Canada on Track to Beat Major Express Entry Record in 2025
When Canada Set Its Biggest Express Entry Records
While 2025 is notable for draw frequency, the largest invitation totals and lowest CRS scores in Express Entry history were set in earlier years.
Record for Total Invitations in a Year – 2021
The highest number of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) ever issued in a single year was in 2021, when Canada invited more than 114,000 candidates. This was a one-off response to the pandemic, aimed at transitioning temporary workers already in Canada to permanent residence.
With lower immigration levels targets, IRCC is not expected to approach that figure in 2025.
Record for Lowest CRS Score – 75 Points (CEC-Only in 2021)
The lowest CRS score in Express Entry history occurred on February 13, 2021, when IRCC issued 27,332 invitations in a Canadian Experience Class-only round. The minimum CRS score was just 75.
Nothing in recent years has come close to that exceptional draw, which remains unique.
Record for the Largest Single Draw – 27,332 ITAs in 2021
The same February 2021 CEC draw is also the largest single round ever conducted. In comparison, the biggest 2025 rounds include:
These are substantial, but far below the 2021 mega-draw.
