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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07/12/2025
Canada to Bolster Support for Francophone Immigrants with Launch of Revamped "Welcoming Francophone Communities Initiative"
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07/10/2025
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) 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.
07/09/2025
Canada Holds First Express Entry Draw of July, Targeting PNP Candidates with a High CRS Score of 750
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.
07/08/2025
Alberta Targets Key Industries in Latest Immigration Draws, Focusing on Construction and Agriculture
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07/07/2025
Canada's Immigration System Undergoes Key Adjustments: 2025 Mid-Year Review Highlights Quota Reductions and Policy Updates
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07/05/2025
Canada Adjusts Financial Requirement for International Students, Effective September
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07/04/2025
OINP Undergoes Key Policy Shift: Ontario Can Now Return Applications, Prioritizing "High-Quality" Candidates
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07/03/2025
International Education Stream Dominates Latest Manitoba PNP Draw
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07/02/2025
IRCC Officially Announces New Dedicated Foreign Worker Stream for Agriculture and Fish Processing Sector
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