April saw the issuance of 1,246 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) across a total of two draws, with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held only two draws in April, issuing 1,246 Invitations to Apply (ITAs). Both draws were aimed only at Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates.
This is a clear shift compared to previous months, where IRCC also held draws for candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and French-language proficiency categories. So far in 2025, IRCC has sent out 4,079 ITAs specifically to PNP candidates through Express Entry.
Interestingly, May has already kicked off with a new kind of draw — for educational professionals, a first in the Express Entry system.
What Happened in April’s Express Entry Draws?
Here’s a quick look at the two draws IRCC conducted in April:
| Draw Number | Date | Type | ITAs Issued | CRS Cut-off Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 342 | April 14 | Provincial Nominee Program | 825 | 764 |
| 343 | April 28 | Provincial Nominee Program | 421 | 727 |
Compared to earlier in the year, these numbers were much lower:
| Month | ITAs Issued |
|---|---|
| January | 5,821 |
| February | 11,601 |
| March | 13,261 |
| April | 1,246 |
In fact, April saw less than one-tenth the number of ITAs issued in March. You’d have to go back to May 2022 to find similar low numbers — back then, there were also only two PNP draws, with a combined 1,135 ITAs issued.
Even though IRCC announced in February that they would prioritize CEC candidates throughout 2025, there hasn’t been a CEC-specific draw since early February.
What’s the CRS Score Breakdown in the Express Entry Pool?
As of April 27, 2025, here’s how many candidates are in each Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score range:
| CRS Score Range | Number of Candidates |
|---|---|
| 0–300 | 8,566 |
| 301–350 | 22,553 |
| 351–400 | 53,640 |
| 401–410 | 12,469 |
| 411–420 | 13,274 |
| 421–430 | 13,385 |
| 431–440 | 14,909 |
| 441–450 | 14,230 |
| 451–460 | 14,964 |
| 461–470 | 16,313 |
| 471–480 | 16,411 |
| 481–490 | 12,544 |
| 491–500 | 12,291 |
| 501–600 | 20,708 |
| 601–1200 | 416 |
| Total | 246,673 |
This total is 2,391 more candidates compared to the number in mid-April.
What’s interesting here is that the number of candidates in score bands up to 471–480 has gone up since March. But the number of candidates above 481 has gone down. Why? Likely because IRCC removed CRS points for arranged employment in late March 2025. Before, candidates with arranged jobs could get an extra 50 or 200 points, boosting them into the higher ranges. Without those points, fewer people are scoring above 481 now.
Where Do You Rank in the Express Entry Pool?
If you’re wondering how you stack up against other candidates, here’s the breakdown:
| CRS Score Range | Number of Candidates | Percentile Range | Percentage of Total Pool |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–300 | 8,566 | 0 – 3.47% | 3.47% |
| 301–350 | 22,553 | 3.47% – 12.62% | 9.14% |
| 351–400 | 53,640 | 12.62% – 34.36% | 21.75% |
| 401–410 | 12,469 | 34.36% – 39.42% | 5.05% |
| 411–420 | 13,274 | 39.42% – 44.80% | 5.38% |
| 421–430 | 13,385 | 44.80% – 50.22% | 5.43% |
| 431–440 | 14,909 | 50.22% – 56.27% | 6.04% |
| 441–450 | 14,230 | 56.27% – 62.04% | 5.77% |
| 451–460 | 14,964 | 62.04% – 68.10% | 6.07% |
| 461–470 | 16,313 | 68.10% – 74.72% | 6.61% |
| 471–480 | 16,411 | 74.72% – 81.37% | 6.65% |
| 481–490 | 12,544 | 81.37% – 86.45% | 5.09% |
| 491–500 | 12,291 | 86.45% – 91.44% | 4.98% |
| 501–600 | 20,708 | 91.44% – 99.83% | 8.39% |
| 601–1200 | 416 | 99.83% – 100% | 0.17% |
These percentiles show how your CRS score compares to others in the pool. For example, if you’re in the 471–480 range, you’re ahead of roughly 75% of all candidates.
