Canada Express Entry August 2025: Rising CRS Score Trends
Express Entry Update August 2025: More Competition for High CRS Scores
- CRS scores between 501–600 have seen a significant surge in competition
- Overall Express Entry pool dropped slightly, but high-scoring profiles increased
- July 2025 featured major draws for healthcare, PNP, and Canadian Experience Class
- 7,558 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued in July—more than previous months
- Lowest CRS cut-offs of the year recorded for CEC and healthcare draws
- Understanding your CRS percentile is crucial to gauge competitiveness
Thinking about immigrating to Canada through Express Entry? You’re not alone — and the competition is heating up, especially for candidates with stronger Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores. In this update, we’ll walk through the latest stats from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), explore how your CRS score stacks up, and break down which draws happened in July 2025.
Why Your CRS Score Matters Now More Than Ever
If your CRS score falls between 501 and 600, you’re in a highly competitive bracket. Between July 20 and August 5, 2025, that range saw an increase of over 2,800 new candidates — even though the size of the total candidate pool shrank slightly overall.
The biggest drop in candidate numbers came from the 470–500 CRS range, which lost over 2,500 profiles. This shift suggests that many candidates with mid-to-high scores are either receiving ITAs or their profiles are expiring — but it also shows that more high-scoring applicants are entering the pool.
Current Breakdown of the Express Entry Pool (August 5, 2025)
Here’s how the profiles in the Express Entry pool are distributed by CRS score:
| CRS Score Range | Number of Candidates |
|---|---|
| 501–600 | 24,165 |
| 471–500 | 29,811 |
| 441–470 | 48,506 |
| 401–440 | 58,638 |
| 351–400 | 53,590 |
| 301–350 | 20,534 |
| 0–300 | 8,225 |
| 601–1200 | 228 |
| Total | 256,585 |
As you can see, the largest groups are clustered between 351 and 470. But the fastest growing group right now is 501–600 — a sign that top candidates are newly entering or improving their profiles.
What’s Changed Since July?
Between July 20 and August 5, 2025, there were some notable shifts in the pool’s composition:
- The 501–600 CRS range added 2,817 new profiles
- The 471–500 range lost over 2,500 profiles
So while the pool may look slightly smaller, it’s becoming more competitive — especially at the top.
How Competitive is Your CRS Score?
IRCC’s percentile breakdown helps you see how your score compares to others. For example, if your CRS score is in the 501–600 range, you’re in the top 10% of all Express Entry candidates. That’s a strong position, but keep in mind that this group is growing quickly.
| CRS Score Range | Percentage of Total Pool | Your Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| 501–600 | 9.42% | Top 90.49% to 99.91% |
| 471–500 | 11.58% | Top 73.85% to 90.49% |
| 441–470 | 18.89% | Top 54.95% to 73.85% |
| 401–440 | 22.17% | Top 32.09% to 54.95% |
| 351–400 | 20.89% | Top 11.21% to 32.09% |
| 0–350 | 11.03% | Bottom 11.21% |
If you’re under 470, don’t panic — many provincial programs and targeted categories offer alternative pathways. For example, the Manitoba PNP can be an excellent option if your CRS score doesn’t cut it for federal draws.
Express Entry Draws in July 2025: What Happened?
IRCC held four Express Entry draws in July, including one of the largest category-based draws for healthcare occupations to date. Here’s a quick look at the draws and their details:
| Date | Draw Type | Invitations Issued | CRS Cut-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 22, 2025 | Healthcare Occupations | 4,000 | 475 |
| July 21, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 202 | 788 |
| July 8, 2025 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,000 | 518 |
| July 7, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 356 | 750 |
Total ITAs Issued by Month
Let’s take a moment to compare how many ITAs were issued each month leading up to July:
| Month | Total ITAs |
|---|---|
| April 2025 | 1,246 |
| May 2025 | 2,511 |
| June 2025 | 7,405 |
| July 2025 | 7,558 |
So far in 2025, IRCC has issued nearly 50,000 ITAs — and July alone saw more than 7,500 invites, thanks to a huge healthcare draw and a substantial CEC round.
Final Thoughts: Make Your Profile Count
With Express Entry evolving and competition increasing in the higher CRS score ranges, it’s more important than ever to understand where you stand—and how to improve. Whether you’re aiming for a federal draw or considering a Provincial Nominee Program like the Manitoba PNP, knowing your CRS percentile and draw trends can help you make smarter immigration decisions.
Ready to find out how competitive your profile really is?
Check Your Express Entry Score Now
Want to stay in the loop with Canada’s immigration news? Be sure to check out our latest updates on Express Entry draws, CRS score strategies, and PNP opportunities.
