Canada's Express Entry system manages a pool of candidates for three federal economic immigration programs — the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). IRCC periodically conducts rounds of invitations from the pool, issuing Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence to the highest-ranking candidates. Since May 2023, IRCC has also conducted category-based selection draws — rounds that target candidates with specific work experience or credentials, regardless of whether they have the highest CRS scores in the overall pool. This page explains how rounds of invitations work, what the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) measures, and the category-based selection framework that has significantly changed how Express Entry draws operate in 2024 and 2025–2026.

For confirmed draw history, upcoming round information, and current CRS cut-off scores, refer to the IRCC rounds of invitations page.

• Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), s 10.1–10.3 — the Express Entry system, ministerial instructions, and invitations to apply
• Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, s 10.3(1)(h) — the Minister's authority to issue category-based ministerial instructions for Express Entry
• IRCC: Express Entry rounds of invitations — canada.ca/express-entry-rounds
• IRCC: Category-based selection for Express Entry — canada.ca/express-entry-category
• IRCC: Comprehensive Ranking System — canada.ca/crs-grid

How Express Entry rounds work

When a candidate submits an Express Entry profile and meets the eligibility criteria for at least one of the three federal programs, they enter the Express Entry pool and receive a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. IRCC periodically runs rounds of invitations — either a general round (all eligible candidates ranked by CRS) or a targeted draw (category-based, or program-specific). Candidates above the cut-off score receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. Upon receiving an ITA, the candidate has 60 days to submit a complete permanent residence application to IRCC.

The cut-off CRS score for each round is set by IRCC based on the number of invitations being issued and the scores of candidates in the pool — it is not a fixed threshold and changes with every draw. Historical draw results are published on the IRCC rounds of invitations page.

The CRS score — what it measures

The Comprehensive Ranking System scores candidates out of a maximum of 1,200 points across four components:

1. Core human capital factors (up to 500 points for candidates without a spouse/partner): age, level of education, official language proficiency in English and French, and Canadian work experience
2. Spouse or common-law partner factors: the spouse's education, language proficiency, and Canadian work experience (applicable where the principal applicant has a spouse accompanying them)
3. Skill transferability: education combined with language, education combined with Canadian work experience, foreign work experience combined with language or Canadian work experience, certificate of qualification in a trade
4. Additional points: up to 600 points for a provincial or territorial nomination (PN, which adds 600 points and practically guarantees an ITA in the next general draw); 50 points for arranged employment; 15 points for a sibling who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident; points for strong French language skills; points for a post-secondary degree from a Canadian institution

For the full CRS points grid, refer to the IRCC CRS grid page.

Category-based selection draws — how they work

Under IRPA s.10.3(1)(h), the Minister may issue ministerial instructions specifying that a round of invitations will be conducted only for candidates who meet defined category criteria — such as having work experience in a specific occupation or sector. In a category-based draw:

• Only candidates whose work experience matches the specified category are eligible to receive an ITA in that round
• Candidates are still ranked by their CRS score within the category pool — the highest-scoring eligible candidates receive invitations
• The CRS cut-off in a category draw is typically lower than in a general draw, because the pool is smaller
• A candidate does not need to do anything extra to be included in a category draw — IRCC identifies eligible candidates from the declared occupation/NOC codes in the Express Entry profile

2026 categories eligible for category-based selection

IRCC conducts category-based draws for candidates with work experience in the following sectors. For the current list of eligible NOC codes within each category, refer to the IRCC category-based selection page:

• Healthcare occupations — physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, and allied health occupations; the category includes occupations with Canadian work experience in areas with designated healthcare labour shortages
• Trade occupations — electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders, and other skilled trades eligible under FSTP and FSWP; often linked to the Federal Skilled Trades Program criteria
• Transport occupations — truck drivers, transport drivers, bus drivers, and related NOC codes; added in response to supply chain and transport sector labour needs
• Agriculture and agri-food — farm supervisors, agricultural workers, food processing workers, and related occupations
• STEM occupations — science, technology, engineering, and mathematics professionals; includes software developers, engineers, data scientists, and related roles
• Education occupations — early childhood educators, teachers, and education assistants; added in 2024 draws and continuing in 2025–2026
• French language proficiency — candidates with strong French language proficiency (not work-experience based, but language-based) — a separate category draw targeting francophone candidates to support French-speaking communities outside Quebec

IRCC has also signalled expanded category-based draws for 2026 targeting researchers, senior managers, and occupations aligned with broader economic priorities. For confirmed 2026 category additions and NOC lists, refer to the IRCC category-based selection page.

General draws vs category-based draws — interaction

General draws and category-based draws run independently. A candidate can receive an ITA in either type of draw — they do not need to choose between them or opt in separately. The most common scenario is:

• A candidate with a high CRS score receives an ITA in a general draw
• A candidate in a targeted sector with a moderate CRS score receives an ITA in a category draw at a lower cut-off score

Candidates whose CRS score is below typical general draw cut-offs but who have relevant work experience should ensure their Express Entry profile accurately reflects their occupational history (using the correct NOC codes) to be eligible for category-based invitations. Late June 2026 illustrates how varied these cut-offs can be across draw types: a Provincial Nominee Program-linked round on 22 June issued 955 invitations at a CRS cut-off of 730, a Canadian Experience Class round on 23 June issued 4,000 invitations at 516, the physician category round on 24 June issued 271 invitations at 223, and the healthcare and social services occupations round on 25 June issued 4,000 invitations at 475.

Draw frequency

IRCC typically runs draws approximately every two weeks. Some periods see more frequent draws (if IRCC is managing a backlog or a high intake year), others less frequent. Draw history and confirmed upcoming draw dates are published on the IRCC rounds of invitations page — IRCC does not announce rounds in advance.

Category-based selection has significantly changed the strategic calculus for Express Entry candidates. Prior to May 2023, a low CRS score almost certainly meant a very long wait in the pool. From 2023 onward, candidates in targeted sectors can receive ITAs at CRS scores well below what general draws require — the cut-off for some healthcare and French-language draws has been in the low-to-mid 400s. The practical implication is that Express Entry candidates with in-demand work experience should ensure their NOC codes are correctly entered and should monitor IRCC draw announcements to understand which categories are being drawn. For confirmed draw history, the current list of NOC codes within each category, and the latest IRCC ministerial instructions, refer to the IRCC rounds of invitations page and the IRCC category-based selection page.