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Canada’s IRCC Issues 4,000 CEC Invitations; Express Entry Remains the Primary Economic Immigration Pathway

1. Latest CEC Invitation: 4,000 Candidates Selected

On January 23, IRCC conducted the latest round of Express Entry invitations for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), issuing 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITA). Unlike previous rounds, this time the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score was set at 527, requiring candidates to have submitted their Express Entry profiles by 7:06:43 AM UTC on July 23, 2024, to be eligible for an invitation.

This invitation closely follows the January 7 draw for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) (471 invitations, minimum CRS 793) and the January 8 draw for the CEC (1,350 invitations, minimum CRS 542). This demonstrates the IRCC’s increased focus on CEC candidates recently. According to the “In-Canada Focus” section of the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan, IRCC aims to admit 82,890 new immigrants through this pathway in 2025.

2. Overview of 2025 Express Entry Invitations

The details of the three Express Entry invitation rounds conducted in 2025 are as follows:

DateInvitation CategoryInvitations IssuedMinimum CRS Score
January 23, 2025Canadian Experience Class4000527
January 8, 2025Canadian Experience Class1350542
January 7, 2025Provincial Nominee Program471793

3. How to Increase Your CRS Score

The CRS evaluates candidates based on several factors, including:

  • Core human capital factors (e.g., age, education, language proficiency, etc.);
  • Skill transferability factors;
  • Spouse or common-law partner factors;
  • Additional points (e.g., provincial nomination, French language proficiency, etc.).

For prospective immigrants aiming to secure an ITA through the Express Entry system, the following steps can help improve CRS scores:

  • Enhance educational qualifications to achieve a higher degree;
  • Improve English or French language proficiency (bilingual skills earn additional points);
  • Gain additional work experience in Canada or elsewhere;
  • Obtain a provincial nomination (PNP);
  • (If applicable) Acquire a trade certification from a Canadian province, which can earn higher points when combined with language skills.

Note that if applicants are applying with a spouse or common-law partner, the scoring criteria may vary slightly.

You can calculate their CRS scores for free to understand how to strategically plan improvements.

4. Continued Importance of Express Entry in 2025

The IRCC has adjusted the allocation of quotas for major economic categories in its 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan, ensuring that the Express Entry program retains its leading role.

According to the newly announced immigration targets, the allocation for Express Entry will increase from 110,770 in 2024 to 124,590 in 2025. Meanwhile, the PNP quota will decrease sharply from 110,000 in 2024 to 55,000 in 2025. This significant difference indicates:

  • The number of ITAs issued under the PNP category will decline in 2025;
  • The Express Entry system will need to issue more ITAs to meet the higher quota targets.

5. Conclusion

With the reallocation of quotas to the Express Entry system, CEC applicants are experiencing a new wave of favorable conditions. Meanwhile, the reduction in PNP quotas will prompt a strategic adjustment among applicants. For skilled candidates aiming to immigrate to Canada before 2025, leveraging CEC opportunities and improving CRS scores will be key to securing an ITA successfully.

阿尔伯塔省9月中旬举行三轮移民邀请 向科技、执法及普通工作者发出超1400份邀请函
Alberta Holds Three Immigration Draws in Mid-September, Issuing Over 1,400 Invitations to Tech, Law Enforcement, and General Workers
Between September 12 and 17, 2025, Alberta conducted three rounds of immigration invitations across different categories through the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), issuing over 1,400 invitation letters to technology professionals, law enforcement workers, and candidates under the Alberta Opportunity Stream. This series of invitations demonstrates the province's targeted immigration strategy addressing specific labor market demands.
09/28/2025
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Latest data released by Statistics Canada on September 24, 2025, reveals that Canada is facing a major demographic turning point. Affected by federal government immigration policy adjustments, Canada's population growth rate in Q2 2025 was only 0.1%, marking the lowest post-war level (excluding pandemic period). Meanwhile, population aging trends are accelerating again, posing severe challenges to the national labor market and economic development.
09/26/2025
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IRCC Releases August Data: Backlog Increases, Study Permit Processing Times Extended
According to the latest data released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), as of August 31, 2025, the department's application backlog reached 958,850 cases, continuing to rise from July's 901,700 cases, representing a 6.33% increase. This marks the fourth consecutive month of worsening backlog issues for IRCC, with study permit applications experiencing particularly severe delays, surging from 23% in July to 32% in August.
09/25/2025
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09/24/2025
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Manitoba Issues Provincial Nomination Invitations to Over 900 Skilled Workers
Manitoba's immigration department issued application invitations to 911 skilled worker candidates this week through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). This draw covered both the Skilled Worker in Manitoba stream and the Skilled Worker Overseas stream, with candidates primarily qualifying through strategic recruitment initiatives and temporary work permit facilitation policies. Notably, over 90% of the invitations were issued to applicants who benefited from the federal temporary work permit policy.
09/23/2025
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H1-B Visa Fees Surge Dramatically in the US, Canada Work Permits Emerge as Popular Alternative
With US H1-B visa application fees skyrocketing to $100,000, an increasing number of international tech professionals are turning their attention to Canada. This article provides a detailed analysis of Canada's main work permit and immigration pathways, offering comprehensive guidance for professionals seeking to develop their careers in North America.
09/22/2025
阿尔伯塔省九月上旬密集抽选,发放逾1300份省提名邀请
Alberta Issues Over 1,300 Provincial Nomination Invitations in Early September Draws
In early September 2025, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) conducted a series of seven immigration draws, issuing a total of 1,376 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates. These draws primarily targeted applicants in the Alberta Express Entry stream and the Dedicated Healthcare Pathway, focusing on inviting candidates with Alberta job offers who can help fill labor gaps in high-demand sectors. The number of invitations issued in the first half of September alone has already surpassed that of any other single month in 2025, indicating that the province is accelerating its efforts to meet its economic development needs.
09/20/2025
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Canada Holds First Express Entry Draw of 2025 for Trade Occupations, CRS Score Rises Sharply
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted its first Express Entry draw of the year for trade occupations on September 18, 2025. A total of 1,250 candidates received an Invitation to Apply (ITA). However, the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score soared to 505, significantly higher than the previous draw for this category. The primary reason for the score increase is the long interval between draws, which led to an accumulation of high-scoring candidates. Additionally, internal documents suggest IRCC plans to issue more invitations to trade candidates in the second half of the year.
09/19/2025
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Canada Conducts Express Entry Draw for Education Professionals, CRS Cut-off Score Drops to 462
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09/18/2025
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Alberta's Provincial Nomination Allocation for 2025 Raised to 6,403
The Canadian federal government has recently approved an increase to the 2025 allocation for the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). The province's nomination spots have been raised from the previously set 4,875 to 6,403, a net increase of 1,528. This adjustment comes after the federal government had drastically reduced overall PNP immigration targets in response to pressures such as housing shortages. The increased allocation is viewed as a positive response to lobbying by provinces to meet local labour demands, and it is anticipated that the new spots will be prioritized to support key industries and regional economic development. In addition to Alberta, several other Canadian provinces and territories have also received increased allocations.
09/17/2025
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