ByFelix WeberPublished June 2026

Express Entry draw history — every federal draw of 2024, 2025 and 2026

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada runs Express Entry draws every few weeks, issuing invitations to apply for permanent residence to candidates who meet the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score for that round. This tracker covers every federal draw held in 2024, 2025, and 2026: general all-program rounds, Canadian Experience Class draws, and the six category-based streams introduced in 2023 and refined through 2026.

Applicants search "express entry latest draw" after every round to see if their CRS score cleared the cutoff. This page is the definitive reference for that question, updated after each new draw and covering three full calendar years of invitation history.

What is an Express Entry draw?

An Express Entry draw is the mechanism IRCC uses to select candidates from the pool and invite them to apply for permanent residence. Candidates submit a profile declaring their age, education, work experience, language test scores, and other factors. The system assigns each profile a CRS score out of 1,200 points. When IRCC holds a draw, it sets a minimum cutoff score and issues invitations to apply (ITAs) to everyone at or above that threshold, ranked by score and tie-break timestamp.

There are two main draw types in 2026: general all-program draws that invite the top-scoring candidates regardless of stream (Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades Program), and category-based draws that target specific occupations or attributes. The categories are French-language proficiency, healthcare workers, STEM occupations, trades, transport, and agriculture. Provincial Nominee Program candidates also receive ITAs in separate PNP-specific rounds.

The CRS cutoff fluctuates based on pool size, draw frequency, and the number of invitations issued. A large draw or back-to-back rounds typically lower the cutoff; a long gap between draws lets high-scoring profiles accumulate and pushes the minimum up.

Federal Express Entry draw history: 2024, 2025, and 2026

2024 draw trends

The 2024 calendar year saw a mix of general draws and the continuation of category-based rounds introduced in mid-2023. IRCC issued invitations roughly every two weeks through most of the year, with CRS cutoffs for general draws hovering in the mid-to-high 400s. French-language draws remained the most frequent category round, with cutoffs typically 30–50 points lower than general all-program draws due to the smaller eligible pool.

Canadian Experience Class–specific draws were paused for most of 2024, a policy shift that frustrated domestic candidates who had banked on CEC-only rounds returning. The last dedicated CEC draw before the pause occurred in late 2023; general draws in 2024 included CEC candidates but did not isolate them. This pushed many CEC applicants toward provincial nominee programs or work permit extensions while waiting for their scores to rise.

Category draws in 2024 targeted healthcare (NOC codes for nurses, physicians, allied health), STEM (engineers, IT professionals, scientists), trades (construction, electrical, plumbing), transport (truck drivers, pilots), and agriculture (farm supervisors, food production workers). Cutoffs for these categories ranged from the low 400s to the mid-470s depending on pool depth and demand.

2025 policy shifts and draw volume

2025 brought a recalibration. IRCC reduced the total number of invitations issued across the year compared to 2024, part of a broader effort to align permanent residence admissions with housing capacity and labour-market absorption. General draws became less frequent, sometimes three weeks apart instead of two, and the number of ITAs per round dropped from typical 2024 highs of 4,000–5,000 down to 2,500–3,500 in many rounds.

CRS cutoffs for general draws crept upward as a result, reaching the low-to-mid 500s by late 2025. Candidates scoring in the 470–500 range found themselves waiting months for an invitation unless they qualified for a category draw. French-language draws continued every four to six weeks, issuing 3,000–4,500 ITAs with cutoffs in the 400–430 range, a persistent opportunity for bilingual applicants.

The six category-based streams solidified their rotation schedule in 2025. Healthcare and French-language draws occurred most frequently; STEM, trades, transport, and agriculture rounds were less predictable but appeared at least once per quarter. The full breakdown of 2026 category draws reflects patterns established in 2025.

2026 year-to-date snapshot

As of June 2026, IRCC has held approximately 15 federal draws: a mix of general, category-based, and PNP rounds. General all-program draws have issued between 2,000 and 3,500 ITAs per round, with CRS cutoffs ranging from 514 to 525. Draw #417 on May 29, 2026 was a Canadian Experience Class–specific round, the first dedicated CEC draw in over two years. It issued 3,000 invitations with a cutoff of 507. That round marked a policy reversal and signaled that CEC draws may return on a semi-regular basis, though IRCC has not committed to a fixed schedule.

French-language draw #418, also on May 29, issued 4,500 ITAs with a CRS minimum of 409. French draws remain the most accessible category for candidates with strong French test scores (TEF Canada or TCF Canada CLB 7+ in all four abilities). June 2026 predictions suggest another French round is likely before the end of the month, with CEC cutoffs expected to stabilize in the 514–525 range if general draws continue every two to three weeks.

