Express Entry pool continues to become more competitive, even as pool growth slows by 60%
Canada’s Express Entry pool added just 897 profiles between April 12 and April 26—less than half the growth seen in the previous reporting period (+2,193)—but competition at the top end continues to intensify.
The 501–600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score range grew by another 250 profiles, marking the second consecutive reporting period of growth in this bracket after months of steady decline.
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For candidates with scores above 500, this trend was reflected in the most recent Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw on April 28, which issued just 2,000 invitations—the third consecutive CEC draw at reduced volumes—with a CRS cut-off of 514. The tie-breaking date of September 24, 2025, reached back more than seven months in the past, pointing to a deep backlog at this scoring level.
What changes occurred in the Express Entry pool over the last two weeks?
Between April 12 and April 26, the Express Entry pool grew from 233,555 to 234,452 profiles—a net increase of just 897.
The most notable development is a split forming in the mid-range CRS score bands.
Every 10-point bracket between 421 and 460 declined, shedding a combined 1,317 profiles. These declines are likely attributable to the French-language proficiency draw on April 15 (CRS cut-off 419), which would have drawn candidates from the 421+ ranges, and the residual effect of the Trades Occupations draw on April 2 (CRS cut-off of 477), which targeted candidates in the upper-mid 400 scoring bands.
At the top end of the pool, growth continued for the second straight period. The 601–1,200 range gained 147 new profiles—driven by new provincial nominees entering the pool with 600-point CRS boosts.
Note: The pool composition data published on April 26 does not account for the three Express Entry draws that took place between April 27 and 29, through which a total of 6,473 ITAs were issued. This is discussed in further detail below.
In total, eleven score ranges gained a small number of profiles, while four experienced declines:
| CRS score range | April 26 | April 12 | Difference (April 12 – April 26) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–300 | 8,339 | 8,253 | +86 |
| 301–350 | 18,733 | 18,543 | +190 |
| 351–400 | 52,874 | 52,309 | +565 |
| 401–410 | 12,185 | 11,845 | +340 |
| 411–420 | 12,956 | 12,753 | +203 |
| 421–430 | 12,613 | 12,973 | -360 |
| 431–440 | 14,456 | 14,775 | -319 |
| 441–450 | 14,305 | 14,606 | -301 |
| 451–460 | 15,175 | 15,512 | -337 |
| 461–470 | 15,973 | 15,968 | +5 |
| 471–480 | 16,487 | 16,246 | +241 |
| 481–490 | 12,815 | 12,663 | +152 |
| 491–500 | 13,209 | 13,174 | +35 |
| 501–600 | 13,860 | 13,610 | +250 |
| 601–1200 | 472 | 325 | +147 |
| Total | 234,452 | 233,555 | +897 |
These distributions are compared in the chart below for easier visualization:
Canada’s Express Entry pool has seen minimal changes over the past two weeks—yet competition continues to grow at the top end.
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Which draws have not been accounted for in the April 26 distribution?
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC’s) latest Express Entry data does not consider the three draws that occurred between April 27 and 29:
| Date | Round type | Invitations issued | CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 29 | French-Language proficiency | 4,000 | 400 |
| April 28 | Canadian Experience Class | 2,000 | 514 |
| April 27 | Provincial Nominee Program | 473 | 795 |
Based on these invitation results, these draws could correspond to significant changes in the candidate pool composition, to a minimum of:
- 4,000 fewer profiles between the 401–410 score range and above (French-Language proficiency draw at CRS 400);
- 2,000 fewer profiles between the 501–600 score range and above (CEC draw at CRS 514); and
- 473 fewer profiles between the 601–1200 score range (PNP draw at CRS 795).
The trend of shrinking CEC draw sizes has pushed cut-offs higher. After dropping as low as 507 in mid-March, CEC cut-offs have now settled above 510 in every draw since and have been above 514 since April 14.
What accounted for the changes in Express Entry profiles seen on April 26?
The latest available data on the Express Entry pool has been shaped by three draws, which took place between April 13 and 15—cumulatively issuing 6,324 ITAs:
| Date | Round type | Invitations issued | CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 15 | French-Language proficiency | 4,000 | 419 |
| April 14 | Canadian Experience Class | 2,000 | 515 |
| April 13 | Provincial Nominee Program | 324 | 786 |
Despite over 6,300 ITAs being issued, the pool still grew by 897 profiles. This indicates that approximately 7,197 new profiles entered the pool during these two weeks.
How competitive is the Express Entry pool now?
The following table breaks down the competitiveness of the Express Entry pool, comparing the percentage makeup and the percentile scoring of candidates at the edges of each score range.
April 26 data is used to compute these scores:
| CRS score range | Number of candidates | Cumulative | Percentile range | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–300 | 8,339 | 8,339 | 0.00%–3.56% | 3.56% |
| 301–350 | 18,733 | 27,072 | 3.56%–11.55% | 7.99% |
| 351–400 | 52,874 | 79,946 | 11.55%–34.10% | 22.55% |
| 401–410 | 12,185 | 92,131 | 34.10%–39.30% | 5.20% |
| 411–420 | 12,956 | 105,087 | 39.30%–44.82% | 5.53% |
| 421–430 | 12,613 | 117,700 | 44.82%–50.20% | 5.38% |
| 431–440 | 14,456 | 132,156 | 50.20%–56.37% | 6.17% |
| 441–450 | 14,305 | 146,461 | 56.37%–62.47% | 6.10% |
| 451–460 | 15,175 | 161,636 | 62.47%–68.94% | 6.47% |
| 461–470 | 15,973 | 177,609 | 68.94%–75.75% | 6.81% |
| 471–480 | 16,487 | 194,096 | 75.75%–82.79% | 7.03% |
| 481–490 | 12,815 | 206,911 | 82.79%–88.25% | 5.47% |
| 491–500 | 13,209 | 220,120 | 88.25%–93.89% | 5.63% |
| 501–600 | 13,860 | 233,980 | 93.89%–99.80% | 5.91% |
| 601–1200 | 472 | 234,452 | 99.80%–100.00% | 0.20% |
The percentile figures in the table represent the share of Express Entry candidates whose CRS scores are at or below the upper bound of each score range.
To make the results easier to interpret, the percentiles are displayed as ranges, meaning candidates within a given CRS bracket fall between the two percentile values shown.
