On January 8, Canada’s immigration authority issued ITAs to 1,350 CEC candidates through the Express Entry system. This was the first CEC-focused draw of the year, with a minimum CRS score of 542. The draw highlights a strong start to the year for the Express Entry system and reflects IRCC’s ongoing commitment to prioritizing candidates already in Canada.
CEC Draw: Focusing on Local Talent to Support Economic Goals
The latest CEC draw targets candidates already residing in Canada. The CEC program is designed to provide a faster immigration pathway for temporary foreign workers or international students with Canadian work experience. These candidates are deemed better equipped to integrate quickly into Canada’s workforce and society due to their familiarity with the local labor market and culture.
According to the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, IRCC has allocated a significant portion of its Express Entry immigration quotas to CEC and PNP candidates. This strategy not only attracts skilled talent but also addresses challenges such as population aging and labor shortages.
Overview of Express Entry: A Flexible and Efficient System
Established a decade ago, the Express Entry system manages three major economic immigration programs:
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
In addition, candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) can obtain permanent residency through “enhanced nomination” within the Express Entry system. Express Entry uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to rank candidates based on factors such as education, work experience, and language skills. Invitations to Apply are issued to the highest-ranking candidates, who must then submit a complete application within 60 days. Successful applicants are granted permanent residency.
Trend Analysis: Priority Categories Align with Labor Market Needs
Compared to December 2024, the number of draws and ITAs in January 2025 shows an upward trend. Since 2023, IRCC has implemented category-based selections, allowing more targeted invitations for candidates with specific professional skills or French language proficiency. For 2025, the priority categories include:
- Healthcare occupations
- Trades occupations
- French language proficiency
While IRCC has not announced the cancellation of draws for other categories, the prioritization of these categories underscores Canada’s focus on flexibility and precision in its immigration policies to meet industry-specific labor demands.
Outlook: Express Entry Continues to Play a Leading Role
According to the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, Express Entry is set to become Canada’s largest immigration pathway. IRCC aims to welcome 124,680 new immigrants through Express Entry this year alone. This plan not only strengthens Canada’s position as a top destination for immigrants worldwide but also lays a solid foundation for achieving its economic and demographic goals.
The efficiency and adaptability of the Express Entry system, combined with the precise adjustments to its priority categories, ensure its robust momentum in 2025. For aspiring immigrants, staying informed about the latest policy changes and improving their competitiveness will be critical in achieving their immigration goals.
Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2025
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| Date | Round Type | Invitations Issued | CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 8 | Canadian Experience Class | 1350 | 542 |
| January 7 | Provincial Nominee Program | 471 | 793 |
Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2024
| Date | Round Type | Invitations Issued | CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 1085 | 727 |
| December 03 | French language proficiency | 800 | 466 |
| December 02 | Provincial Nominee Program | 676 | 705 |
| November 20 | Healthcare occupations | 3000 | 463 |
| November 19 | Canadian Experience Class | 400 | 539 |
| November 18 | Provincial Nominee Program | 174 | 816 |
| November 15 | French language proficiency | 800 | 478 |
| November 13 | Canadian Experience Class | 400 | 547 |
| November 12 | Provincial Nominee Program | 733 | 812 |
| October 23 | Trade occupations | 1,800 | 433 |
| October 22 | Canadian Experience Class | 400 | 539 |
| October 21 | Provincial Nominee Program | 648 | 791 |
| October 10 | French language proficiency | 1,000 | 444 |
| October 09 | Canadian Experience Class | 500 | 539 |
| October 07 | Provincial Nominee Program | 1,613 | 743 |
| September 19 | Canadian Experience Class | 4,000 | 509 |
| September 13 | French language proficiency | 1,000 | 446 |
| September 09 | Provincial Nominee Program | 911 | 732 |
| August 27 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,300 | 507 |
| August 26 | Provincial Nominee Program | 1,121 | 694 |
| August 15 | French language proficiency | 2,000 | 394 |
| August 14 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,200 | 509 |
| August 13 | Provincial Nominee Program | 763 | 690 |
| July 31 | Canadian Experience Class | 5,000 | 510 |
| July 30 | Provincial Nominee Program | 964 | 686 |
| July 18 | French language proficiency | 1,800 | 400 |
| July 17 | Canadian Experience Class | 6,300 | 515 |
| July 16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 1,391 | 670 |
| July 08 | French proficiency | 3,200 | 420 |
| July 05 | Healthcare occupations | 3,750 | 445 |
| July 04 | Trade occupations | 1,800 | 436 |
| July 02 | Provincial Nominee Program | 920 | 739 |
| June 19 | Provincial Nominee Program | 1,499 | 663 |
| May 31 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,000 | 522 |
| May 30 | Provincial Nominee Program | 2,985 | 676 |
| April 24 | French proficiency | 1,400 | 410 |
| April 23 | General | 2,095 | 529 |
| April 11 | STEM occupations | 4,500 | 491 |
| April 10 | General | 1,280 | 549 |
| March 26 | French language proficiency | 1,500 | 388 |
| March 25 | General | 1,980 | 524 |
| March 13 | Transport occupations | 975 | 430 |
| March 12 | General | 2,850 | 525 |
| February 29 | French language proficiency | 2,500 | 336 |
| February 28 | General | 1,470 | 534 |
| February 16 | Agriculture and agri-food occupations | 150 | 437 |
| February 14 | Healthcare occupations | 3,500 | 422 |
| February 13 | General | 1,490 | 535 |
| February 01 | French language proficiency | 7,000 | 365 |
| January 31 | General | 730 | 541 |
| January 23 | General | 1,040 | 543 |
| January 10 | General | 1,510 | 546 |