Healthcare, STEM, and trades draws have each occurred once in the first half of 2026, with cutoffs in the 430–470 range depending on category. Transport and agriculture rounds have not yet appeared in 2026 but are anticipated in Q3 based on 2025 patterns.

How often does Canada hold Express Entry draws?

Draw frequency in 2026 averages one federal round every 10–14 days, though the actual schedule is unpredictable. IRCC does not publish a fixed calendar. Some weeks see back-to-back draws (general on Wednesday, category-based on Thursday); other stretches go three weeks with no activity.

Category draws follow a loose rotation: French-language rounds every four to six weeks, healthcare every six to eight weeks, STEM and trades every two to three months, transport and agriculture less frequently. PNP draws are the most irregular, sometimes bundled with general rounds, sometimes standalone.

Applicants checking "express entry latest draw" after every round are responding to this uncertainty. There is no reliable way to predict the exact date of the next draw or which category IRCC will target. The best proxy is historical rhythm: if the last general draw was 12 days ago and the pool has grown, a new round is likely within the next few days.

What CRS score do you need for an invitation?

The answer depends on which draw you qualify for. General all-program draws in 2026 require scores in the 514–525 range. Candidates at CRS 500 are not currently receiving invitations in general rounds unless they also hold a provincial nomination (which adds 600 points) or qualify for a category draw.

Canadian Experience Class draws, when they occur, have cutoffs 7–18 points lower than general rounds. Draw #417's CRS 507 minimum reflects the CEC pool's slightly lower score distribution compared to the all-program pool. Profiles of who gets invited in CEC draws show candidates with one to two years of Canadian work experience, IELTS scores around 7.5–8.5, and post-secondary credentials evaluated through an Educational Credential Assessment.

French-language draws accept scores as low as 409–430, the most accessible cutoff for any category in 2026. Healthcare, STEM, trades, transport, and agriculture draws range from 430 to 470 depending on pool depth. A candidate with CRS 450 and qualifying healthcare work experience has a realistic path to an ITA; the same candidate without category eligibility would need to raise their score by 65–75 points to clear a general draw.

Use the CRS calculator to estimate where you stand. Small changes can add 10–30 points and shift you from waitlist to invited. Retaking the language test to move from CLB 8 to CLB 9, completing a second degree, or gaining one more year of work experience all make a measurable difference.

Category-based draws vs. general draws: what's the difference?

General draws pull from the entire Express Entry pool: Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, and Federal Skilled Trades candidates ranked by CRS score with no occupational filter. If you score 520 and the cutoff is 518, you receive an ITA regardless of what you do for work.

Category-based draws apply an additional filter on top of the CRS ranking. To qualify for a French-language draw, you must have valid French test results showing CLB 7 or higher in all four abilities (speaking, listening, reading, writing) and have designated French as your first official language in your profile. To qualify for a healthcare draw, your primary NOC code must fall within the healthcare category list published by IRCC (registered nurses, physicians, medical technologists, etc.) and you must meet the standard Express Entry eligibility criteria: one year of skilled work experience, language minimums, education.

The CRS cutoff in a category draw applies only to candidates who meet the category filter. A French-language draw with a cutoff of 409 means every candidate at CRS 409 or higher who also has qualifying French scores receives an ITA. A candidate at CRS 450 with no French results does not get invited in that round, even though their score is well above the cutoff.

Category draws do not replace general draws; they run in parallel. A candidate can receive an ITA in either type of round, whichever comes first. The 2026 category breakdown lists the six active categories, eligibility requirements, and historical draw frequency for each.

Where to find official draw results

IRCC publishes draw results at canada.ca/express-entry within hours of each round, typically by end-of-day on the draw date. The announcement includes draw number, date and time, program stream (general / CEC / category), number of invitations issued, and minimum CRS score. Tie-break date and time are listed for candidates exactly at the cutoff.

Third-party trackers aggregate this data into sortable tables and charts. CIC News, Moving2Canada, and CanadaVisa maintain draw histories with filters by year, stream, and score range. This site's Express Entry pillar links to recent draw coverage and analysis.

If you hold a profile in the pool and your score is at or above the published cutoff for a draw you qualified for, you should receive an ITA notification in your IRCC online account within 24 hours. The invitation gives you 60 days to submit a complete permanent residence application with all supporting documents, police certificates, medical exam results, and proof of funds (if required under your stream).

Official current rules and draw results are published at canada.ca/immigration-refugees-citizenship; this guide is independent reference content.

A small portion of this article — research support, fact-cross-checking, and copy-editing — was assisted by AI tooling. Editorial decisions, source verification, and final sign-off remain with our team. We cite primary sources from canada.ca for every factual claim.

IRCC.com is an independent news site and not affiliated with the Government of Canada.

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