Express Entry Draw History and CRS Cutoffs

How often does Canada hold Express Entry draws?

IRCC usually holds Express Entry draws every one to three weeks, and often runs more than one draw in the same week. There is no fixed public calendar. A general or program-specific draw may be followed a day or two later by a category-based draw, so check the table above after each announcement.

What CRS score do I need to get an invitation?

There is no fixed passing score. Each draw has its own cutoff, which is the CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate who was invited. Your score has to be at or above the cutoff of a draw you are eligible for. Compare your score against the last several draws of the same type rather than a single result.

What are category-based Express Entry draws?

Since 2023, IRCC also invites candidates who meet a specific attribute: French language proficiency, or recent work experience in a targeted occupation group such as healthcare, STEM, trades, transport, agriculture or education. Only candidates who meet the category rules are ranked in that draw, so the cutoff is often lower than in a general draw.

How many invitations to apply (ITAs) are issued per draw?

It varies. Provincial Nominee Program draws are often small, under 1,000 invitations. Canadian Experience Class and category-based draws can range from a few hundred to several thousand. The yearly total is set by the federal immigration levels plan, so large draws early in the year can mean smaller ones later.

What happens if my CRS score is below the cutoff?

Your profile stays in the pool for up to 12 months and is considered in every draw you qualify for. You can raise your score by retaking a language test, adding French, gaining more skilled work experience, finishing another credential, or getting a provincial nomination, which adds 600 points.

Why are there no Express Entry draws in early November 2026?

IRCC changes how CRS points are awarded on November 3, 2026: a job offer in a high-wage occupation earns up to 100 points and Canadian experience in one earns up to 70 extra, with no LMIA required. Every profile in the pool is recalculated when the change takes effect, which IRCC says can take up to two weeks, and no rounds of invitations are held during the recalculation. Draws resume once it is done, and the first cut-offs after the pause may sit higher than before because many scores will have risen.

Where can I see the history for one draw type, such as CEC or PNP?

Each draw type has its own page with every round of that type, its cut-off range and who is invited: Canadian Experience Class, Provincial Nominee, French, healthcare, trades, STEM, education and the rest. Use the filter above the table, or open the type pages linked below it.

Does a lower cutoff in one draw mean cutoffs are falling?

Not always. A PNP-only draw can show a cutoff above 700 because nominees get 600 extra points, and a French or healthcare draw can dip well below a general draw. Compare draws of the same type over several months before reading a trend.

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