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IRCC held its first Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw of 2025 through the Express Entry system

On January 8, Canada’s immigration authority issued ITAs to 1,350 CEC candidates through the Express Entry system. This was the first CEC-focused draw of the year, with a minimum CRS score of 542. The draw highlights a strong start to the year for the Express Entry system and reflects IRCC’s ongoing commitment to prioritizing candidates already in Canada.

CEC Draw: Focusing on Local Talent to Support Economic Goals

The latest CEC draw targets candidates already residing in Canada. The CEC program is designed to provide a faster immigration pathway for temporary foreign workers or international students with Canadian work experience. These candidates are deemed better equipped to integrate quickly into Canada’s workforce and society due to their familiarity with the local labor market and culture.

According to the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, IRCC has allocated a significant portion of its Express Entry immigration quotas to CEC and PNP candidates. This strategy not only attracts skilled talent but also addresses challenges such as population aging and labor shortages.

Overview of Express Entry: A Flexible and Efficient System

Established a decade ago, the Express Entry system manages three major economic immigration programs:

  1. Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
  2. Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
  3. Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

In addition, candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) can obtain permanent residency through “enhanced nomination” within the Express Entry system. Express Entry uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to rank candidates based on factors such as education, work experience, and language skills. Invitations to Apply are issued to the highest-ranking candidates, who must then submit a complete application within 60 days. Successful applicants are granted permanent residency.

Trend Analysis: Priority Categories Align with Labor Market Needs

Compared to December 2024, the number of draws and ITAs in January 2025 shows an upward trend. Since 2023, IRCC has implemented category-based selections, allowing more targeted invitations for candidates with specific professional skills or French language proficiency. For 2025, the priority categories include:

  • Healthcare occupations
  • Trades occupations
  • French language proficiency

While IRCC has not announced the cancellation of draws for other categories, the prioritization of these categories underscores Canada’s focus on flexibility and precision in its immigration policies to meet industry-specific labor demands.

Outlook: Express Entry Continues to Play a Leading Role

According to the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, Express Entry is set to become Canada’s largest immigration pathway. IRCC aims to welcome 124,680 new immigrants through Express Entry this year alone. This plan not only strengthens Canada’s position as a top destination for immigrants worldwide but also lays a solid foundation for achieving its economic and demographic goals.

The efficiency and adaptability of the Express Entry system, combined with the precise adjustments to its priority categories, ensure its robust momentum in 2025. For aspiring immigrants, staying informed about the latest policy changes and improving their competitiveness will be critical in achieving their immigration goals.

Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2025

Click here to calculate your CRS score

DateRound TypeInvitations IssuedCRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited
January 8Canadian Experience Class1350542
January 7Provincial Nominee Program471793

Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2024

DateRound TypeInvitations IssuedCRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited
December 16Provincial Nominee Program1085727
December 03French language proficiency800466
December 02Provincial Nominee Program676705
November 20Healthcare occupations3000463
November 19Canadian Experience Class400539
November 18Provincial Nominee Program174816
November 15French language proficiency800478
November 13Canadian Experience Class400547
November 12Provincial Nominee Program733812
October 23Trade occupations1,800433
October 22Canadian Experience Class400539
October 21Provincial Nominee Program648791
October 10French language proficiency1,000444
October 09Canadian Experience Class500539
October 07Provincial Nominee Program1,613743
September 19Canadian Experience Class4,000509
September 13French language proficiency1,000446
September 09Provincial Nominee Program911732
August 27Canadian Experience Class3,300507
August 26Provincial Nominee Program1,121694
August 15French language proficiency2,000394
August 14Canadian Experience Class3,200509
August 13Provincial Nominee Program763690
July 31Canadian Experience Class5,000510
July 30Provincial Nominee Program964686
July 18French language proficiency1,800400
July 17Canadian Experience Class6,300515
July 16Provincial Nominee Program1,391670
July 08French proficiency3,200420
July 05Healthcare occupations3,750445
July 04Trade occupations1,800436
July 02Provincial Nominee Program920739
June 19Provincial Nominee Program1,499663
May 31Canadian Experience Class3,000522
May 30Provincial Nominee Program2,985676
April 24French proficiency1,400410
April 23General2,095529
April 11STEM occupations4,500491
April 10General1,280549
March 26French language proficiency1,500388
March 25General1,980524
March 13Transport occupations975430
March 12General2,850525
February 29French language proficiency2,500336
February 28General1,470534
February 16Agriculture and agri-food occupations150437
February 14Healthcare occupations3,500422
February 13General1,490535
February 01French language proficiency7,000365
January 31General730541
January 23General1,040543
January 10General1,510546

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