Canada releases data on Express Entry candidate scores

In the two-week period between August 30 and September 13, the Express Entry pool increased by a modest 120 profiles, even with 2,085 fewer profiles reported in the 471–500 range, according to the latest data released by Canada’s immigration department.

Concurrently, the number of top-scoring profiles within the pool increased by 1,257 profiles, from 20,101 to 21,358, largely attributable to the 501–600 score bracket.

See how competitive your Express Entry profile is

The table below compares the latest composition of the Express Entry pool, as of September 13, with the preceding distribution from August 30:

The data above is also available in graph form:

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

The table below details the share of candidates in each Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score range and the percentile positions represented by the lower and upper limits of those ranges, providing a more detailed measure of competitiveness within the pool.

Calculations reflect the composition of the pool as of September 13.

The percentile figures represent the share of the pool scoring at or below the upper threshold of each CRS range.

They are shown as ranges because candidates within each score band may occupy any percentile position between the two values listed.

Which draws have not been accounted for in the September 13 distribution?

The September 13 pool snapshot does not factor in the two Express Entry draws conducted the following days, on September 14 and 15, which issued a combined 2,576 ITAs for permanent residence (PR).

With these draws taken into account, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued 128,732 ITAs over the course of 2026.

Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates have received the largest proportion of those invitations, at 41.4%.

What accounted for the changes in Express Entry profiles between August 30 and September 13?

IRCC held four Express Entry draws between August 30 and September 13, through which a total of 6,291 candidates received invitations:

The August 31 draw saw the lowest PNP cutoff score of 2026, while the September 1 draw produced the second-highest CEC cutoff of the year.

During this period, the Express Entry pool increased by just 120 profiles.

Securing permanent residence through the Express Entry system

Express Entry is the federal government’s flagship system for managing economic immigration applications from skilled workers seeking PR outside Quebec.

Admission to the Express Entry pool requires eligibility for at least one of three economic immigration programs:

Candidates who enter the pool are assigned CRS scores based on a range of factors, including their age, education, official-language proficiency, and work experience.

Periodically, IRCC holds draws in which candidates are selected from the pool and invited to apply for PR.

It may also conduct category-based selections, targeting candidates aligned with specific economic or labour-market priorities. These selections generally result in substantially lower CRS cutoffs than other Express Entry draw types.

There are currently 10 Express Entry categories, including French-language proficiency and occupation-based categories such as healthcare and social services, education, transport, and trades.

CRS cutoffs from this year highlight how these selections can differ from other draw types. Healthcare and social services rounds, for example, have fallen within a 467–475 range in 2026, whereas CEC draws have ranged from 507–523.

Candidates selected through Express Entry are given 60 days to file a complete PR application before their invitation expires.

Processing of Express Entry PR applications has historically taken about six months. Base PNP applications have generally taken longer, with recent timelines spanning 12–20 months.

Those whose applications are approved receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR), which must be shown to border officials when travelling to Canada.