As we pass the halfway mark of 2025, Canada’s Express Entry system has revealed several new trends—some expected, others surprising. While the structure of the system remains the same, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has clearly shifted its focus this year. From the number and types of draws to the cut-off scores and future projections, here’s what we’ve learned so far and what might lie ahead. Express Entry – Parisa Erfani
How Many Draws Have Taken Place?
From January 1 to July 24, 2025, IRCC conducted 27 Express Entry draws, matching the pace seen in 2024 and exceeding that of 2023.
| Year | Draws (up to July 24) |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 27 |
| 2024 | 27 |
| 2023 | 22 |
However, 2025 stands out for its strong emphasis on Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws, which have dominated the first half of the year.
How Many Invitations Were Issued?
While the number of draws remains steady, the number of invitations to apply (ITAs) has declined:
| Year | ITAs Issued (Jan–July 24) |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 49,403 |
| 2024 | 62,615 |
| 2023 | 69,148 |
This decrease aligns with Canada’s reduced immigration targets in response to housing supply and affordability pressures.
Breakdown by Draw Type
Here’s how different draw types stacked up:
| Draw Type | Number of Draws | ITAs Issued |
|---|---|---|
| Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 13 | 6,053 |
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 7 | 18,850 |
| French Language Proficiency | 3 | 18,500 |
| Healthcare and Social Services | 3 | 5,000 |
| Education Occupations | 1 | 1,000 |
Key Takeaways:
- French language draws accounted for 37.4% of all ITAs—despite only 3 draws!
- CEC draws were also significant, making up 38.1% of ITAs, with larger rounds beginning in May.
- PNP draws were the most frequent but contributed just 12.2% of total ITAs.
- Occupational category draws (like Education, Healthcare) remained small and infrequent.
CRS Cut-Off Trends in 2025
Here are the lowest and highest Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores for each major draw type so far:
| Draw Type | Lowest CRS | Highest CRS |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian Experience Class | 518 | 547 |
| French Language Proficiency | 379 | 428 |
| Healthcare & Social Services | 475 | 510 |
| Education Occupations | 479 | N/A |
Insights:
- CEC cut-offs are trending downward thanks to larger draw sizes.
- French-language draws had the lowest scores overall, but cut-offs may increase due to a recent pause.
- Healthcare and Education draws have remained small and competitive.
What Might Happen Next?
While the future is never guaranteed, a few emerging patterns suggest what we might expect for the rest of 2025.
Continued Focus on Priority Categories
IRCC’s 2025 goals include inviting candidates from:
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- French-language proficiency
- Healthcare & Social Services
- Education
- Trades (though no Trades draws have occurred yet)
Interestingly, construction trades were added to the Trades category, likely supporting other federal efforts to attract workers in the sector.
Bigger Draws Likely in Late 2025
According to a 2024 memo from IRCC, most ITAs issued from July through December will count toward 2025’s landing targets. With a target of 123,320 PR admissions via Express Entry in 2026, we could see an uptick in draw frequency and size in the coming months.
For reference, July 2024 saw nine draws and over 25,000 ITAs—the busiest month in Express Entry history.
Category Changes in 2025
February 2025 brought important updates to Express Entry’s category-based selection:
- A new Education category was introduced.
- The Transport category was removed.
- Major revisions were made to all other categories:
| Category | Added | Removed |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare & Social Services | 8 | 6 |
| STEM | 6 | 19 |
| Trades | 19 | 4 |
| Agriculture & Agri-food | 0 | 2 |
Despite still being active, STEM and Agriculture are not prioritized categories in 2025.
Final Thoughts
So far in 2025, Canada’s Express Entry system has become more focused, deliberate, and category-driven. The shift toward French-speaking candidates, healthcare professionals, and CEC applicants indicates a strategic move to address national labor shortages and demographic goals.
As the year progresses, keep an eye on:
- A potential surge in draw sizes
- The first Trades category draw (still pending)
- CRS score shifts if draw frequency increases
If you’re in the Express Entry pool or planning to enter soon, now is the time to evaluate your profile—and prepare for what could be a very active second half of the year.
Want to know how competitive your profile is? Reach out for a personalized assessment.
What we can learn from Express Entry draws in 2025 thus far | CIC News
