On March 17, IRCC announced the completion of the third Express Entry draw for March 2025. This draw maintains the strong momentum seen so far this month and further underscores Canada’s urgent demand for skilled immigrants. Specifically targeting PNP candidates, this round issued 536 ITAs to applicants who met a minimum CRS score of 736.

The tie-breaking rule for this draw was set for 2:02 PM UTC on March 12, meaning only candidates who submitted their Express Entry profiles before this time were considered. This draw follows earlier ones on March 6 (targeting French-speaking candidates) and March 3 (also focused on PNP), showcasing IRCC’s active approach to frequent draws this month.

Since the beginning of 2025, Express Entry draws have alternated among Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and French-speaking candidates. This year has also seen larger-scale draws issuing thousands of ITAs. For instance, the CEC draw on February 5 issued 4,000 ITAs, with a minimum CRS score of 521. Similarly, the French-language draws on February 19 and March 6 each invited over 4,000 candidates.

Notably, on February 27, IRCC released its list of priority categories for 2025, adding the education sector for the first time. The current priority categories for 2025 include:

• French-language proficiency
• Healthcare and social services occupations
• Skilled trades
• Education occupations

In the official press release announcing the priority categories, IRCC reiterated its commitment to inviting candidates through Express Entry who have Canadian work experience and/or French language skills. This clearly reflects the direction of Canada’s immigration policy—attracting talent who can integrate quickly into Canadian society and contribute to its economy.

Understanding Express Entry

Express Entry is the online system used to manage applications for Canada’s three main economic immigration programs:

• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

The system uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to select candidates who are most likely to meet Canada’s labor market needs and contribute to the economy. CRS scores are based on human capital factors such as age, occupation, education, language proficiency, and work experience. Each factor is assigned a score, which are then combined to form the candidate’s total CRS score.

Generally, CRS scores required in PNP draws tend to be higher because candidates nominated by a province receive an additional 600 points automatically.

Additionally, candidates with Canadian relatives or those applying with a spouse or partner may also receive bonus points. As a result, candidates with the highest CRS scores are more likely to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in upcoming draws.

This latest draw again highlights the diversity and flexibility of Canada’s immigration policy, offering clear guidance for those aiming to immigrate through Express Entry—particularly emphasizing that improvements in language skills, work experience, and qualifications in priority fields like education will enhance one’s chances of receiving an ITA.

2025 Express Entry Invitation Summary