Canada’s immigration ministry returned to its education-based draws from the Express Entry system for the first time in over four months in the September 17, 2025, draw. It was also the fifth Express Entry draw of September, revealing the busy period Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has experienced during the month.
Also Read IRCC Express Entry Draw #367 Issues 2,500 ITAs Under Education Category
Summary of the September 17 Draw
For this round, 2,500 invitations to apply (ITAs) were issued to applicants from the field of education. Applicants had to be chosen through:
- At least 462 points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, and
- An application for Express Entry made before July 9, 2025, at 4:24 a.m. UTC.
This draw was significantly different from May’s previous education round, in which only 1,000 invites were issued at the higher CRS requirement of 479.
September: An All-Time Highest Month for Express Entry
The September 17 draw was followed by four prior draws in the month of September, hence making September one of the busiest months of the year for Express Entry. Prior draws were:
- September 15 – 228 invitations through Provincial Nominee Program (CRS 746).
- September 4 – 4,500 French language candidate invitations (CRS 446).
- September 3 – 1,000 Canadian Experience Class CEC candidates (CRS 534).
- September 2 – 249 PNP Provincial Nominee Program (CRS 772) invitations.
Together, all five draws indicate IRCC’s interest in having a diversified pool of applicants for the month, ranging from language-based applicants to work experience-based applicants from Canada or provincial nominee applicants.
2025 Year-to-Date Invitations and Trends
Thus far in 2025, IRCC has extended 62,297 Express Entry invites. Following through the year’s activity, the following breakdown is seen:
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): 17
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC): 9 draws
- French-language proficiency: 5 draws
- Healthcare and social services: 4 draws
- Education category: 2 draws
Statistics show that extensive consideration is made of PNP draws with continued preference for target area candidates from healthcare, educational institutions, and French language background.
Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2025
| Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | Cut-off CRS score |
| September 17 | Education | 2,500 | 462 |
| September 15 | Provincial Nominee Program | 228 | 746 |
| September 4 | French language proficiency | 4,500 | 446 |
| September 3 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 534 |
| September 2 | Provincial Nominee Program | 249 | 772 |
| August 19 | Healthcare and social services | 2,500 | 470 |
| August 18 | Provincial Nominee Program | 192 | 800 |
| August 8 | French language proficiency | 2,500 | 481 |
| August 7 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 534 |
| August 6 | Provincial Nominee Program | 225 | 739 |
| July 22 | Healthcare and social services | 4,000 | 475 |
| July 21 | Provincial Nominee Program | 202 | 788 |
| July 8 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,000 | 518 |
| July 7 | Provincial Nominee Program | 356 | 750 |
| June 26 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,000 | 521 |
| June 23 | Provincial Nominee Program | 503 | 742 |
| June 12 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,000 | 529 |
| June 10 | Provincial Nominee Program | 125 | 784 |
| June 4 | Healthcare and social services | 500 | 504 |
| June 2 | Provincial Nominee Program | 277 | 726 |
| May 13 | Canadian Experience Class | 500 | 547 |
| May 12 | Provincial Nominee Program | 511 | 706 |
| May 2 | Healthcare and social services | 500 | 510 |
| May 1 | Education | 1,000 | 479 |
| April 28 | Provincial Nominee Program | 421 | 727 |
| April 14 | Provincial Nominee Program | 825 | 764 |
| March 21 | French language proficiency | 7,500 | 379 |
| March 17 | Provincial Nominee Program | 536 | 736 |
| March 6 | French language proficiency | 4,500 | 410 |
| March 3 | Provincial Nominee Program | 725 | 667 |
| February 19 | French language proficiency | 6,500 | 428 |
| February 17 | Provincial Nominee Program | 646 | 750 |
| February 5 | Canadian Experience Class | 4,000 | 521 |
| February 4 | Provincial Nominee Program | 455 | 802 |
| January 23 | Canadian Experience Class | 4,000 | 527 |
| January 8 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,350 | 542 |
| January 7 | Provincial Nominee Program | 471 | 793 |
Why the Education Category Is Increasing
By increasing the intake and relaxing the score cut-off, Canada is putting out the word that it wants to admit more qualified people. Technical graduates and teaching-trained professionals are deemed to be of crucial value in meeting Canada’s longstanding labour shortage needs and helping stimulate economic development.
What Applicants Should Know
September 17 draw reveals notable shift for candidates of educational background. The reduction of the requirement for CRS and the issuance of invitations is double that of May; the educational stream now has broader opportunities for qualified candidates.
As Express Entry matures, hopeful candidates to benefit from future draws must maintain up-to-date profiles and be prepared for additional category-based invitations in the coming year.
