If you were hoping for an Express Entry draw update in your inbox today – you’re not alone. While there hasn't been an Express Entry draw today, we thought this would be a great time to go over something just as important but often overlooked: keeping your Express Entry profile active and valid.
Why Your Profile Expiry Date Matters
Express Entry profiles are valid for 12 months from the date of submission, assuming you continue to meet eligibility requirements during that time. If your profile expires:
You won’t be considered in future draws, even if your CRS score is competitive.
You’ll need to submit a brand-new profile from scratch.
New profiles may be at a disadvantage due to the tie-breaker rule, which prioritizes older profiles when multiple candidates have the same CRS score.
Importantly, IRCC does not send reminders when your profile is close to expiring. Many applicants don’t realize their profile is no longer active until it’s too late, which could result in missing out on draws they may have otherwise qualified for.
You can check your Express Entry profile expiry date by logging into your IRCC account or reviewing the confirmation letter you received when you submitted your profile.
What to Do If Your Profile Has Expired or Is Expiring Soon
If your profile has expired, you can resubmit so long as you are still eligible.
If your profile is about to expire, here’s where it gets a bit tricky: you can only have one active Express Entry profile at a time. If your current profile is still valid, you can’t submit a new one unless you first withdraw the existing profile or wait for it to expire.
This means you’ll need to think strategically, especially if your CRS score is hovering near recent cut-offs. In that case, it may be smarter to wait for your current profile to expire and resubmit on the same day.
Why? Because withdrawing and resubmitting early will reset your submission date. Holding on to your original submission date for as long as possible could give you an edge under the tie-breaker rule, if a draw happens before your current profile expires.
In any event, with a profile that has expired or is about the expire, you’ll want to start planning out a resubmission.
The good news? You can use the same documents from your original profile (language test results and ECA report) if they’re still valid.
The not-so-good news? A new profile means a new submission date, and if your CRS score is close to recent cut-offs, that date can play a pivotal role in whether or not you receive an ITA.
Other Reasons Your Profile Could Be Removed from the Pool
Beyond expiry, here are a few other common reasons your Express Entry profile might be removed from the Express Entry pool:
Expired language test results: Language tests are valid for 2 years. If you let them expire without updating your profile with new language results, your profile will become ineligible, and you will need to retake the exam to resubmit your profile.
To avoid this, consider retaking the test and updating your profile before your original results expire. That way, your profile stays active, and you preserve your original submission date.
No longer meeting program eligibility: As time passes, your qualifying work experience may fall outside the required timeframe, for example, 10 years for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, or 3 years for the Canadian Experience Class. If that happens, you may no longer be eligible for the program your profile qualified for.
To avoid this, consider updating your primary occupation to reflect more recent experience, if that’s an option available to you.
Just like with profile expiry, IRCC does not send warnings if your profile is about to become ineligible, so it’s up to you to keep track of these things.
Why This Is Important Now
The lack of a draw today is a reminder that some things are simply outside your control, no matter how much you want that ITA.
So, now is the time to focus on what is within your control, like making sure your Express Entry profile remains active, valid, and eligible.
If you were expecting a draw today, don’t just wait around; take a few minutes to check your profile expiry date and confirm everything is still in good standing. And if you do spot an unexpected expiry, spend some time planning your next move.
Ready to Resubmit? We've Got You Covered
If your profile has expired, or you’re planning to resubmit soon, it’s the perfect time to double-check that everything is accurate, up to date, and giving you the best possible chance in the pool.
To help, we’ve created a free Express Entry Profile Guide. Whether you’re submitting for the first time or starting fresh after your profile has expired, this guide will help you stay on track, and submit a strong, complete Express Entry profile.
Wherever you are in your Canadian immigration journey, we're here to support you.
All the best,
Rebecca and Stephanie
The Moving2Canada Team
