Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has recently conducted another targeted invitation round under Express Entry, reserving it for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) participants only.
Also Read Canada Holds the Newest Express Entry Draw For Skilled Workers Within the CEC
Details of the August 7 Draw
In this latest selection round, the IRCC issued 1,000 ITAs to CEC applicants seeking permanent residence. Candidates were required to have a minimum CRS score of 534. Moreover, only those who created their Express Entry profiles before 6:22 a.m. (UTC) on August 3, 2025, were eligible.
This is the second Express Entry draw for August and follows a PNP draw on August 6, where 225 invitations were issued to candidates with a CRS of 739.
Express Entry Activity in 2025
The CEC-focused round on August 7 continues to show how IRCC is alternating between general, category-based, and program-specific draws.
Up to this date in 2025, IRCC has sent out 50,628 ITAs through the Express Entry system. The highest number of ITAs has gone to PNP candidates, with CEC applicants, French-speaking candidates, and other candidates following next in line.
Number of Draws by Category This Year:
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): 14 draws
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC): 8 draws
- French-language category: 3 draws
- Healthcare and Social Services: 3 draws
- Education category: 1 draw
Below is a table containing all the Express Entry draws until now:
| Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | CRS Cut-Off |
| Aug 7 | CEC | 1000 | 534 |
| Aug 6 | PNP | 225 | 739 |
| Jul 22 | Healthcare & Social Services | 4,000 | 475 |
| Jul 21 | PNP | 202 | 788 |
| Jul 8 | CEC | 3,000 | 518 |
| Jul 7 | PNP | 356 | 750 |
| Jun 26 | CEC | 3,000 | 521 |
| Jun 23 | PNP | 503 | 742 |
| Jun 12 | CEC | 3,000 | 529 |
| Jun 10 | PNP | 125 | 784 |
| Jun 4 | Healthcare & Social Services | 500 | 504 |
| Jun 2 | PNP | 277 | 726 |
| May 13 | CEC | 500 | 547 |
| May 12 | PNP | 511 | 706 |
| May 2 | Healthcare & Social Services | 500 | 510 |
| May 1 | Education | 1,000 | 479 |
| Apr 28 | PNP | 421 | 727 |
| Apr 14 | PNP | 825 | 764 |
| Mar 21 | French Language | 7,500 | 379 |
| Mar 17 | PNP | 536 | 736 |
| Mar 6 | French Language | 4,500 | 410 |
| Mar 3 | PNP | 725 | 667 |
| Feb 19 | French Language | 6,500 | 428 |
| Feb 17 | PNP | 646 | 750 |
| Feb 5 | CEC | 4,000 | 521 |
| Feb 4 | PNP | 455 | 802 |
| Jan 23 | CEC | 4,000 | 527 |
| Jan 8 | CEC | 1,350 | 542 |
| Jan 7 | PNP | 471 | 793 |
Why the CEC Draws Matter
The Canadian Experience Class draws holds great importance for international students and employees who have Skilled Work Experience in Canada, as they are already in the country as a temporary resident. Because of the Canadian work experience and integration into the communities, these individuals usually face less complex pathways to get permanent residency.
By focusing on CEC participants, IRCC helps to maintain the retention of the highly skilled professionals already contributing to the economy of the country.
Expectations for the Rest of 2025
The IRCC has held regular draws, mostly bi-weekly, by alternating between its categories. It has tried to maintain the balance between the draws, catering to the CEC, PNP, and other categories of candidates for fair means. This strategy shows Canada’s attempt to meet its pressing need for skilled workers and support the country’s long-term population growth.
As the year unfolds, candidates should strive to hold competitive CRS scores and maintain their Express Entry profiles while waiting for new draw announcements.
