Express Entry draw #281
General round held on January 31, 2024.
Quick answer
Express Entry draw #281 was a General round held on January 31, 2024. IRCC issued 730 invitations to apply, and the lowest CRS score invited was 541, 2 points lower than the previous General draw (#280).
CRS cut-off
541
-2 vs previous General draw (#280)
Invitations
730
Draw type
General
| Round | #281 |
|---|---|
| Date | January 31, 2024 |
| Round type | General |
| Invitations issued | 730 |
| Lowest CRS score invited | 541 |
| Tie-breaking rule | July 15, 2023 at 10:52:08 UTC |
If more than one candidate had the lowest score of 541, only those who submitted their Express Entry profile before July 15, 2023 at 10:52:08 UTC were invited.
CRS score distribution of the pool
Profiles in the Express Entry pool as of January 30, 2024. This snapshot covers all candidates, not only those eligible for this round.
| CRS range | Profiles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 601-1200 | 534 | |
| 501-600 | 7,926 | |
| 451-500 | 60,120 | |
| 491-500 | 6,787 | |
| 481-490 | 9,668 | |
| 471-480 | 17,586 | |
| 461-470 | 14,160 | |
| 451-460 | 11,919 | |
| 401-450 | 54,181 | |
| 441-450 | 10,930 | |
| 431-440 | 11,219 | |
| 421-430 | 10,104 | |
| 411-420 | 10,874 | |
| 401-410 | 11,054 | |
| 351-400 | 57,855 | |
| 301-350 | 29,709 | |
| 0-300 | 5,401 | |
| Total | 215,726 |
How this round compares
- Its cut-off of 541 was the 6th lowest of 9 General draws in 2024 (average 536).
- Compared with the previous General draw (#280, January 23, 2024): cut-off -2, invitations 1,040 → 730.
- Between the pool snapshots of January 22, 2024 and January 30, 2024, the pool changed by +2,200 profiles overall and +899 profiles above 500 points.
- Other rounds within four days: #282 French (365).
Previous General draws
| Round | Date | Invitations | CRS |
|---|---|---|---|
| #280 | January 23, 2024 | 1,040 | 543 |
| #279 | January 10, 2024 | 1,510 | 546 |
| #275 | December 18, 2023 | 1,325 | 542 |
| #272 | December 6, 2023 | 4,750 | 561 |
| #268 | October 10, 2023 | 3,725 | 500 |
Frequently asked questions
What was the CRS cut-off for Express Entry draw #281?+
541. IRCC invited 730 candidates in this General round on January 31, 2024; everyone invited had a CRS score of at least 541.
What was the tie-breaking rule in draw #281?+
July 15, 2023 at 10:52:08 UTC. Candidates with exactly 541 points were invited only if they submitted their profile before that date and time.
Who could be invited in draw #281?+
Only candidates eligible for the General round type. Rounds open to candidates from all Express Entry programs. IRCC labelled these "No Program Specified" until 2022 and "General" afterwards.
Check your CRS score to see how you compare with this round.
Source: IRCC rounds of invitations.