September 2025: State of the Express Entry Pool
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has
released the latest update on the composition of the Express Entry pool.
Between August 5 and August 17, 2025, the total number of candidates
decreased by 2,472 profiles.
The largest drop came from the 481–600 CRS score range,
where 2,342 profiles exited the pool.
At the same time, August also saw some of the highest
Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-offs of the year—particularly for French-language
proficiency draws and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws.
Express Entry Draws in August 2025
IRCC held five Express Entry draws in August,
inviting a total of 6,417 candidates. These invitations were spread
across four draw types, including two category-based rounds.
|
Date |
Draw Type |
Invitations Issued |
CRS Cut-Off |
|
August 6, 2025 |
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) |
225 |
739 |
|
August 7, 2025 |
Canadian Experience Class (CEC) |
1,000 |
534 |
|
August 8, 2025 |
French-Language Proficiency |
2,500 |
481 |
|
August 18, 2025 |
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) |
192 |
800 |
|
August 19, 2025 |
Healthcare and Social Services |
2,500 |
470 |
These draws included:
- The 14th
and 15th PNP draws of 2025
- The 8th
CEC draw of the year
- The 4th
French-language proficiency draw
- The 4th
healthcare and social services draw
Overall, August 2025 had 1,141 fewer Invitations to Apply
(ITAs) compared to July, making it the fourth lowest month for ITAs this
year.
ITAs Issued by Month in 2025
|
Month |
ITAs Issued |
|
January |
5,821 |
|
February |
11,601 |
|
March |
13,261 |
|
April |
1,246 |
|
May |
2,511 |
|
June |
7,405 |
|
July |
7,558 |
|
August |
6,417 |
From January to August 2025, IRCC has issued 55,820 ITAs, which
is 23,143 fewer compared to the same period in 2024.
Current Distribution of CRS Scores in the Pool
The table below shows how candidate profiles were
distributed in the Express Entry pool as of August 17, 2025, along with
changes since August 5.
|
CRS Score Range |
Number of Candidates |
Change |
|
0–300 |
8,179 |
-46 |
|
301–350 |
20,424 |
-110 |
|
351–400 |
53,461 |
-129 |
|
401–410 |
13,455 |
+67 |
|
411–420 |
14,488 |
+32 |
|
421–430 |
14,639 |
-13 |
|
431–440 |
16,222 |
+80 |
|
441–450 |
15,116 |
-85 |
|
451–460 |
15,879 |
-41 |
|
461–470 |
17,339 |
-44 |
|
471–480 |
17,035 |
+199 |
|
481–490 |
12,349 |
-541 |
|
491–500 |
12,409 |
-566 |
|
501–600 |
22,930 |
-1,235 |
|
601–1,200 |
188 |
-40 |
|
Total |
254,113 |
-2,472 |
The most significant declines were in the 481–600 CRS range, indicating
that many higher-scoring candidates either received ITAs or left the pool.
How Competitive Is Your Score?
Here’s how candidates rank within the pool as of August 17,
2025:
|
CRS Score Range |
Number of Candidates |
% of Pool |
Percentile Range |
|
0–300 |
8,179 |
3.22% |
0.00% – 3.22% |
|
301–350 |
20,424 |
8.04% |
3.22% – 11.26% |
|
351–400 |
53,461 |
21.04% |
11.26% – 32.29% |
|
401–410 |
13,455 |
5.29% |
32.29% – 37.59% |
|
411–420 |
14,488 |
5.70% |
37.59% – 43.29% |
|
421–430 |
14,639 |
5.76% |
43.29% – 49.05% |
|
431–440 |
16,222 |
6.38% |
49.05% – 55.44% |
|
441–450 |
15,116 |
5.95% |
55.44% – 61.38% |
|
451–460 |
15,879 |
6.25% |
61.38% – 67.63% |
|
461–470 |
17,339 |
6.82% |
67.63% – 74.46% |
|
471–480 |
17,035 |
6.70% |
74.46% – 81.16% |
|
481–490 |
12,349 |
4.86% |
81.16% – 86.02% |
|
491–500 |
12,409 |
4.88% |
86.02% – 90.90% |
|
501–600 |
22,930 |
9.02% |
90.90% – 99.93% |
|
601–1,200 |
188 |
0.07% |
99.93% – 100% |
This percentile ranking helps candidates understand how their scores compare
against others in the pool and evaluate their competitiveness for upcoming
draws.
Key Takeaway
The Express Entry pool continues to shift, with higher CRS
score ranges seeing the biggest declines in candidate numbers. August 2025 was
active with five draws, but overall ITAs were fewer than July.
If you are in the pool, keeping track of your CRS score and
understanding where you stand in comparison to other candidates is crucial to
improving your chances of receiving an invitation.
