Draw #159

Express Entry draw #159 was held on August 6, 2020, issuing 250 invitations to apply for permanent residence under the Federal Skilled Trades category with a minimum CRS score of 415.

The CRS cutoff rose 58 points from the previous Federal Skilled Trades draw, indicating higher competition among candidates in this category.

A cutoff of 415 is relatively accessible for Federal Skilled Trades draws. Candidates with moderate CRS profiles — such as a bachelor's degree, CLB 9+ in their first language, and 2-3 years of Canadian experience — could qualify.

Federal Skilled Trades draws target tradespeople with at least two years of work experience and a valid job offer or certificate of qualification.

If your CRS score is within 30 points of this cutoff, focusing on language test improvement or gaining additional Canadian work experience could make the difference in an upcoming draw.