Even if you meet the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off score for an Express Entry draw, receiving an invitation to apply (ITA) is not guaranteed.

The timing of your Express Entry profile submission can significantly impact your chances of receiving an ITA for permanent residence (PR).

Due to a specific selection condition present in every Express Entry draw, older profiles have an advantage over newly created ones because of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC’s) tie-breaking rule.

How IRCC’s Tie-Breaking Rule Works

Periodically, IRCC conducts Express Entry draws to invite a select number of candidates to apply for PR based on their CRS score.

When multiple candidates have the same CRS score at the cut-off, IRCC uses the tie-breaking rule to determine who will receive an invitation.

Under this rule, only candidates who submitted their profile before a specific timestamp provided by IRCC will be invited.

The tie-breaking rule serves as a secondary selection tool to resolve ties in CRS scores.

This article explains how IRCC’s tie-breaking rule benefits older Express Entry profiles and provides insights into associated considerations.