Canada conducts first December Express Entry draw, issues 1,123 invitations under PNP category
On December 8, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted its first Express Entry draw of the month, inviting 1,123 candidates through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) category. This draw represents the largest PNP-specific Express Entry round held in 2025. Candidates selected in this invitation round required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 729 and were required to have created their Express Entry profile before 5:10 a.m. Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) on March 5, 2025.
Recent draw activity and context
This latest draw follows a series of frequent Express Entry rounds held over the past two weeks. IRCC previously conducted:
- a large French-language proficiency draw on November 28;
- a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw on November 26;
- another PNP-specific draw on November 25.
As of December 8, IRCC has issued 95,599 ITAs in 2025, reflecting a sustained pace of draw activity across multiple Express Entry categories throughout the year.
Number of draws held in 2025 by category
While Express Entry invitations are issued through various streams, the Provincial Nominee Program has dominated the year’s draw schedule. The number of draws conducted in 2025 is as follows:
| Draw Type | Number of Draws |
|---|---|
| Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 23 |
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 13 |
| French-language proficiency | 8 |
| Healthcare and social services | 6 |
| Education | 2 |
| Trade | 1 |
ITAs issued by category in 2025
Although PNP draws occurred most frequently, the majority of ITAs issued this year were distributed through French-language proficiency draws and the Canadian Experience Class. To date, the ITA distribution is:
| Draw Type | ITAs Issued |
|---|---|
| French-language proficiency | 42,000 |
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 24,850 |
| Healthcare and social services | 13,500 |
| Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 10,499 |
| Education | 3,500 |
| Trade | 1,250 |
Summary
This early-December PNP draw stands out not only due to its timing but also its scale—ranking among the largest PNP-focused Express Entry rounds of the year. As 2025 approaches its conclusion, IRCC’s draw strategy has become increasingly consistent: prioritize PNP candidates, applicants with in-Canada experience, French-speaking candidates, and individuals aligned with key occupational shortages.
Whether additional draws will occur before year-end remains uncertain, but with nearly 100,000 ITAs issued so far, Canada continues to leverage Express Entry to attract skilled workers, strengthen its labour market, and prepare for new immigration pathways set to launch in 2026.
Summary of Express Entry draws in 2025
| Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | Cut-off CRS score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Friendly reminder: There are many pathways to immigrate to Canada. We recommend first using UNA AI to generate an objective and neutral immigration plan, so you can gain an initial understanding of the possible immigration pathways and their requirements, and then choose to proceed with one-on-one consultations with a licensed Canadian immigration consultant partnered with UNA.
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