IRCC, Canada’s immigration body, has recently invited eligible candidates to apply for the Canadian PR through its latest Express Entry draw round. The latest draw took place on August 6th, 2025, and targeted the eligible candidates from the Provincial Nominee Program category.
It issued a total of 225 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to the eligible candidates, showcasing Canada’s focus on meeting its provinces’ labor demands in various sectors by leveraging provincial partnerships.
Also Read IRCC Issues First Express Entry Draw of August under PNP Category
Eligibility Requirements and CRS Cutoff for Latest Draw
To be eligible for qualifications for the latest round of Express Entry draw, candidates were supposed to meet two key points:
- A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 739 points
- A valid and updated Express Entry profile submitted to the portal before April 23, 2025, at 6:35 a.m. UTC
The high CRS cut-off shows the points addition that PNP nominees get — 600 extra points — upon getting a provincial nomination.
Express Entry Activity Increases Mid-Year
This recent Express Entry draw was issued in between a bustling time for the Express Entry system, which has witnessed a surge in invitations across all the categories. IRCC has given out a total of 49,628 ITAs till now in 2025, with a strong focus on those with Canadian work experience, eligible candidates nominated by provinces, and applicants holding in-demand skills.
Key 2025 Express Entry Trends by the Numbers
Till now, in 2025, IRCC has held a total of 28 Express Entry draws, with the below mentioned distribution:
| Draw Category | Number of Draws |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 14 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 7 |
| French-speaking Candidates | 3 |
| Healthcare & Social Services | 3 |
| Education | 1 |
This year’s Express Entry planning has favored PNP-linked invitations, accounting for half of all Express Entry draws so far. IRCC has also committed to bi-weekly draws targeting PNP or Canadian Experience Class (CEC) applicants, showing a predictable draw pattern since June.
Express Entry Draws from January to August 2025
| Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | CRS Cut-Off |
| 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 |
The above table shows Canada’s balanced steps to selecting both general and category-specific candidates through Express Entry, meeting the unique employment needs of each province and territory.
IRCC’s Multi-Stream Strategy for 2025 Immigration Goals
Canada’s immigration department, or IRCC, has significantly taken up targeted invitation planning, rather than relying only on previously held general draws. This includes focusing on:
- Applicants having provincial nominations
- Individuals with prior Canadian work experience
- Workers in priority sectors like healthcare and education
- Francophone candidates adding to bilingualism outside Quebec
This multi-stream method is designed to boost the country’s economic growth, promote regional immigration, and meet sector-specific workforce gaps.
What Aspirants Should Consider Moving Forward
With IRCC keeping a predictable and regular pattern of draws, candidates planning to secure permanent residency in Canada should:
- Always have their Express Entry profiles updated
- Look for opportunities to receive a provincial nomination
- Consider language testing upgrades and credential assessments
- Match their prior or current work experience with Canada’s current high-demand industries
The competition in the immigration area stays intense, especially in the PNP category draws, but strategic planning and going above the eligibility criteria can enhance chances of receiving an invitation for PR.
Canada’s Immigration Outlook: Targeted and Transparent
The August 6 Express Entry draw is a tiny part of a much bigger change toward precision-based immigration, where the country’s target is on the quality of immigrants over quantity. This change helps the country be sure that the selected applicants are well-suited to its current job market requirements and ready to blend into it successfully.
As the second half of 2025 is here, more targeted Express Entry draws are on the way, especially for candidates belonging to in-demand sectors of Canada such as healthcare, social services, and French-speaking communities.
