Largest CEC Draw Since 2024

On December 10, 2025, IRCC issued 6,000 ITAs to Canadian Experience Class candidates through the Express Entry system. This is the largest CEC draw since July 16, 2024, and the highest single-round invitation count for the program in the past 16 months.

According to IRCC’s criteria, candidates needed to:

• Have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 520; and
• Create their Express Entry profile before 5:30 p.m. UTC on July 15, 2025.

This draw broke the persistent high cut-off range of 533–534 that held for five consecutive CEC rounds, offering a meaningful opening for many waiting candidates.

Faster Draw Pace in 2025, With CEC Playing a Major Role

This was the second Express Entry draw in December, following:

• The largest PNP-linked draw of 2025 on December 8;
• A major French-language category draw on November 28;
• Another CEC draw on November 26.

To date, IRCC has issued 101,599 ITAs through the Express Entry system in 2025, reflecting a sustained level of activity across multiple categories.

While PNP draws remain dominant this year, CEC, French proficiency, and several priority occupation draws continue to account for a large share of invitations.

Number of Draws by Category in 2025

ITA Distribution: French and CEC Lead All Categories

The cumulative ITA distribution shows that candidates in the French-language category and CEC have received the highest number of invitations, reflecting Canada’s continued emphasis on language skills and domestic work experience.

ITAs Issued to Date (by Category)

Outlook

The scale and lower CRS threshold of this CEC draw indicate that IRCC is accelerating its year-end Express Entry targets while continuing to prioritize in-Canada applicants. If this trend continues, 2026 may bring additional pathways or policy adjustments designed for temporary residents seeking to transition to permanent residence.

Summary of Express Entry draws in 2025