Canada holds second monthly CEC draw, CRS score drops to lowest level since July
CEC draw details (November 26, 2025)
On November 26, 2025, IRCC conducted its latest Express Entry draw, inviting 1,000 Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates to apply for permanent residence.
To qualify for this round, candidates needed:
- A minimum CRS score of 531; and
- To have created their Express Entry profile before 7:02 p.m. UTC on October 8, 2025.
The number of ITAs issued remains consistent with the 1,000-invitation pattern seen in all CEC draws since August 7, 2025. This was also the 13th CEC draw of the year.
CRS score falls to four-month low, breaking the 533/534 gridlock
This draw stands out for two key reasons:
- It breaks the five-draw streak of CRS cut-offs at 533 or 534, lowering the threshold to 531;
- It marks the lowest CEC cut-off since July 8, when 3,000 candidates were invited with a minimum score of 518.
The drop signals a slight easing of competitiveness within the CEC stream and reflects IRCC’s shifting draw strategy as the year approaches its end.
Fifth Express Entry draw of November, with CEC remaining a major focus
The November 26 CEC draw was the fifth Express Entry round held this month. Other November draws included:
- November 25: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- November 14: Healthcare and Social Services category
- November 12: Earlier CEC draw
With this latest round, IRCC has issued 88,476 ITAs through Express Entry so far in 2025.
Express Entry draw distribution in 2025
Express Entry activity this year has centered largely on Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws, with the remainder spread across CEC, French-language proficiency, and priority occupation categories.
Number of draws by category
| Draw Type | Count |
|---|---|
| Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 22 |
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 13 |
| French-Language Proficiency | 7 |
| Healthcare & Social Services | 6 |
| Education | 2 |
| Trade | 1 |
Total ITAs issued by category in 2025
Data shows that the French-language category and the CEC stream have been the largest contributors to ITA totals this year.
| Draw Type | ITAs Issued to Date |
|---|---|
| French | 36,000 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 24,850 |
| Healthcare & Social Services | 13,500 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 9,376 |
| Education | 3,500 |
| Trade | 1,250 |
Summary of Express Entry draws in 2025
| Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | Cut-off CRS score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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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