On March 1, 2017, 3,884 Invitations to Apply (ITA) were issued to candidates in the pool for the Express Entry immigration selection system with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) point score of 434 or above. For the third time in a row, the number of CRS points a candidate requires to receive an ITA has dropped to a level never before seen since the introduction of the Express Entry immigration selection system in January, 2015. Coming just seven days after the last draw, this draw also represents the highest number of ITAs ever issued in a single draw, and brings 2017's total number of ITAs issued to over 20,000.
Candidates who receive an ITA are now in a position to submit an application for Canadian permanent residence to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (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.
CRS Requirement
434
Number of ITAs in latest draw
3,884
ITAs issued in 2017
20,903
In order to be in a position to receive an ITA in an Express Entry draw, individuals are first required to meet the eligibility criteria of one of the three immigration programs managed through the Express Entry system — the Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC), Federal Skilled Trades Class (FTSC), or Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Upon entering the pool, candidates are assigned a CRS score based on factors including civil status information, education, work experience, language ability, and other criteria. This score determines their ranking in the pool. During periodic draws, IRCC issues ITAs to the highest-ranking candidates. Those candidates who receive an ITA may submit an application for Canadian permanent resident status.
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 March 1, 2017
- Launch date: January 1, 2015
- First draw from the pool: January 31, 2015
- Most recent draw from the pool: March 1, 2017
- Minimum CRS points required for selection in any one draw: 434 (March 1, 2017)
- Largest number of invitations to apply issued in any one draw: 3,884 (March 1, 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: 20,903
- Total number of ITAs issued since system was launched:85,748
Draws From The Express Entry Pool (Updated)
Express Entry Draws: 2017
| Draw # | Minimum CRS Score Required | Date of Draw | # of ITAs Issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 434 | March 1, 2017 | 3,884 |
| 55 | 441 | February 22, 2017 | 3,611 |
| 54 | 447 | February 8, 2017 | 3,664 |
| 53 | 453 | January 25, 2017 | 3,508 |
| 52 | 459 | January 11, 2017 | 3,334 |
| 51 | 468 | January 4. 2017 | 2,902 |
{slide=Express Entry Draws: 2016 (click to open)}
| 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 |
{/slide}
{slide=Express Entry Draws: 2015 (click to open)}
| 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 |
{/slide}