Canada’s Express Entry system remains active as we enter February 2025. After a steady January that saw a return to a more normal pace of draws, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has already held two draws this month. In January, IRCC issued a total of 5,821 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and enhanced Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). Notably, January was the first month since June 2024 when there was no separate draw for candidates with French-language proficiency.
With three draws in both December and January, the fact that February has already seen two draws shows a positive momentum in issuing ITAs. In this post, we break down the Express Entry draws from January 2025, review the current composition of the candidate pool as of early February, and explain how candidates rank against each other.
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Express Entry Draws in January 2025
In January, IRCC conducted three draws focused on CEC and PNP candidates. The number of ITAs issued in January was more than double what was issued in December. Here is a summary of the draws:
| Draw Number | Date | Draw Type | ITAs Issued | CRS Cut-off Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 331 | January 7, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 471 | 793 |
| 332 | January 8, 2025 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,350 | 542 |
| 333 | January 23, 2025 | Canadian Experience Class | 4,000 | 527 |
The high number of ITAs in January aligns with the In-Canada focus allocation set for CEC and PNP candidates under the 2025-27 Immigration Levels Plan. This plan emphasizes meeting permanent residence landing targets and balancing the country’s population growth.
Composition of the Express Entry Pool as of February 5, 2025
The following table shows the distribution of candidates in the Express Entry pool by CRS score range as of February 5, 2025:
| CRS Score Range | Number of Candidates |
|---|---|
| 601-1200 | 173 |
| 501-600 | 23,165 |
| 491-500 | 13,487 |
| 481-490 | 13,003 |
| 471-480 | 15,652 |
| 461-470 | 13,815 |
| 451-460 | 12,953 |
| 441-450 | 12,567 |
| 431-440 | 13,621 |
| 421-430 | 12,432 |
| 411-420 | 12,833 |
| 401-410 | 12,055 |
| 351-400 | 51,079 |
| 301-350 | 21,576 |
| 0-300 | 5,641 |
| Total | 234,052 |
A slight reduction is noted in the 501-600 CRS score range, even though 6,289 new candidate profiles have joined the pool since January.
Ranking of Candidates in the Express Entry Pool
Understanding how your CRS score ranks among other candidates can help you plan your next steps. The table below shows the percentile ranking and percentage makeup of candidates for each CRS score range as of February 5, 2025:
| CRS Score Range | Number of Candidates | Percentile Range | Percentage of Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-300 | 5,641 | 0-2.41% | 2.41% |
| 301-350 | 21,576 | 2.41%-11.63% | 9.22% |
| 351-400 | 51,079 | 11.63%-33.45% | 21.82% |
| 401-410 | 12,055 | 33.45%-38.60% | 5.15% |
| 411-420 | 12,833 | 38.60%-44.09% | 5.48% |
| 421-430 | 12,432 | 44.09%-49.40% | 5.31% |
| 431-440 | 13,621 | 49.40%-55.22% | 5.82% |
| 441-450 | 12,567 | 55.22%-60.59% | 5.37% |
| 451-460 | 12,953 | 60.59%-66.12% | 5.53% |
| 461-470 | 13,815 | 66.12%-72.02% | 5.90% |
| 471-480 | 15,652 | 72.02%-78.71% | 6.69% |
| 481-490 | 13,003 | 78.71%-84.27% | 5.56% |
| 491-500 | 13,487 | 84.27%-90.03% | 5.76% |
| 501-600 | 23,165 | 90.03%-99.93% | 9.90% |
| 601-1200 | 173 | 99.93%-100.00% | 0.07% |
| Total | 234,052 | 100% |
This breakdown helps you see where you stand in the pool. A higher CRS score relative to others increases your chance of receiving an ITA during the next draw.
