On July 25, Alberta conducted a new provincial nominee draw, specifically targeting candidates in the federal Express Entry pool with experience in the construction sector. A total of 39 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued, with a remarkably low minimum score requirement of 66. This targeted draw highlights the province's strategy of using the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) to tackle critical labor shortages. Data shows that a significant number of nomination spots are still available for the remainder of the year.

On July 22, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held its latest Express Entry draw, once again focusing on specific occupational fields. This draw, the 357th, specifically targeted candidates in the "Healthcare and social services" category, issuing 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for invited candidates was 475. This move underscores Canada's clear policy focus on addressing labor market shortages, particularly for talent in critical sectors.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held its 356th Express Entry draw today, exclusively targeting candidates with a provincial nomination and issuing 202 Invitations to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for this round was 788, highlighting the crucial value of a provincial nomination in boosting a candidate's score. To date, Canada has issued over 45,000 invitations through the Express Entry system in 2025, with Provincial Nominee Programs and category-based draws emerging as the year's dominant trends.

In the first half of July 2025, the province of Alberta issued hundreds of invitations to apply through its Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), aiming to attract foreign professionals capable of filling critical labor shortages. The draws covered multiple streams, including both Express Entry-aligned and non-Express Entry pathways, with a distinct focus on priority sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, aviation, and law enforcement. Data reveals that the candidate pool for certain programs, particularly the Alberta Opportunity Stream, is highly saturated, leading to fierce competition.

In its June 24 draw, Newfoundland and Labrador issued 320 invitations and successfully negotiated a 1,000-spot increase to its 2025 PNP allocation, signaling a strong commitment to attracting new immigrants. British Columbia’s July 8 draw once again targeted entrepreneurs, issuing no more than 17 invitations and underscoring its high priority for business and investment-class immigrants. Meanwhile, Manitoba extended 67 invitations on July 10, prioritizing international students who graduated from its institutions and skilled workers identified through "Strategic Recruitment Initiatives." These moves clearly reflect the unique immigration strategies each province is deploying based on its economic and labor market needs.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a new Express Entry draw on July 8th, exclusively targeting candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). A total of 3,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued. Notably, the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for this draw was 518, the lowest cutoff since September 2024. To date, the Express Entry system has issued a total of 45,201 invitations in 2025.

Canada's Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted its first Express Entry draw of July, exclusively targeting candidates in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). A total of 356 candidates received invitations, with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score requirement of 750. Data indicates a clear pattern in 2025 draws, with alternating PNP and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) invitations becoming a recent norm. This strategy has directly resulted in the first decline in the number of high-scoring candidates in the Express Entry pool in at least six months.

In late June 2025, the province of Alberta conducted two targeted draws through its Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), focusing on inviting candidates from the construction and agriculture sectors. The draws featured relatively low cut-off scores, reflecting the province's precise strategy to address labor shortages. However, official data indicates that despite a significant number of nominations still available for the year, tens of thousands of Expressions of Interest (EOIs) have accumulated in the main candidate pools, signaling exceptionally fierce competition ahead.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has revealed in its latest Departmental Plan that it is developing a new stream for foreign workers in the agriculture and fish processing industries. The initiative aims to effectively tackle Canada's long-standing agricultural labour shortages through the introduction of sector-specific work permits and potentially expanded international agreements. This new stream is also viewed as a successor to the Agri-Food Pilot, which recently reached its application cap.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has once again issued invitations through the Express Entry system this week. This latest draw was exclusively for candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) who have prior work experience in Canada. A total of 3,000 candidates were invited to apply for permanent residence, with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 521. This marks the first time since February that IRCC has held large-scale CEC draws in consecutive weeks, sparking discussions about a potential shift in future immigration selection trends.