On January 4, 2017, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 2,902 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent immigration to Canada. This is the largest ever draw since the Express Entry system was launched in January, 2015.
ITAs were issued to candidates in the Express Entry pool with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 468 or above. This represents the first time the required minimum CRS score has dropped below 470 since April 20, 2016, when the minimum required CRS score was also 468. Consequently, the draws continue to follow predictions made following November’s improvements to certain Express Entry and CRS criteria, that the number of ITAs will rise and the required CRS score will decrease.
Candidates who received an ITA in the January 4 draw are now in a position to submit an application for Canadian permanent residence to IRCC.
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 4, 2017
- Launch date: January 1, 2015
- First draw from the pool: January 31, 2015
- Most recent draw from the pool: January 4, 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: 2,902 (January 4, 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: 2,902
- Total number of ITAs issued since system was launched: 67,747
Draws From The Express Entry Pool (Updated)
Express Entry Draws: 2017
| Draw # | Minimum CRS Score Required | Date of Draw | # of ITAs Issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 (*candidates with a provincial nomination 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 |