Express Entry Competition Eases as Thousands of High-Scoring Profiles Exit the Pool
The Express Entry system has recently seen a noticeable drop in competition, bringing some relief to candidates waiting for an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence.
Over the past month, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has conducted large and frequent Express Entry draws. As a result, more than 4,900 high-scoring profiles have left the pool, especially from the top Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) ranges.
Fewer High-Scoring Candidates in the Pool
In the last month alone, the number of candidates with CRS scores between 501 and 1200 dropped by 4,928 profiles. This represents an 18.2% decline from a peak of 27,110 profiles recorded just one month earlier.
Overall, IRCC removed 8,404 profiles from the Express Entry pool during this period. More than half of these removals—4,622 profiles—came from the 501–600 CRS score range. This shift clearly shows that the highest score bands are becoming less crowded.
As a result of these removals, the total number of candidates in the Express Entry pool now stands at 237,302. This is the lowest total seen since March 2025, indicating a meaningful reduction in overall competition.
Current Composition of the Express Entry Pool
The latest data as of December 14, 2025, shows how candidates are now distributed across CRS score ranges:
The largest group of candidates remains in the 351–400 range, with over 52,000 profiles.
Significant reductions were seen in higher score ranges, particularly:
501–600
461–470
411–420
Together, these three score bands accounted for about 86% of all profiles removed from the pool over the last month. This suggests that recent draws were strongly focused on candidates in these ranges.
What This Means for Your CRS Ranking
With fewer candidates at the top end of the pool, many profiles now rank higher than before, even if their CRS score has not changed.
For example:
Candidates in the 501–600 range are now within roughly the top 1–10% of the entire pool.
Those in the 451–470 range sit around the top 25–35%.
Even candidates in the low-to-mid 400s have improved percentile rankings compared to earlier months.
Understanding where your CRS score falls in terms of percentile can help you better judge your chances in upcoming draws.
Express Entry Draw Activity: November 9 to December 17, 2025
Between November 9 and December 17, 2025, IRCC held 12 Express Entry draws and issued a total of 32,513 Invitations to Apply (ITAs). This period was one of the busiest of the year.
Key highlights include:
Canadian Experience Class (CEC):
Four draws issued 13,000 ITAs, with CRS cut-offs ranging from 515 to 533.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP):
Four draws issued 3,013 ITAs, with very high cut-offs between 699 and 738 due to the additional 600 CRS points awarded to nominees.
Healthcare and Social Services Occupations:
Two draws issued a total of 4,500 ITAs, with cut-offs of 462 and 476.
French Language Proficiency:
Two draws invited 12,000 candidates, with relatively low cut-offs of 408 and 399. The December 17 draw at 399 was the lowest CRS cut-off seen during this period.
Overall, the draw pattern was heavily focused on CEC and French-language candidates, while PNP and healthcare draws continued to target specific, high-demand groups.
What Candidates Should Take Away
The recent reduction in high-scoring profiles shows that Express Entry competition is easing, at least for now. Large draws and targeted invitations have cleared out many top-ranked candidates, improving the position of those still in the pool.
For candidates, this is a good time to:
Keep profiles updated and accurate
Monitor draw trends closely
Consider category-based eligibility, such as French language proficiency or occupation-specific draws
With fewer candidates at the top, upcoming draws may continue to bring improved chances for well-prepared applicants.
