Canada publishes revised distribution of candidate scores within the Express Entry pool

The Express Entry pool decreased by over 2,200 candidates between August 3–August 16, driven largely by declines in the 351–400 and 501–600 score bands, according to the latest figures published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Despite the contraction in the pool’s overall size, the number of top-scoring profiles increased from 19,096 to 20,205 during this period.

See how competitive your Express Entry profile is

The table below compares the composition of the Express Entry pool on August 16 with the previous update from August 3:

CRS score range	August 16	August 3	Difference
0–300	7,709	7,683	+26
301–350	17,269	17,101	+168
351–400	48,600	50,107	−1,507
401–410	10,688	10,775	−87
411–420	11,269	11,326	−57
421–430	11,890	11,942	−52
431–440	13,229	13,267	−38
441–450	13,555	13,595	−40
451–460	14,814	14,845	−31
461–470	16,133	16,057	+76
471–480	16,626	16,368	+258
481–490	13,066	12,890	+176
491–500	12,915	12,939	−24
501–600	18,657	19,705	−1,048
601–1,200	439	500	−61
Total	226,859	229,100	−2,241

The graph below offers a clearer look at the changes between the two distributions:

How competitive is the Express Entry pool as of the latest data?

The following table shows the share of candidates in each Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score range, along with the percentile ranges at the lower and upper ends of each range, offering a clearer picture of competitiveness within the Express Entry pool.

The calculations reflect the Express Entry pool as of August 16.

CRS score range	Number of candidates	Cumulative	Percentile range	Percentage
0–300	7,709	7,709	0.00%–3.40%	3.40%
301–350	17,269	24,978	3.40%–11.01%	7.61%
351–400	48,600	73,578	11.01%–32.43%	21.42%
401–410	10,688	84,266	32.43%–37.14%	4.71%
411–420	11,269	95,535	37.14%–42.11%	4.97%
421–430	11,890	107,425	42.11%–47.35%	5.24%
431–440	13,229	120,654	47.35%–53.18%	5.83%
441–450	13,555	134,209	53.18%–59.16%	5.98%
451–460	14,814	149,023	59.16%–65.69%	6.53%
461–470	16,133	165,156	65.69%–72.80%	7.11%
471–480	16,626	181,782	72.80%–80.13%	7.33%
481–490	13,066	194,848	80.13%–85.89%	5.76%
491–500	12,915	207,763	85.89%–91.58%	5.69%
501–600	18,657	226,420	91.58%–99.81%	8.22%
601–1,200	439	226,859	99.81%–100.00%	0.19%

The percentiles measure the share of candidates in the pool whose CRS scores fall at or below the upper end of each score range.

They are provided as ranges to capture the variation in percentile ranking among candidates within each CRS bracket.

Which draws have not been accounted for in the August 16 distribution?

The August 16 distribution does not factor in the draw conducted by IRCC on August 17, which saw a total of 442 provincial nominees invited to apply for permanent residence.

The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate invited in this draw was 760.

As of this draw, IRCC has issued a total of 113,865 invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residence through the Express Entry system—the majority of which (42.4%) have gone to Canadian Experience Class candidates.

What accounted for the changes in Express Entry profiles between August 3 and August 16?

Between August 3–August 16, Canada’s immigration department conducted a total of four Express Entry rounds, leading to the combined issuance of 8,807 ITAs for permanent residence.

During this time, IRCC issued its first set of invitations under its revamped Transport category after the refreshed category was reintroduced in February 2026 with a different list of eligible occupations.

Date of draw	Round type	Invitations issued	CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate
August 4	Provincial Nominee Program	507	768
August 5	Canadian Experience Class	3,000	516
August 6	French-Language proficiency	5,000	391
August 7	Transport Occupations	300	470

Permanent residence through Express Entry

Express Entry is the federal government’s flagship application management system for skilled workers seeking permanent residence in Canada outside Quebec.

To enter the Express Entry candidate pool, a foreign national must qualify for at least one of three economic immigration programs:

• The Canadian Experience Class (CEC);
• The Federal Skilled Worker Program; or
• The Federal Skilled Trades Program.

Candidate profiles are ranked according to their CRS score, which is made up of points awarded for factors such as age, education, official-language ability, and work experience.

IRCC then conducts invitation rounds and selects candidates from the pool to apply for permanent residence.

The department also uses category-based selection (CBS) to target candidates whose qualifications align with particular economic or labour-market needs. CBS draws tend to have significantly lower cutoff scores than other draw types.

As of the time of this writing, there are 10 Express Entry categories, including French-language proficiency and occupation-based categories such as healthcare and social services, trades, education, and transport.

This year’s healthcare and social services draw cutoffs adequately illustrates the difference—this category has been cutoffs ranging from 467–475, while CEC cutoffs have ranged from 507–518.

Those who are selected from the pool are invited to apply to the federal government for permanent residence and have a 60-day deadline to do so.

Express Entry applications have historically been processed in around six months. Base PNP applications, in comparison, have taken roughly 12–20 months over the past year or so.

Approved applicants receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR), after which they can complete the landing process and obtain permanent resident status.

See how competitive your Express Entry profile is