Express Entry Pool Update: 229,456 Candidates, and the 481–500 Range Lost 1,242 Profiles in Two Weeks

Updated October 21, 2026 · Reflects the Oct 15, 2026 Canadian Experience Class draw (519)

IRCC's October 12 pool data shows 448 fewer candidates than September 27, with the 481–500 range shrinking fastest and the 501+ range growing by 589.

IRCC's latest Express Entry pool snapshot covers data as of October 12, 2026 and shows 229,456 candidates, 448 fewer than the 229,904 counted on September 27. The total barely moved, but the shape did. The 481–500 range lost 1,242 profiles, while the 501–1,200 range gained 589.

One note on sources: CIC News' write-up labels the 448 change as an increase. IRCC's raw counts add up to a decrease, and the numbers below use the raw counts.

The headline numbers

CRS score range	October 12	September 27	Change
0–300	7,639	7,707	−68
301–350	17,123	17,359	−236
351–400	47,167	47,298	−131
401–410	11,637	11,454	+183
411–420	12,201	11,888	+313
421–430	12,467	12,173	+294
431–440	13,474	13,419	+55
441–450	13,749	13,677	+72
451–460	14,851	14,847	+4
461–470	16,221	16,257	−36
471–480	16,220	16,465	−245
481–490	12,184	12,817	−633
491–500	12,136	12,745	−609
501–600	21,638	21,070	+568
601–1,200	749	728	+21
Total	229,456	229,904	−448

Between 401 and 460, every band grew. Every band from 461 to 500 shrank. At the top, the 501+ range kept climbing. Candidates are moving up in score faster than draws are pulling them out, so the crowd is building just below the CEC and PNP cutoffs.

Where you actually rank

CRS score range	Candidates	Cumulative	Percentile range
0–300	7,639	7,639	0.00%–3.33%
301–350	17,123	24,762	3.33%–10.79%
351–400	47,167	71,929	10.79%–31.35%
401–410	11,637	83,566	31.35%–36.42%
411–420	12,201	95,767	36.42%–41.74%
421–430	12,467	108,234	41.74%–47.17%
431–440	13,474	121,708	47.17%–53.04%
441–450	13,749	135,457	53.04%–59.03%
451–460	14,851	150,308	59.03%–65.51%
461–470	16,221	166,529	65.51%–72.58%
471–480	16,220	182,749	72.58%–79.64%
481–490	12,184	194,933	79.64%–84.95%
491–500	12,136	207,069	84.95%–90.24%
501–600	21,638	228,707	90.24%–99.67%
601–1,200	749	229,456	99.67%–100.00%

Percentiles are our calculation from IRCC's counts. For reference, the October 1 trades draw cleared at 476, around the 73rd–80th percentile, and the September 29 CEC draw cleared at 518, inside the top 10%.

What changed between September 27 and October 12

IRCC ran three rounds in this window, issuing 6,233 invitations:

Date	Round type	ITAs issued	CRS cutoff
September 28	Provincial Nominee Program	733	725
September 29	Canadian Experience Class	2,000	518
October 1	Trades occupations	3,500	476

Draws on October 13, 15 and 16 come after this snapshot, including the October 13 PNP draw, the October 15 CEC draw and the October 16 French-language draw. They will show up in the next pool update.

What this means for you

If your CRS is 501 or higher: you're in the top 10% and your band is growing. If you aren't being invited, check that you meet CEC or PNP eligibility, since score alone doesn't qualify you.

If your CRS is 471–500: you're between the 73rd and 90th percentile, in the band that shrank most (−1,123 across 471–500 combined). Category draws are built for this range, so check which categories you qualify for.

If your CRS is 401–470: this stretch holds over 100,000 candidates, and most of its bands grew. General and CEC draws are out of reach at current cutoffs, so your levers are a PNP nomination or a faster CRS boost.

If your CRS is below 400: French ability is your best lever. See the TEF/TCF guide.

Track your percentile, not the last cutoff. "CRS 518" sounds distant until you see it means roughly the top 10% of the pool.

What's coming next

IRCC publishes no draw calendar, and the November 3 scoring change will rescore existing profiles and pause invitation rounds, so this distribution will look different afterwards. We report what the data shows, not what IRCC will do.

Run the numbers on your own profile

CRS Calculator | All Express Entry Draws | Category-Based Draws Explained

Sources

Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration advice. Always verify information with official IRCC sources and consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or licensed immigration lawyer for advice specific to your situation.

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Disclaimer: This is not immigration advice. Cutoffs move draw to draw — always verify with official IRCC sources and consult an RCIC or licensed immigration lawyer.

What changed between September 27 and October 12

IRCC ran three rounds in this window, issuing 6,233 invitations:

Date	Round type	ITAs issued	CRS cutoff
September 28	Provincial Nominee Program	733	725
September 29	Canadian Experience Class	2,000	518
October 1	Trades occupations	3,500	476

Draws on October 13, 15 and 16 come after this snapshot, including the October 13 PNP draw, the October 15 CEC draw and the October 16 French-language draw. They will show up in the next pool update.

What this means for you

If your CRS is 501 or higher: you're in the top 10% and your band is growing. If you aren't being invited, check that you meet CEC or PNP eligibility, since score alone doesn't qualify you.

If your CRS is below 400: French ability is your best lever. See the TEF/TCF guide.

Track your percentile, not the last cutoff. "CRS 518" sounds distant until you see it means roughly the top 10% of the pool.

Express Entry Pool Update: 229,456 Candidates, and the 481–500 Range Lost 1,242 Profiles in Two Weeks

The headline numbers

Where you actually rank

What changed between September 27 and October 12

What this means for you

What's coming next

Run the numbers on your own profile

Sources

Express Entry Pool Update: 226,793 Candidates, and Where a CRS of 516 Actually Ranks You

Express Entry Pool Update: 229,100 Candidates, and Exactly Where You Rank Among Them

IRCC Skipped the Expected May 12 CEC Draw — Here's What the Pool Data Actually Says

Express Entry Pool Update: 229,456 Candidates, and the 481–500 Range Lost 1,242 Profiles in Two Weeks

The headline numbers

Where you actually rank

What changed between September 27 and October 12

What this means for you

What's coming next

Run the numbers on your own profile

Sources

Express Entry Pool Update: 226,793 Candidates, and Where a CRS of 516 Actually Ranks You

Express Entry Pool Update: 229,100 Candidates, and Exactly Where You Rank Among Them

IRCC Skipped the Expected May 12 CEC Draw — Here's What the Pool Data Actually Says