Express Entry competition eases as 4000 top profiles exit the pool, i.e., competition in Canada’s Express Entry system has started to ease, as large draws and regular selections continue to remove candidates from the pool.
Over the past month, the number of high-scoring profiles with CRS scores between 501 and 1200 dropped by 4,928 profiles. This is an 18.2% fall from the peak of 27,110 profiles recorded just one month earlier.
During this period, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) removed 8,404 candidate profiles from the Express Entry pool. More than half of these removals, i.e., 4,622 profiles came from the 501–600 CRS score range.
This clear drop in the highest score ranges shows that competition in the Express Entry pool is now lower than before.
As a result of these removals, the total number of candidates in the Express Entry pool has fallen to 237,302. This is the lowest pool size since March 2025.
What Does The Express Entry Pool Look Like Now?
The table below shows the latest breakdown of CRS scores in the Express Entry pool. It also compares current numbers with data from November 9, 2025, which is the most recent earlier snapshot before December 14.
| CRS Score Range | Number Of Candidates As Of December 14 | Change In Number Of Profiles As Of November 9 |
| 0–300 | 8,069 | 51 |
| 301–350 | 18,829 | -275 |
| 351–400 | 52,574 | 214 |
| 401–410 | 13,595 | -454 |
| 411–420 | 12,367 | -1,347 |
| 421–430 | 12,750 | -126 |
| 431–440 | 14,244 | -76 |
| 441–450 | 13,992 | 12 |
| 451-460 | 14,842 | 90 |
| 461–470 | 14,535 | -1,295 |
| 471–480 | 14,859 | -183 |
| 481–490 | 12,149 | -166 |
| 491–500 | 12,315 | 79 |
| 501-600 | 21,792 | -4,622 |
| 601–1,200 | 390 | -306 |
| Total | 237,302 | -8,404 |
The data shows that most of the biggest declines happened in the higher CRS ranges. The 501–600, 461–470, and 411–420 score ranges saw the largest drops.
Together, these three score ranges made up 86% of all profiles removed from the pool in the last month.
These reductions likely happened because IRCC focused on several draw types that often target higher-scoring candidates. Large and frequent draws helped clear many strong profiles from the pool.
Where Does Your CRS Score Stand Now?
The table below shows how candidates are spread across each CRS score range. It also shows what percentage of the total pool each group makes up and the percentile ranking for each range.
Percentile rankings show how a score compares to others in the pool. For example, if your score falls in a percentile range of 95%–99%, it means you are in the top 1%–5% of all candidates.
These ranges are based on the lower and upper limits of each CRS score band.
| CRS Score Range | Number Of Candidates | Percentage | Percentile Range |
| 0–300 | 8,069 | 3.40% | 0.00% – 3.40% |
| 301–350 | 18,829 | 7.93% | 3.40% – 11.33% |
| 351–400 | 52,574 | 22.15% | 11.33% – 33.49% |
| 401–410 | 13,595 | 5.73% | 33.49% – 39.22% |
| 411–420 | 12,367 | 5.21% | 39.22% – 44.43% |
| 421–430 | 12,750 | 5.37% | 44.43% – 49.80% |
| 431–440 | 14,244 | 6.00% | 49.80% – 55.81% |
| 441–450 | 13,992 | 5.90% | 55.81% – 61.70% |
| 451–460 | 14,842 | 6.25% | 61.70% – 67.96% |
| 461–470 | 14,535 | 6.13% | 67.96% – 74.08% |
| 471–480 | 14,859 | 6.26% | 74.08% – 80.34% |
| 481–490 | 12,149 | 5.12% | 80.34% – 85.46% |
| 491–500 | 12,315 | 5.19% | 85.46% – 90.65% |
| 501–600 | 21,792 | 9.18% | 90.65% – 99.84% |
| 601–1200 | 390 | 0.16% | 99.84% – 100.00% |
This table helps candidates see clearly where they stand. Those with scores above 500 remain in the strongest position, but the number of people in this group is now falling.
Which Express Entry Draws Happened Between November 9 And December 17?
Between November 9 and December 17, 2025, IRCC held 12 Express Entry draws. During this busy period, the department issued 32,513 Invitations to Apply (ITAs).
This was one of the most active periods for Express Entry in 2025.
During these draws, IRCC held:
- Four Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws, issuing 13,000 ITAs, with CRS cut-off scores between 515 and 533.
- Four Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws, issuing 3,013 ITAs, all with very high CRS cut-offs between 699 and 738, due to the extra 600 CRS points given to PNP candidates.
- Two healthcare and social services occupation draws, issuing 4,500 ITAs, with CRS cut-offs of 462 and 476.
- Two French-language proficiency draws, issuing 12,000 ITAs, with lower cut-off scores of 408 and 399. The 399 cut-off was the lowest seen during this period.
Overall, CEC and French-language draws dominated this time frame. PNP draws continued to invite smaller groups with very high scores, while healthcare draws also played a stronger role.
| Date | Round Type | Invitations Issued | CRS Cut-Off Score |
| December 17, 2025 | French language proficiency | 6,000 | 399 |
| December 16, 2025 | Canadian Experience Class | 5,000 | 515 |
| December 15, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 399 | 731 |
| December 11, 2025 | Healthcare and social services occupations | 1,000 | 476 |
| December 10, 2025 | Canadian Experience Class | 6,000 | 520 |
| December 8, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 1,123 | 729 |
| November 28, 2025 | French language proficiency | 6,000 | 408 |
| November 26, 2025 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 531 |
| November 25, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 777 | 699 |
| November 14, 2025 | Healthcare and social services occupations | 3,500 | 462 |
| November 12, 2025 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 533 |
| November 10, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 714 | 738 |
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