Canada has delivered one of the most notable Express Entry updates of the year, issuing an unprecedented 6,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates in a large-scale selection round held on December 10, 2025. This marks the biggest CEC-specific draw in more than 16 months and signals a renewed focus on transitioning temporary workers to permanent residents.
Also Read Canada Holds Largest CEC Express Entry Draw in Over a Year as 6,000 ITAs Issued
Lower CRS Requirement Brings Relief for Applicants
The CRS cut-off for this invitation round landed at 520, a decline from the consistently higher thresholds seen in recent months. Many candidates had been waiting through a series of rounds where scores remained stuck at 533 or 534, making this draw a welcome shift.
To be included, candidates were required to have created their Express Entry profile before July 15, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. UTC.
Top Stories
- British Columbia Adjusts Immigration Costs for Skilled Foreign Workers
- Canadian Government Expands Benefit Program, Offering Hundreds of Dollars to Eligible Newcomers
- Canada Set to Revamp LMIA-Exempt Work Permits in 2026: Key Policy Shifts Ahead
- Alberta Reveals Immigration Focus for 2026 as Provincial Nominations Increase
- Canada Issues 6,000 PR Invitations in New CEC Express Entry Draw
Express Entry 2025: A Year Dominated by Targeted Selection
Canada’s immigration strategy in 2025 has leaned heavily on category-based draws, with priority streams focusing on:
- Provincial nominees
- French-speaking candidates
- Applicants in healthcare, social services, trades, and education
- Canadian Experience Class profiles
The following table outlines all Express Entry invitation rounds conducted throughout the year:
Complete List of Express Entry Draws in 2025
| Date | Draw Type | ITAs | CRS |
| December 10 | Canadian Experience Class | 6,000 | 520 |
| November 28 | French language proficiency | 6,000 | 408 |
| November 25 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 531 |
| November 25 | Provincial Nominee Program | 777 | 699 |
| November 14 | Healthcare and social services | 3,500 | 462 |
| November 12 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 533 |
| November 10 | Provincial Nominee Program | 714 | 738 |
| October 29 | French language proficiency | 6,000 | 416 |
| October 28 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 533 |
| October 27 | Provincial Nominee Program | 302 | 761 |
| October 15 | Healthcare and social services | 2,500 | 472 |
| October 14 | Provincial Nominee Program | 345 | 778 |
| October 6 | French language proficiency | 4,500 | 432 |
| October 1 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 534 |
| September 29 | Provincial Nominee Program | 291 | 855 |
| September 18 | Trade | 1,250 | 505 |
| 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 |
Total Invitations Distributed This Year
With the December 10 round included, IRCC has issued 101,599 Express Entry invitations since the start of 2025. This volume highlights Canada’s push to attract and retain skilled workers amid rising labour demands and demographic challenges.
Related Stories
- Canada Issues 6,000 PR Invitations in New CEC Express Entry Draw
- Canada Holds Targeted Express Entry Draw for Provincial Nominees
- Canada Delivers a Landmark Express Entry Boost for CEC Candidates
- Express Entry 2025 Explained
- Canada Conducts First Express Entry Draw of 2026
- Canada’s Express Entry Pool Shrinks as Invitation Surge Clears High CRS Scores
- Express Entry Sees Major Shift as CRS Falls to 399 in Latest IRCC Invitation Round
How Draws Have Been Distributed by Stream
Canada’s selection strategy in 2025 shows a clear tilt toward specific labour market priorities. Here’s how the draw activity has unfolded:
Number of Draws Conducted in Each Category
| Category | Number of Draws |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 22 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 14 |
| French-language proficiency | 8 |
| Healthcare and social services | 6 |
| Education | 2 |
| Trade | 1 |
Total ITAs Issued by Category in 2025
| Category | ITAs Issued |
| French-language proficiency | 42,000 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 30,850 |
| Healthcare and social services | 13,500 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 9,376 |
| Education | 3,500 |
| Trade | 1,250 |
French-language selections continue to dominate ITA volume, aligning with Canada’s mandate to increase Francophone settlement outside Quebec. CEC candidates follow as the next major group, reflecting Canada’s need to retain workers already integrated into the labour force.
What This Latest Draw Suggests for Future Rounds
A draw of this scale – coupled with a noticeable lowering of the CRS cut-off, may indicate that IRCC is preparing for more aggressive targets heading into 2026. Temporary workers who have accumulated Canadian experience could see improved chances as the government works to strengthen the domestic skilled workforce.
Applicants hoping to receive an invitation in the coming months are encouraged to ensure their profiles are up to date and optimized for category-based rounds, French-language draws, and provincial nominations.
