Broadly speaking, there are two main contributing factors to the recent decrease in the CRS requirement. First, the number of ITAs issued has gone up considerably. Indeed, more ITAs have been issued in January, 2017, than in any other month since Express Entry was first introduced more than two years ago.

Second, CICNews.com recently reported that 'Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) predicted that the improvements made to the system last November would allow more candidates to be invited to apply based on their human capital, skills, and experience. For instance, there are now far fewer points available for a qualifying job offer; in most cases, candidates with a job offer receive 50 points (though 200 points are available for certain senior managerial positions) — down from 600 points before the changes were introduced.'

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 25, 2017

• Launch date: January 1, 2015
• First draw from the pool: January 31, 2015
• Most recent draw from the pool: January 25, 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: 3,508 (January 25, 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: 6 days (from December 16 to December 22, 2016)
• 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: 9,744
• Total number of ITAs issued since system was launched: 74,589

Draws From The Express Entry Pool (Updated)

Express Entry Draws: 2017

Express Entry Draws: 2016

Express Entry Draws: 2015

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