Canada's Latest Express Entry Draw: CEC-Specific Round Issues 3,000 Invitations with Lowest Score Since September 2024
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has once again issued a new round of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates in the Express Entry pool, bringing positive news for many applicants with Canadian work experience.
In this latest draw, IRCC issued 3,000 invitations to candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). This is the second draw of the month and another round specifically targeting the CEC category, following a similar draw on June 26.
Candidates who received an invitation in this round needed to meet the following two criteria:
- Have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 518.
- Have created their Express Entry profile before October 2, 2024, at 01:48 UTC. This serves as the tie-breaking rule, meaning that in the case of a tie at 518 points, candidates who submitted their profile earlier received priority.
The score cutoff of 518 is the lowest recorded since September 2024, representing a positive signal for applicants in the CEC category.
Reviewing recent draw activity, IRCC appears to be establishing a regular invitation pattern. This CEC draw was preceded by a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw on July 7, another CEC draw on June 26, and a PNP draw on June 23. This pattern of alternating between PNP and CEC draws roughly every two weeks provides a degree of predictability for applicants from different backgrounds.
Looking at the data for 2025, as of today, IRCC has issued a total of 45,201 ITAs through the Express Entry system. This year's draw strategy has shown a clear focus. Draws for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) have been dominant in number, with the remaining ITAs allocated to candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), those with French-language proficiency, and candidates in the new priority occupation categories (such as healthcare, social services, and education).
The breakdown of draws in 2025 is as follows:
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): 12 draws
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC): 7 draws
- French-language proficiency: 3 draws
- Healthcare and social services: 2 draws
- Education: 1 draw
This year's Express Entry strategy clearly favors candidates in the PNP stream as well as those with specific advantages, such as Canadian experience, French-language proficiency, or backgrounds in in-demand occupations. This reflects the targeted and flexible nature of Canada's immigration policy, aimed at precisely filling labor market needs across the provinces. Future draw trends will continue to be a key point of focus for prospective immigrants.
Summary of Express Entry draws in 2025
| Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | Cut-off CRS score |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 8 | Canadian Experience Class | 3000 | 518 |
| July 7 | Provincial Nominee Program | 356 | 750 |
| June 23 | Canadian Experience Class | 3000 | 521 |
| June 26 | Provincial Nominee Program | 503 | 742 |
| June 12 | Canadian Experience Class | 3000 | 529 |
| June 10 | Provincial Nominee Program | 125 | 784 |
| June 4 | Healthcare and social services | 500 | 504 |
| June 3 | 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 |
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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced Bill C-12, aiming to modernize and strengthen the management of Canada’s immigration system while addressing long-standing backlogs. If passed, the bill would grant the Minister expanded authority to pause or terminate the processing of certain immigration categories. Analysts suggest that the Start-Up Visa (SUV) program — already facing significant application backlogs — could be among the most directly affected, particularly for applicants supported by designated business incubators that fail to comply with Ministerial Instructions (MI72).
10/23/2025
Ontario to Ease Licensing for 16 Additional Healthcare Professions, Boosting National and International Workforce Mobility
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10/22/2025
Northwest Territories Restores 2025 Nominee Quota to 2024 Levels, Allowing Up to 300 Nominations
The Government of the Northwest Territories (NWT) has announced that its 2025 Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) allocation has been restored to 2024 levels following federal approval. The total quota will rise to 300, up significantly from 197 earlier this year. Minister of Education, Culture, and Employment Caitlin Cleveland stated that preparations are underway for the next NTNP intake period, which will open additional pathways for skilled workers to obtain provincial nomination. This adjustment makes the NWT the first jurisdiction in 2025 to regain its pre-reduction quota, marking a key milestone in the territory’s ongoing efforts to address critical labor shortages through immigration.
10/21/2025
New Brunswick Holds Three Immigration Draws, Issues Over 500 Invitations to Apply
Between October 6 and 9, 2025, the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NB PNP) held three consecutive draws, issuing invitations to apply to over 500 candidates. The draws were conducted through two main categories: the New Brunswick Express Entry stream for individuals employed in the province, and the Skilled Worker stream for those working in priority occupations. The provincial government also reminded applicants that not all applications submitted in response to these draws will be processed by the end of 2025.
10/20/2025
Ontario Issues 1,680 Invitations Targeting Healthcare, Education, and Regional Development Talent
On October 9, 2025, the Province of Ontario issued a total of 1,680 invitations through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), targeting skilled workers and international graduates. The latest draws spanned multiple Employer Job Offer streams, focusing on candidates in healthcare, early childhood education, and occupations that contribute to small community growth under the Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) initiative. This series of draws reflects Ontario’s continued effort to strengthen its workforce in essential sectors and attract skilled talent to smaller regional communities across the province.
10/17/2025
IRCC Issues 2,500 Invitations to Healthcare and Social Services Professionals in Latest Express Entry Draw
On October 15, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a new Express Entry draw targeting candidates in the Healthcare and Social Services category, issuing 2,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence. To qualify, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 472 and must have created their Express Entry profile before May 12, 2025, at 11:17 p.m. UTC. This draw marks the fifth healthcare and social services category-based draw of 2025 and is the second-largest of its kind, tying with the August 19 draw and surpassed only by the July 22 draw, which invited 4,000 healthcare professionals.
10/16/2025
Canada Express Entry Latest Draw: 345 Invitations Issued to Provincial Nominee Program Candidates
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 345 invitations to apply to Provincial Nominee Program candidates through the Express Entry system on October 14, 2025. This draw required candidates to have a minimum CRS score of 778 points and to have created their Express Entry profile before July 17, 2025. This marks the 19th Provincial Nominee draw conducted by IRCC this year and the third draw in October.
10/15/2025
Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program Issues 862 Invitations, Focusing on Healthcare and Caregiving Sectors
On October 9, 2025, Manitoba issued invitations to apply for provincial nomination to 862 candidates through the Skilled Worker stream of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). This draw was conducted through two main pathways: the occupation-specific Skilled Worker in Manitoba pathway and the employer-driven Skilled Worker Overseas selection. Notably, this draw continued to prioritize candidates under the Temporary Public Policy (TPP), with 203 candidates also holding valid federal Express Entry profiles.
10/14/2025
Alberta Conducts Three Provincial Nominee Draws in One Week, Issuing 1,324 Invitations
Between October 1 and October 7, 2025, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) held three separate provincial nomination draws, issuing a total of 1,324 Invitations to Apply (ITAs). Among them, the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) accounted for the majority, with 1,003 invitations, maintaining its lead as the province’s largest channel of nominations. The Accelerated Tech Pathway and Priority Sectors (Construction) streams, both aligned with the federal Express Entry system, targeted applicants in high-demand occupations. In addition, the Government of Alberta received an increase of 1,528 nomination spots in September, raising its total 2025 allocation to 6,403. As of October 10, the province had issued 4,228 nominations, leaving 2,175 available for the remainder of the year.
10/13/2025
Manitoba Successfully Secures Immigration Allocation Increase, Adding Nearly 1,500 Nomination Spots
Manitoba has successfully secured an increase in its 2025 immigration nomination allocation from the federal government, gaining an additional 1,489 nomination spots, bringing the province's total allocation for this year to 6,239. This adjustment will enable Manitoba to nominate more candidates to obtain permanent residence and settle in the province before the end of 2025. This allocation increase represents a partial recovery following the significant reduction in provincial nominee program allocations nationwide at the beginning of 2025.
10/11/2025
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