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IRCC Launches First Express Entry Draw of the Year, 471 Candidates Invited

First Express Entry Draw of the Year Launched

The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has recently completed the first Express Entry draw of 2025. A total of 471 candidates received Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence, with the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score set at 793. All candidates invited in this draw were from the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), highlighting IRCC’s continued focus on PNP applicants.

This draw follows two PNP-specific rounds and one French-language proficiency round held in December 2024. According to IRCC data, 2,561 ITAs were issued in December 2024 alone, a trend expected to continue throughout 2025.

Two Core Categories of Express Entry

According to the latest “2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan”, Express Entry candidates are mainly divided into two core categories: the “Federal Economic Priorities” category and the “In-Canada Focus” category. The “Federal Economic Priorities” category includes French-speaking candidates and healthcare and trades professionals, while the “In-Canada Focus” category covers applicants from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). These two categories are expected to account for the majority of Express Entry allocations in 2025, with a target admission goal of 124,680 for the year.

The prioritization of French-speaking candidates and skilled professionals in specific occupations reflects the Canadian government’s commitment to fostering economic diversity and addressing labor shortages. Meanwhile, the emphasis on CEC and PNP applicants underscores IRCC’s support for local experience and provincial economic development strategies.

How Express Entry Works

Express Entry is Canada’s primary management system for economic immigration and includes the following three federal programs:

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

Candidates must submit their profiles to the Express Entry pool, where they are ranked based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). CRS scores are calculated based on several human capital factors, including education, age, work experience, and language proficiency. Candidates with the highest scores are invited to apply for permanent residence through ITAs. Once an ITA is issued, applicants have 60 days to submit their complete applications. IRCC aims to process these applications within six months.

Successful applicants will gain Canadian permanent residency, allowing them to live, work, and settle in Canada permanently, with the opportunity to eventually apply for Canadian citizenship.

Outlook and Conclusion

Over the past year, IRCC has shown a significant focus on CEC, PNP, and French-speaking applicants, and this emphasis is expected to continue in 2025. As a flexible and efficient system, Express Entry remains central to Canada’s efforts to attract global talent in high-demand fields.

In the coming year, IRCC will continue to align its immigration policies with labor market needs while leveraging the prioritization of French-speaking candidates and skilled professionals to promote sustainable economic development in Canada.

For those aspiring to immigrate to Canada through Express Entry, staying informed about policy changes and improving individual competitiveness—such as enhancing language proficiency or gaining Canadian work experience—are key to receiving an ITA. The first Express Entry draw of 2025 has set the tone for immigration policies this year, and candidates are encouraged to closely follow future trends to seize their opportunities.

Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2024

Click here to calculate your CRS score

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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