Canada's Latest Express Entry Draw Issues 4,500 Invitations to French-Speaking Candidates
On September 4, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) once again issued a new round of Invitations to Apply (ITA) to skilled workers worldwide through the Express Entry system. This was a category-based draw targeting candidates with strong French-language skills, with a total of 4,500 individuals invited to apply for permanent residence.
According to official data released by the department, candidates invited in this round needed to meet two primary criteria:
- First, they required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 446;
- Second, candidates must have created and submitted their Express Entry profile before 7:21 a.m. Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) on June 16, 2025. This "tie-breaking rule" is applied to prioritize candidates who have the same CRS score.
Notably, this draw marks the third invitation round conducted this week, indicating a high frequency of draws by IRCC in early September. It follows a draw for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates on September 3 and another for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates on September 2. The most recent category-based draw before this week was on August 19, which targeted professionals in healthcare and social services occupations.
Analyzing the trends for 2025, Canada's immigration system has demonstrated a clear policy direction. To date, IRCC has issued a total of 62,109 ITAs through the Express Entry system this year. The draws in 2025 have been primarily focused on the following categories:
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): With 16 draws, this has been the most frequent category, highlighting the significant role of provinces in attracting necessary talent.
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC): 9 draws have been held, continuing to provide an immigration pathway for applicants with local Canadian work experience.
- French-language proficiency: 5 draws have been conducted, underscoring the Canadian government's long-term commitment to fostering the growth of Francophone communities outside of Quebec.
- Healthcare and social services: 4 draws have aimed to meet Canada's labour demands in critical social sectors.
- Education: 1 draw has been held for this category.
The cumulative data shows that PNP draws and targeted selections for specific occupations or language abilities have become the predominant model for Express Entry invitations in 2025. This reflects a shift in Canadian immigration policy towards a more precise and targeted approach to effectively address labour market needs across different regions and industries. For prospective immigrants to Canada, closely monitoring the trends in different draw categories and enhancing their competitiveness in areas like language and professional background will be crucial to increasing their chances of receiving an invitation.
Summary of Express Entry draws in 2025
| Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | Cut-off CRS score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Ontario PNP Issues Over 1,800 Invitations, Targeting In-Canada Candidates in High-Demand Occupations
On September 3, 2025, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) conducted two pivotal draws, issuing 1,893 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for provincial nomination to candidates already residing in Canada and possessing job offers in 77 specific priority occupations. These draws primarily targeted the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker and Employer Job Offer: International Student streams, with minimum scores of 42 and 63, respectively. Notably, these invitations were issued following the shift to an employer-led application process in Ontario's immigration system, underscoring the province's ongoing demand for specific skilled talent and reflecting its dynamic adjustments to immigration policy.
09/05/2025
Canada's Latest Express Entry Draw Issues 4,500 Invitations to French-Speaking Candidates
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held its third Express Entry draw of the week on September 4, 2025, specifically inviting candidates with French-language proficiency. A total of 4,500 Invitations to Apply (ITA) were issued in this round, with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score requirement of 446. This draw highlights the Canadian immigration system's continued emphasis on supporting Francophone communities and attracting candidates with specific skills.
09/05/2025
Alberta PNP Targets Law Enforcement Professionals in New Draw, Minimum Score Hits 2025 Low
On August 19, 2025, the province of Alberta conducted a targeted draw through its Provincial Nominee Program's (AAIP) Law Enforcement Pathway. While fewer than 10 invitations were issued, the minimum qualifying score was only 45, one of the lowest this year. This dedicated immigration stream aims to help the province recruit police and other law enforcement professionals to address local public safety and recruitment objectives. Data reveals that despite the low score, competition remains high due to a limited annual quota and a significant number of candidates in the pool.
09/04/2025
Canada Issues New Round of Express Entry Invitations, Focusing on Canadian Experience Class
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted its latest Express Entry draw on September 3, 2025. This draw specifically targeted candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), issuing a total of 1,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for invited candidates was 534. This draw marks the ninth invitation round for this category so far this year.
09/04/2025
Canada Invites 249 PNP Candidates in First Express Entry Draw of September
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted its first Express Entry draw of September on September 2, 2025, issuing 249 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence to candidates in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for this draw was 772. Data indicates that the PNP continues to be the primary category for invitations in 2025, highlighting its central role in Canada's immigration system.
09/03/2025
Ontario Provincial Nominee Program Issues New Invitations, Targeting Candidates in Northern Ontario and Specific Communities
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) held five targeted provincial nomination draws on August 28, 2025, issuing a total of 468 invitations to apply to eligible candidates. These invitations primarily focused on two categories of applicants: foreign workers and international students with job offers in Northern Ontario, and candidates who qualify for the Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) pilot program with an employer job offer in a specific community. This round of invitations again highlights Ontario's strategic direction of using immigration policy to address labour shortages in specific regions.
09/02/2025
Saskatchewan Receives Increased Immigration Allocation, Creating New Opportunities for Priority Sectors
The Canadian province of Saskatchewan has announced that its 2025 Provincial Nominee Program (SINP) has received an additional 1,136 nominations from the federal government, bringing its total annual allocation to 4,761. This adjustment reopens application pathways for several sectors that were previously paused due to reaching their caps. Against a backdrop of diverging immigration allocation trends across Canada, this development in Saskatchewan, along with increases in several other provinces, highlights the complex and evolving landscape of federal and provincial immigration policies.
08/29/2025
PEI PNP Update: Eighth Draw of 2025 Targets In-Province Skilled Workers and Graduates from Designated Institutions
On August 21, 2025, Canada's Prince Edward Island (PEI) held its eighth Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) draw of the year, issuing a total of 132 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates. This draw continued to focus on applicants already living and working in the province in high-demand occupations, with special priority given to international graduates from three designated local post-secondary institutions. To date, PEI has issued a cumulative total of 792 invitations in 2025.
08/28/2025
British Columbia Holds New Entrepreneur Immigration Draw, Score Requirements Shift
The province of British Columbia held a new Provincial Nominee Program draw on August 19, 2025, exclusively targeting candidates in the Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) category. A total of no more than 16 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued through the Base and Regional Pilot streams. The results confirm a clear trend in 2025, with the BC PNP prioritizing business and investment streams, marking this the sixth entrepreneur-focused draw of the year.
08/27/2025
Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program Update: Latest Draw Targets Candidates in Strategic Recruitment Initiatives
The province of Manitoba held its 17th Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) draw of the year on August 21, 2025. This draw exclusively targeted skilled worker candidates who received a direct invitation through a Strategic Recruitment Initiative. A total of 77 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) were issued, with a minimum required score of 612. The draw underscores the province's strategy of collaborating with employers and communities to precisely attract in-demand talent.
08/26/2025
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