The latest Express Entry draw, which took place on May 17, 2017, saw Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for Canadian permanent resident status issued to 3,687 candidates in the Express Entry pool with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 415 or above. This is the second time the minimum CRS requirement has dropped to 415, the lowest minimum requirement yet since the system was introduced in January, 2015.
So far in 2017, 43,456 ITAs have been issued — more than the total number of ITAs issued during the year of 2016. Candidates who received an ITA in the May 17 draw are now in a position to submit an application for Canadian permanent resident status to the federal government. Accompanying family members, including spouses or common-law partners, as well as dependent children, may also come to Canada along with the principal applicant. IRCC aims to process complete submitted applications within six months.
The opening months of 2017 have witnessed a series of decreasing CRS requirements and increasing numbers of ITAs issued. This followed predictions made by IRCC towards the end of 2016 that changes to the Express Entry system and the CRS would result in a greater number of ITAs being issued, and consequently a drop in the CRS score requirement.
For an in-depth analysis of the May 17 draw, including scenarios of how candidates received an ITA, please refer to this article on CICNews.com.
CRS Requirement in latest draw
415
Number of ITAs in latest draw
3,687
ITAs issued in 2017
43,456
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 May 17, 2017
- Launch date: January 1, 2015
- First draw from the pool: January 31, 2015
- Most recent draw from the pool: May 17, 2017
- Minimum CRS points required for selection in any one draw: 415 (April 19 and May 17, 2017)
- Largest number of invitations to apply issued in any one draw: 3,923 (April 12, 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: 43,456
- Total number of ITAs issued since system was launched: 108,301
Draws From The Express Entry Pool (Updated)
Express Entry Draws: 2017
| Draw # | Minimum CRS Score Required | Date of Draw | # of ITAs Issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62 | 415 | May 17, 2017 | 3,687 |
| 61 | 423 | May 4, 2017 | 3,769 |
| 60 | 415 | April 19, 2017 | 3,665 |
| 59 | 423 | April 12, 2017 | 3,923 |
| 58 | 431 | April 5, 2017 | 3,753 |
| 57 | 441 | March 24, 2017 | 3,749 |
| 56 | 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 |
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 |