What is an Express Entry Draw for Canada?

An Express Entry draw is a selection event run by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to invite skilled immigration candidates from the Express Entry pool to apply for Canadian permanent residence. Each candidate in the pool is assigned a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on factors such as age, education, work experience, and language proficiency.

During a draw, IRCC sets a cut‑off CRS score and issues Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to the highest‑ranking candidates who meet or exceed that threshold. Draws can be general (applicable to all programs) or targeted, focusing on specific streams such as the Canadian Experience Class, Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), or category‑based selection rounds (e.g., French language proficiency or healthcare).

Recent draws have varied in size and target groups to align with Canada’s economic and labor-market needs, such as the 8,500 ITAs issued in a French‑language draw with a 400-CRS cut‑off. Receiving an ITA is a key milestone - it gives candidates 60 days to submit a complete permanent residence application, typically with a processing standard of about six months after submission.

Are you an Express Entry candidate waiting for the next round of draws to know what the rest of your future holds? If yes, you’re in the right place. Get the latest Express Entry draw results right here.

Express Entry Draw Categories

Express Entry category‑based draws target candidates with skills or attributes that meet Canada’s labor‑market needs. IRCC currently uses specific categories to issue Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in addition to general and program‑specific rounds. 

• French‑language proficiency – candidates with strong French skills (NCLC 7+). 
• Healthcare & social services occupations – nurses, therapists and related roles. 
• STEM occupations – science, technology, engineering & math roles.
• Trade Occupations 
• Agriculture & agri‑food occupations.
• Education occupations – teachers and educators. 
• Physicians with Canadian work experience.

Component of an Express Entry Draw

Each Express Entry draw published by IRCC includes key details that help candidates understand selection outcomes. Common components below are reported for every round of invitations (often called a draw):

• Number of the Draw: A unique sequence identifier for that invitation round.
• Date of the Draw: When IRCC conducted the round of invitations.
• Category: The type of round (e.g., program-specific or category‑based like French‑language
• CRS Cut‑Off Score: The lowest Comprehensive Ranking System score of candidates invited.
• Number of ITAs Issued: How many Invitations to Apply were sent. Draw examples include 8,500 ITAs for French‑language proficiency at CRS 400. 
• Update of Candidates in the Express Entry Pool: Before each draw, IRCC reports the pool’s CRS score distribution, showing how many candidates are eligible for selection. 

Latest Express Entry Draw List

Below are the results from the most recent rounds of invitations issued during Express Entry draws:

How to Improve Your CRS Score?

Is your CRS score just not making the cut? Don’t worry, there are a few things you could do to increase your points to boost your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in the next Express Entry draw. Follow these five tips for a winning Express Entry profile.

1. Improve Your English or French Language Abilities

Candidates who entered the pool with International English Language Testing System (IELTS) results equivalent to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 8 or below can practice to improve their language abilities and re-sit the exam. This can significantly improve their CRS points. 

What’s more, sitting a test for your secondary language too (English or French) could further boost your CRS score with an additional 24 points (maximum). Achieving the maximum amount of points for language abilities can increase your CRS score by 160 points if you're a single applicant and by 150 points if you’re applying with a partner! 

Also, improving your language abilities will increase the points you received for work experience and education gained outside of Canada as the criteria work in conjunction with your language abilities. Up to 100 CRS points are available for these combinations!

2. Upgrade Your Level of Education

You can increase your chances of receiving an ITA in the next Express Entry draw if you have post-secondary credentials in addition to CLB 9 or higher for all four language abilities. For instance, candidates with Bachelor's degrees and CLB 7 to 8 for all four language abilities will receive 13 points as opposed to 25 points for candidates with Bachelor's degrees and CLB 9 or higher for all four language abilities.

3. Gain More Work Experience

How many years of work experience do you have behind your name? You can increase your CRS score by 50 points if you gain three years or more of foreign work experience in addition to a high language proficiency of CLB 9 or higher. What’s more, you can score additional points if you gained some or all of your work experience in Canada.

4. Secure a Job in Canada

While a job offer is not a requirement for Express Entry immigration to Canada it can land you an ITA because a valid job offer is worth 50 points for jobs in TEER categories 0, 1, or 2 and a whopping 200 points for jobs in TEER categories 0. 

5. Achieve a Provincial Nomination

Last but definitely not least, achieving a provincial nomination is as good as it gets. Your profile will be boosted with 600 CRS points which practically guarantees that you’ll bag an ITA in the next Express Entry draw. A provincial nomination is achieved when your Express Entry profile matches the labor market needs of a province or territory in Canada. Accepting a nomination means that you must settle in the province or territory that nominated you after receiving permanent residency from IRCC. 

FAQs

How Long do You Have to Submit a Complete Express Entry Profile?

You have 60 days to complete and submit your Express Entry profile otherwise you will have to start over.

What Documents Do I Need For My Express Entry Profile?

You will need your English or French language test results to accurately fill out details about your language proficiency. You will also need to know your 2021 NOC TEER job title and code for work experience purposes.

How Frequent Are Express Entry Draws?

There is an Express Entry draw approximately every two weeks. Each draw has a CRS cut-off score, which represents the CRS score of the lowest-ranking candidate to receive an ITA for permanent residence. Once you receive an ITA, you’ll be given 60 days to complete and submit an official electronic Application for Permanent Residence (eAPR).