Canada Publishes Revised Distribution of Candidate Scores within the Express Entry Pool
The Express Entry pool decreased by over 2,200 candidates between August 3 and August 16, driven largely by declines in the 351-400 and 501-600 score bands.
The Express Entry pool in Canada has undergone a significant change, with a decrease of over 2,200 candidates between August 3 and August 16. This change is largely attributed to declines in the 351-400 and 501-600 score bands.
A recent update from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) provides insight into the revised distribution of candidate scores within the Express Entry pool. The data shows that the number of top-scoring profiles increased from 19,096 to 20,205 during this period.
Competitive Express Entry Pool
The revised distribution of candidate scores within the Express Entry pool offers a clearer picture of competitiveness within the pool. The following table compares the composition of the Express Entry pool on August 16 with the previous update from August 3.
| CRS Score Range | Share of Candidates | Lower Percentile | Upper Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 351-400 | 4.3% | 0.1% | 4.3% |
| 401-450 | 7.2% | 4.3% | 12.5% |
| 451-500 | 14.1% | 12.5% | 25.6% |
| 501-600 | 23.1% | 25.6% | 41.4% |
| 601-700 | 26.5% | 41.4% | 59.3% |
| 701-800 | 15.2% | 59.3% | 74.5% |
| 801-900 | 6.3% | 74.5% | 84.8% |
| 901-1000 | 2.3% | 84.8% | 92.1% |
| 1001-1100 | 0.6% | 92.1% | 95.5% |
| 1101-1200 | 0.2% | 95.5% | 97.1% |
| 1201-1300 | 0.1% | 97.1% | 98.1% |
| 1301-1400 | 0.1% | 98.1% | 98.5% |
| 1401-1500 | 0.1% | 98.5% | 98.8% |
| 1501-1600 | 0.1% | 98.8% | 99.1% |
| 1601-1700 | 0.1% | 99.1% | 99.3% |
| 1701-1800 | 0.1% | 99.3% | 99.5% |
| 1801-1900 | 0.1% | 99.5% | 99.6% |
| 1901-2000 | 0.1% | 99.6% | 99.7% |
The table shows the share of candidates in each Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score range, along with the percentile ranges at the lower and upper ends of each range.
Changes in Express Entry Profiles
Between August 3 and August 16, Canada's immigration department conducted a total of four Express Entry rounds, leading to the combined issuance of 8,807 ITAs for permanent residence. During this time, IRCC issued its first set of invitations under its revamped Transport category after the refreshed category was reintroduced in February 2026 with a different list of eligible occupations.
Permanent
Residence through Express Entry
Express Entry is the federal government's flagship application management system for skilled workers seeking permanent residence in Canada outside Quebec. To enter the Express Entry candidate pool, a foreign national must qualify for at least one of three economic immigration programs: the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Worker Program, or the Federal Skilled Trades Program. Candidate profiles are ranked according to their CRS score, which is made up of points awarded for factors such as age, education, official-language ability, and work experience.
IRCC then conducts invitation rounds and selects candidates from the pool to apply for permanent residence. The department also uses category-based selection (CBS) to target candidates whose qualifications align with particular economic or labour-market needs.
Source: CIC News