Canada Issues Express Entry Invitations to Provincial Nominee Candidates for Second Consecutive Week
On December 15, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted the fourth Express Entry draw of the month, issuing 399 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
Key Details of the Draw
According to IRCC, candidates needed to meet the following criteria to be invited in this round:
- A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 731; and
- An Express Entry profile created before 7:18 a.m. (UTC) on October 18, 2025.
Accelerated Draw Activity in December
The December 15 draw follows a series of active Express Entry rounds earlier in the month, including:
- December 8: The largest Provincial Nominee Program draw of 2025;
- December 10: The largest Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw in more than 16 months;
- December 11: A category-based draw targeting healthcare and social services occupations.
Together, these draws indicate a notable acceleration in Express Entry activity as the year draws to a close, with IRCC rotating invitations across multiple priority categories.
Express Entry Draw Distribution in 2025
So far in 2025, Express Entry draws have been concentrated in the following categories:
| Draw Category | Number of Draws |
|---|---|
| Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 24 |
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 14 |
| French-language proficiency | 8 |
| Healthcare and social services | 7 |
| Education | 2 |
| Trades | 1 |
Invitations Issued by Category
In terms of total invitations issued, French-language and Canadian Experience Class draws account for the majority of ITAs in 2025:
| Draw Category | ITAs Issued to Date |
|---|---|
| French-language category | 42,000 |
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 30,850 |
| Healthcare and social services | 14,500 |
| Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 10,898 |
| Education | 3,500 |
| Trades | 1,250 |
Trend Analysis
The 2025 Express Entry data shows IRCC continuing to rely on provincial nominations and targeted category-based draws to align permanent resident selection with provincial labour market needs and federal priority sectors. While CRS thresholds for PNP candidates remain high, provincial nomination continues to provide a clear and reliable pathway to permanent residence through Express Entry.
With the end of the year approaching, further developments in Express Entry draw activity will depend on future announcements from IRCC.
Summary of Express Entry draws in 2025
| Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | Cut-off CRS score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 15 | Provincial Nominee Program | 399 | 731 |
| Dec 11 | Healthcare and social services | 1,000 | 476 |
| Dec 10 | Canadian Experience Class | 6,000 | 520 |
| Dec 8 | Provincial Nominee Program | 1,123 | 729 |
| Nov 28 | French language proficiency | 6,000 | 408 |
| Nov 26 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 531 |
| Nov 25 | Provincial Nominee Program | 777 | 699 |
| Nov 14 | Healthcare and social services | 3,500 | 462 |
| Nov 12 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 533 |
| Nov 10 | Provincial Nominee Program | 714 | 738 |
| Oct 29 | French language proficiency | 6,000 | 416 |
| Oct 28 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 533 |
| Oct 27 | Provincial Nominee Program | 302 | 761 |
| Oct 15 | Healthcare and social services | 2,500 | 472 |
| Oct 14 | Provincial Nominee Program | 345 | 778 |
| Oct 6 | French language proficiency | 4,500 | 432 |
| Oct 1 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 534 |
| Sept 29 | Provincial Nominee Program | 291 | 855 |
| Sept 18 | Trade | 1,250 | 505 |
| Sept 17 | Education | 2,500 | 462 |
| Sept 15 | Provincial Nominee Program | 228 | 746 |
| Sept 4 | French language proficiency | 4,500 | 446 |
| Sept 3 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 534 |
| Sept 2 | Provincial Nominee Program | 249 | 772 |
| August 19 | Healthcare and social services | 2,500 | 470 |
| August 18 | Provincial Nominee Program | 192 | 800 |
| August 8 | French language proficiency | 2,500 | 481 |
| August 7 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 534 |
| August 6 | Provincial Nominee Program | 225 | 739 |
| July 22 | Healthcare and social services | 4,000 | 475 |
| July 21 | Provincial Nominee Program | 202 | 788 |
| July 8 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,000 | 518 |
| July 7 | Provincial Nominee Program | 356 | 750 |
| June 23 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,000 | 521 |
| June 26 | Provincial Nominee Program | 503 | 742 |
| June 12 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,000 | 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 |
Canada Issues Express Entry Invitations to Provincial Nominee Candidates for Second Consecutive Week
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued another round of invitations through the Express Entry system on December 15, targeting candidates nominated under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). This marks the second consecutive week of PNP-focused draws. A total of 399 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued, with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 731. As of mid-December, IRCC has issued 102,998 ITAs through Express Entry in 2025, with selection efforts continuing to prioritize provincial nominees and Canadian Experience Class candidates.
