The Express Entry draws held so far in 2025 highlight clear patterns and reveal how Canada is using this system to balance its economic immigration goals with its current social and economic pressures.
Today, we will discuss some of the key lessons from Express Entry draws so far in 2025.
So, without further ado, let us begin!
How Many Draws Have Taken Place So Far?
From January 1 to July 24, 2025, Canada has held 27 Express Entry draws.
This is nearly identical to the number of draws by mid-year in the past two years, showing that IRCC has kept a steady draw schedule, though the focus within these draws has shifted toward certain pathways.
The mid-year draw numbers for the last three years look like this:
| Year | Number Of Draws (To 24 July) |
| 2025 | 27 |
| 2024 | 27 |
| 2023 | 22 |
While the total number of draws remains steady, the type of draws has changed. In 2025, there has been a noticeable increase in draws targeting the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), which have made up nearly half of all rounds so far.
Draw frequency has stayed high, with multiple draws in most months and some busy periods — especially March and June — that saw four or more draws in a single month.
How Many ITAs Have Been Issued So Far?
Between January 1 and July 24, 2025, Canada issued 49,403 invitations to apply (ITAs) through Express Entry — a figure lower than for the same period in 2024 and 2023.
This drop lines up with Canada’s current policy to moderate immigration levels this year in response to housing affordability challenges and pressures on social services.
| Year | Total Invitations Issued (Jan–24 July) |
| 2025 | 49,403 |
| 2024 | 62,615 |
| 2023 | 69,148 |
Even with fewer total ITAs, Express Entry continues to deliver steady rounds of invitations — just more targeted toward specific categories and programs than before.
Which Draw Types Issued The Most Invitations So Far In 2025?
Another one of the key lessons from Express Entry draws so far in 2025 is the kind of draws that issued the highest number of invitations.
Here’s how the draws broke down from January to July 24, 2025:
| Draw Type | Number Of Draws | Total ITAs Issued |
| Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 13 | 6,053 |
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 7 | 18,850 |
| French Language Proficiency (Version 1) | 3 | 18,500 |
| Healthcare and Social Services (Version 2) | 3 | 5,000 |
| Education Occupations (Version 1) | 1 | 1,000 |
A few clear trends stand out:
- French-Language Draws: Despite only three rounds so far, these made up a huge 37.4% of all ITAs; thanks to large draws early this year that targeted Francophone newcomers.
- CEC Draws: The Canadian Experience Class has been the second-biggest source of ITAs so far (38.1% of the total), supported by regular, large rounds of 3,000–4,000 invitations, especially from May onward.
- PNP Draws: These draws were the most frequent but delivered smaller batches of invitations, averaging around 500 ITAs per round — just 12.2% of all ITAs.
- Occupational Categories: Category-based draws, such as Healthcare or Education, were more visible this year than before, but still made up only 12.1% of total ITAs so far.
What Were The CRS Cut-Off Scores For Each Draw Type?
The table below shows the lowest and highest CRS cut-off scores recorded for each main draw type this year (except PNP draws, which vary more widely by province and nomination criteria):
| Draw Type | Lowest CRS Cut-off | Highest CRS Cut-off |
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 518 | 547 |
| French Language Proficiency (Version 1) | 379 | 428 |
| Healthcare and Social Services (Version 2) | 475 | 510 |
| Education Occupations (Version 1) | 479 | — |
We can make some deductions based on the trends seen above:
- CEC Scores Are Trending Down: As IRCC holds larger, more frequent CEC draws, cut-offs have begun to drop slightly, offering more opportunities for people already working in Canada.
- French Draws Have The Lowest CRS Scores: Early in the year, very large draws for French-speaking candidates saw cut-offs fall as low as 379 — the lowest of any category so far in 2025. However, this may rise again if there is a pause in French draws.
- Healthcare And Education Draws: These have seen moderate CRS thresholds, sitting in the 475–510 range, showing a balance between the need for targeted occupations and overall program competitiveness.
What Trends Could Shape Express Entry For The Rest Of 2025?
While it’s always hard to predict IRCC’s next steps exactly, there are a few clear factors that could influence Express Entry in the coming months.
Continued Focus On Priority Streams
Unless Canada announces major policy changes, we can expect IRCC to keep emphasizing its stated 2025 goals, which include:
- Regular CEC draws for those with Canadian work experience.
- Priority draws for key occupational groups, especially:
- Healthcare and Social Services
- Education
- Trades
- French-language proficiency
Note that although Trades were named as a priority this year, IRCC has not yet run a dedicated Trade draw so far in 2025. However, the Trades category was expanded in February to cover more construction occupations — a sign that Trade draws may come soon, especially as Canada works to address housing construction labour gaps.
Future-Focused ITA Schedules
In July 2024, IRCC confirmed in an internal memo that the timing of ITAs directly impacts admissions targets in the following year. Specifically, most applications submitted from July to February contribute to the next year’s PR admissions numbers.
Because of this, IRCC could scale up draws in the second half of 2025 to help reach its target of 123,320 permanent resident admissions through Express Entry in 2026.
This pattern has happened before. For example, July 2024 was one of the busiest months in Express Entry history, with 25,125 ITAs issued across nine rounds.
So, if the department sticks with a similar approach, one could see:
- More draws
- Larger draw sizes in the final months of 2025
Recent Changes To Express Entry Categories
Another one of the key lessons from Express Entry draws so far in 2025 is that there have been certain changes to the Express Entry categories.
Canada’s occupational categories for Express Entry got a significant update in February 2025. These changes reflect Canada’s effort to keep the system aligned with labour market needs.
Key changes include:
- New Education Category: This new group covers five occupations — including early childhood educators, elementary and secondary school teachers, and teacher assistants — creating an important new pathway for educators to gain PR.
- Transport Category Removed: The Transport category, active in 2023 and 2024, was taken off the list this year.
- Occupation List Updates: Many categories were updated to add or remove occupations:
| Category | Occupations Added | Occupations Removed |
| Healthcare and Social Services | 8 | 6 |
| STEM | 6 | 19 |
| Trades | 19 | 4 |
| Agriculture and Agri-food | 0 | 2 |
STEM and Agriculture are still active categories but have not been prioritized in this year’s draws so far.
What Does This Mean For Candidates?
If you’re planning to apply for PR through Express Entry this year, watch these trends closely. Focus on:
- Making sure your NOC code matches an eligible occupation if you’re aiming for a category-based draw.
- Maximizing your CRS score to stay competitive as cut-offs shift.
- Preparing your documents and language tests in advance, so you can submit your profile quickly when new draws are announced.
With a clear strategy and updated documents, you can take advantage of new rounds and Canada’s ongoing need for skilled newcomers.
Explore your pathway to move to Canada with Immigtoronto. Our team of skilled RCICs offers customized immigration solutions, ensuring a trustworthy and professional process. Contact us at [email protected].
