Written by the on

The Canadian government has issued new invitations to apply for permanent residence to 500 Express Entry candidates in a draw held May 15.

Unlike most Express Entry draws, this round of invitations was restricted to candidates in the Federal Skilled Trades Class only.

The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required for this federal Express Entry draw was 332.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) applied the tie-break rule for the May 15 draw. The specified tie break date and time was August 29, 2018, at 8:32:03 UTC.

The tie break procedure means that all candidates with a CRS of 332 and higher who entered their profile in the Express Entry pool — before the designated tie-break date and time — received an Invitation To Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence in the May 15 draw.

Canada's Express Entry system is the online application management system for three economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades Class.

Profiles submitted into the Express Entry pool receive a score out of a maximum 1,200 points based on factors that include age, education, work experience and proficiency in one or both of Canada's official languages (English and French).

Candidates in the Express Entry pool can take steps to improve their CRS score.

Those invited have 60 days to submit a complete permanent residence application package to IRCC from the date of receiving an ITA.

For more information on the May 15 Express Entry draw, please read the latest article on CIC News.com.

Discover your Canadian immigration options

Express Entry quick facts, from January 1, 2015, to May 15, 2019

  • Launch date: January 1, 2015
  • First draw from the pool: January 31, 2015
  • Most recent draw from the pool: May 15, 2019
  • Minimum CRS points required for selection in the Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC): 199 (May 26, 2017)
  • Minimum CRS points required for selection in the Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC): 413 (May 31, 2017)
  • Minimum CRS points required for selection in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC): 413 (May 31, 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: 143 (May 26, 2017. 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)
  • Longest gap between dates of two consecutive draws: 35 days (from April 17, 2015, to May 22, 2015, draws)
  • Shortest gap between dates of two consecutive draws: 5 days (from May 26 to May 31, 2017)
  • 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: 86,023
  • Total number of ITAs issued in 2018: 89,800
  • Total number of ITAs issued in 2019 (to date): 31,750
  • Total number of ITAs issued since the Express Entry system was launched: 272,418

Draws From The Express Entry Pool

Express Entry Draws: 2019

Draw #Minimum CRS Score RequiredDate of Draw# of ITAs Issued
117332 (*Federal Skilled Trades candidates only)May 15, 2019500
116450May 1, 20193,350
115451April 17, 20193,350
114451April 3, 20193,350
113452March 20, 20193,350
112454March 6, 20193,350
111457February 20, 20193,350
110438January 30, 20193,350
109443January 23, 20193,900
108449January 10, 20193,900

Discover your Canadian immigration options