12/16/2025
British Columbia resumes Skills Immigration draw after two-month pause, issuing 410 provincial nomination invitations
On December 10, 2025, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) held a new Skills Immigration invitation round—its first in more than two months. Focused on candidates the province believes will deliver “high economic impact,” the BC PNP issued 410 invitations to apply (ITAs). The program also noted that future high economic impact invitations may rely on different selection factors, and that invitations are only issued to qualified registrations submitted before the draw date.
12/15/2025
Canada Issues 1,000 Invitations to Healthcare and Social Services Workers in First December Category-Based Express Entry Draw
On December 11, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted the first category-based Express Entry draw of the month, issuing 1,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates in the healthcare and social services sector. With a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 476, the draw highlights Canada’s continued focus on attracting skilled professionals in essential public service fields amid ongoing labour shortages.
12/13/2025
Canada Issues 6,000 CEC Invitations on December 10, Marking the Largest Draw in 16 Months
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a new Express Entry draw on December 10, issuing 6,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). This marks the largest CEC-specific draw since July 2024. The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off fell to 520—significantly lower than the steady 533–534 scores seen over the previous five CEC draws—bringing renewed opportunity to many inland applicants. With this update, the total number of ITAs issued through Express Entry in 2025 has reached 101,599.
12/11/2025
Canada Introduces Three New Immigration Measures to Help International Physicians Become Permanent Residents
On December 8, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced three new measures aimed at making it easier for international physicians to obtain permanent residence. The announcement was made jointly by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab and Member of Parliament Maggie Chi, who also serves as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health. The measures include a new Express Entry category for physicians with Canadian work experience, 5,000 specially reserved permanent residence admissions for provinces and territories, and a 14-day expedited work permit process for nominated practice-ready doctors. These initiatives will begin rolling out in early 2026 to help strengthen Canada’s healthcare workforce.
12/10/2025
Canada conducts first December Express Entry draw, issues 1,123 invitations under PNP category
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held its first Express Entry Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw of December on December 8, issuing 1,123 Invitations to Apply (ITAs)—one of the largest PNP draws of 2025. Candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 729 and had to have created an Express Entry profile before March 5 at 5:10 a.m. (UTC). To date, IRCC has issued 95,599 ITAs through Express Entry in 2025, with draws continuing to prioritize PNP candidates, Canadian Experience Class (CEC) applicants, French-language proficiency candidates, and priority occupation categories.
12/09/2025
Manitoba Issues 184 Invitations in First December Draw, Prioritizing Candidates with Local Connections
The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) held its first draw of December on December 5, 2025, issuing 184 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) — the highest number since October. This draw continued Manitoba’s trend since June of selecting candidates primarily through strategic recruitment initiatives, spanning both the Skilled Worker in Manitoba and Skilled Worker Overseas pathways. Candidates linked to the Temporary Public Policy (TPP) category received the majority of invitations. The province reminds applicants that Manitoba Support Letters for TPP-related open work permit applications must be submitted by December 16, while the federal policy itself expires on December 31.
12/08/2025
Ontario Proposes Two-Phase Overhaul of Provincial Nominee Program for Permanent Residence
The Ontario government has unveiled a major two-phase plan to redesign the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) and reshape how the province selects candidates for permanent residence. Phase one proposes consolidating the three existing Employer Job Offer streams into a single integrated framework with two pathways based on occupation level. Phase two would eliminate all remaining existing streams and replace them with three new ones: a Priority Healthcare Stream, an Entrepreneur Stream, and an Exceptional Talent Stream. The government is currently consulting stakeholders and has not yet clarified how in-progress applications will be handled once the reforms take effect.
12/05/2025
Canada to Introduce Multiple New Permanent Residence Pathways in 2026
Canada’s federal government is preparing to launch and reopen several permanent residence (PR) pathways in 2026, with a strong focus on transitioning more temporary residents already living in the country. The upcoming year will also see new or expanded PR routes for H-1B professionals, construction workers, agricultural and fish processing employees, and refugee-skilled candidates. Multiple pilots that reached their caps in 2025 are expected to reopen. As many details remain pending, 2026 is shaping up to be a significant year of structural updates to Canada’s immigration system.
12/04/2025
Nova Scotia Overhauls Provincial Nominee and AIP Selection System with New EOI Model
On November 28, 2025, Nova Scotia announced a major shift in its immigration intake system, confirming that all submissions under the Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program (NSPNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) will now be processed through an Expression of Interest (EOI) model. Under the new rules, all submissions—regardless of submission date—are considered EOIs, and having a case ID or meeting eligibility criteria no longer guarantees file processing. The province will conduct periodic draws based on current labor market and economic priorities, with priority sectors such as healthcare, construction, trades, STEM, natural resources, and manufacturing. The shift aligns with broader trends driven by reduced provincial nomination allocations from IRCC. With increased immigration targets set for 2026, applicants may soon see improved chances of receiving selections.
12/03/2025
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