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The first Express Entry draw of the new year, and the 24th since the Canadian immigration selection system came was launched last year, took place on Wednesday, January 6, 2016. A total of 1,463 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for Canadian permanent residence were issued to candidates with 461 or more Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points.

Entering year two of Express Entry

While this latest draw represents a marginal increase in the CRS requirement from the previous (23rd) draw, candidates in the Express Entry pool have cause for optimism in the new year. During a webinar hosted by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) on December 16, 2015, a CIC Policy Analyst made some important announcements regarding the short- and medium-term future of Express Entry.

“The number of invitations issued per round is expected to increase as the pre-Express Entry inventory of applications is finalised. In turn, it is expected that the minimum score of those that are invited to apply will drop,” she stated.

The Policy Analyst added that "we expect that in the new year when our rounds start growing — to meet our new levels plan — that the score will reduce."

Express Entry

Express Entry is Canada's immigration management system for the federal economic immigration programs, namely: Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades, and the Canadian Experience Class. Express Entry came into operation on January 1, 2015.

Eligible candidates may submit a profile into the Express Entry pool, where they are ranked according to the CRS. The government of Canada selects the top-ranked candidates on a priority basis when it performs one of its frequent draws from the pool. Candidates who are issued an invitation to apply 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. A number of early applicants have had their applications processed in under half that time.

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 January 6, 2016

  • Launch date: January 1, 2015
  • First draw from the pool: January 31, 2015
  • Most recent draw from the pool: January 6, 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: 1,637 (March 27, 2015)
  • Fewest invitations to apply issued in any one draw: 715
  • 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 (from September 18, 2015 to October 2, 2015 draws)
  • 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 (from September 18, 2015 to October 2, 2015 draws)
  • 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 six occasions)
  • Total number of invitations to apply issued: 32,526

Draws From The Express Entry Pool (Updated)

Date when Invitations To Apply Were IssuedNumber of Invitations IssuedMinimum CRS Points RequiredProgram Specified
1st Express Entry DrawJanuary 31, 2015779886All Programs
2nd Express Entry DrawFebruary 7, 2015779818All Programs
3rd Express Entry DrawFebruary 20, 2015849808Canadian Experience Class
4th Express Entry DrawFebruary 27, 20151,187735All Programs
5th Express Entry DrawMarch 20, 20151,620481All Programs
6th Express Entry DrawMarch 27, 20151,637453All Programs
7th Express Entry DrawApril 10, 2015925469All Programs
8th Express Entry DrawApril 17, 2015715453All Programs
9th Express Entry DrawMay 22, 20151,361755All Programs
10th Express Entry DrawJune 12, 20151,501482All Programs
11th Express Entry DrawJune 27, 20151,575469All Programs
12th Express Entry DrawJuly 10, 20151,516463All Programs
13th Express Entry DrawJuly 17, 20151,581451All Programs
14th Express Entry DrawAugust 7, 20151,402471All Programs
15th Express Entry DrawAugust 21, 20151,523456All Programs
16th Express Entry DrawSeptember 8, 20151,517459All Programs
17th Express Entry DrawSeptember 18, 20151,545450All Programs
18th Express Entry DrawOctober 2, 20151,530450All Programs
19th Express Entry DrawOctober 23, 20151,502489All Programs
20th Express Entry DrawNovember 13, 20151,506484All Programs
21st Express Entry DrawNovember 27, 20151,559472All Programs
22nd Express Entry DrawDecember 4, 20151,451461All Programs
23rd Express Entry DrawDecember 18, 20151,503460All Programs
24th Express Entry DrawJanuary 6, 20161,463461All Programs