 | 491 | September 7, 2016 | 1,000 |
| 41 | 538 | August 24, 2016 | 750 |
| 40 | 490 | August 10, 2016 | 754 |
| 39 | 488 | July 27, 2016 | 755 |
| 38 | 482 | July 13, 2016 | 747 |
| 37 | 482 | June 29, 2016 | 773 |
| 36 | 488 | June 15, 2016 | 752 |
| 35 | 483 | June 1, 2016 | 762 |
| 34 | 484 | May 18, 2016 | 763 |
| 33 | 534 | May 6, 2016 | 799 |
| 32 | 468 | April 20, 2016 | 1,018 |
| 31 | 470 | April 6, 2016 | 954 |
| 30 | 470 | March 23, 2016 | 1,014 |
| 29 | 473 | March 8, 2016 | 1,013 |
| 28 | 453 | February 24, 2016 | 1,484 |
| 27 | 459 | February 10, 2016 | 1,505 |
| 26 | 457 | January 28, 2016 | 1,468 |
| 25 | 453 | January 13, 2016 | 1,518 |
| 24 | 461 | January 6, 2016 | 1,463 |
Express Entry Draws: 2015
| Draw # | Minimum CRS Score Required | Date of Draw | # of ITAs Issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 460 | December 18, 2015 | 1,503 |
| 22 | 461 | December 4, 2015 | 1,451 |
| 21 | 472 | November 27, 2015 | 1,559 |
| 20 | 484 | November 13, 2015 | 1,506 |
| 19 | 489 | October 23, 2015 | 1,502 |
| 18 | 450 | October 2, 2015 | 1,530 |
| 17 | 450 | September 18, 2015 | 1,545 |
| 16 | 459 | September 8, 2015 | 1,517 |
| 15 | 456 | August 21, 2015 | 1,523 |
| 14 | 471 | August 7, 2015 | 1,402 |
| 13 | 451 | July 17, 2015 | 1,581 |
| 12 | 463 | July 10, 2015 | 1,516 |
| 11 | 469 | June 27, 2015 | 1,575 |
| 10 | 482 | June 12, 2015 | 1,501 |
| 9 | 755 | May 22, 2015 | 1,361 |
| 8 | 453 | April 17, 2015 | 715 |
| 7 | 469 | April 10, 2015 | 925 |
| 6 | 453 | March 27, 2015 | 1,637 |
| 5 | 481 | March 20, 2015 | 1,620 |
| 4 | 735 | February 27, 2015 | 1,187 |
| 3 | 808 (*Canadian Experience Class only) | February 20, 2015 | 849 |
| 2 | 818 | February 7, 2015 | 779 |
| 1 | 886 | January 31, 2015 | 779 |