Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a highly anticipated targeted draw through its Express Entry immigration selection system on June 12. The draw specifically invited 3,000 candidates from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), a stream designed for individuals with skilled work experience in Canada.

According to the official details released, candidates needed to meet two criteria to be invited in this round:

• A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 529.
• An Express Entry profile created and submitted before 6:06 p.m. Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) on September 28, 2024.

A Strategic Shift: CEC Category Regains Prominence

This draw is the fourth to take place in June and the first CEC-specific draw under the new Minister of Immigration. The scale of 3,000 invitations suggests that IRCC's strategy may be returning to the pattern seen in 2024 and early 2025, which featured regular, large-scale draws for CEC candidates. This development is undoubtedly welcome news for the large community of international students and temporary foreign workers in Canada.

Reviewing recent activity, IRCC conducted a small Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw on June 10, inviting only 125 candidates, and a targeted draw for healthcare and social service occupations on June 4, which invited 500. The frequency and diversity of these draws indicate that the department is actively using the Express Entry system to flexibly meet Canada’s labour market needs across various sectors.

So far in 2025, Canada has issued a total of 38,342 ITAs through the Express Entry system. An analysis of this year's draws shows that the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) remains the primary channel for invitations, with 10 draws held. The remaining ITAs have been allocated to the Canadian Experience Class (5 draws), candidates with French-language proficiency (3 draws), and priority occupation categories, including healthcare and education.

The Advantages of the CEC: An Immigration Fast-Track for In-Canada Talent

The Canadian Experience Class is a key immigration program developed collaboratively by Canada's federal and provincial governments to encourage temporary foreign workers and international students to transition to permanent residence. This mechanism is widely seen as a "win-win" strategy, fulfilling the immigration goals of foreign nationals while injecting new vitality into Canada's labour market and demography.

Research from IRCC, Statistics Canada, and other reputable sources consistently shows that skilled immigrants with prior Canadian experience integrate more quickly and successfully into the domestic job market. CEC applicants typically possess strong human capital attributes, such as being of a prime working age, holding a high level of education, and having valuable Canadian work experience. The social and professional networks they build while in Canada enable them to achieve strong labour market outcomes, often even outperforming the Canadian-born population.

For applicants, the benefits of the CEC program are clear:

• CRS Score Boost: Canadian work experience awards significant points under the CRS, greatly increasing a candidate's chances of receiving an ITA.
• Fast Processing Times: CEC applications submitted through Express Entry are typically processed within six months, significantly reducing wait times.
• No Proof of Funds Required: Unlike applicants in the other two Express Entry programs (the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Federal Skilled Trades Program), CEC candidates are not required to show proof of settlement funds when they apply for permanent residence.

The return of this large-scale CEC draw reaffirms the high value Canada's immigration system places on in-country experience, paving a clearer and smoother path to permanent residency for temporary residents who have already contributed to Canada's economy and society.

Summary of Express Entry draws in 2025