Express Entry pool
Statutory definition
Section 10.1 of the IRPA authorises the Minister to establish an electronic system for managing Express Entry profiles. Candidates in the pool are ranked by CRS score. When IRCC conducts a draw, candidates above the minimum CRS cutoff (or meeting category criteria) are issued ITAs. Profiles expire after 12 months but can be renewed. Candidates whose profiles expire without receiving an ITA may create a new profile.
Explanation
The Express Entry pool contains tens of thousands of active profiles at any given time. IRCC typically conducts draws every 2 weeks, inviting between 500 and 5,000 candidates per draw. The minimum CRS cutoff varies based on program targets, economic conditions, and whether the draw is all-program or category-based. Candidates should maintain accurate and up-to-date profiles — outdated information can result in misrepresentation findings if the application does not reflect the profile. Changes to CRS-relevant factors (language scores, job offers, provincial nominations) should be updated immediately.