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Canada’s IRCC Issues 4,000 CEC Invitations; Express Entry Remains the Primary Economic Immigration Pathway
Published Date: January 24, 2025

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.

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