In an exciting update for prospective immigrants, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted its third Express Entry draw of the year, inviting 4,000 candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) to apply for permanent residency. This draw highlights Canada’s ongoing commitment to welcoming skilled workers already established in the country.
Details of the Latest Draw
The January 23, 2025, draw required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 527. To qualify, candidates also needed to have submitted their Express Entry profiles before 7:06:43 am Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on July 23, 2024. These invitations follow two earlier draws in January: a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw on January 7 and another CEC-focused draw on January 8.
This activity underscores the IRCC’s commitment to prioritizing candidates already in Canada through its “In-Canada Focus” allocation in the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan. As part of this plan, Canada has set a target of welcoming 82,890 new permanent residents in 2025 through CEC pathways alone.
2025 Express Entry Draw Summary
The table below summarizes the draws conducted so far in 2025:
| Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | Cut-off CRS Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 23 | Canadian Experience Class | 4,000 | 527 |
| January 8 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,350 | 542 |
| January 7 | Provincial Nominee Program | 471 | 793 |
Steps to Improve Your CRS Score
For candidates seeking to boost their CRS scores and secure an Invitation to Apply (ITA), there are several strategies to consider. The CRS evaluates applicants based on factors like core human capital, skill transferability, spousal factors, and additional criteria. Here are some effective ways to enhance your CRS ranking:
- Pursue Higher Education: Completing advanced degrees can significantly boost your core human capital score.
- Improve Language Proficiency: Achieving high scores in English or French proficiency tests (or both) can add substantial points. Bilingual candidates are particularly valued.
- Gain Relevant Work Experience: Additional Canadian or foreign work experience can enhance your skill transferability score.
- Secure a Provincial Nomination: A nomination from a Canadian province provides an additional 600 CRS points, essentially guaranteeing an ITA.
- Earn a Trade Certification: If applicable, obtaining a Canadian trade qualification can increase your score, especially when combined with strong language proficiency.
For personalized guidance, use an online CRS calculator to explore how various factors affect your score and identify areas for improvement.
Express Entry: A Vital Pathway for Immigration
Despite earlier projections suggesting that the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) would surpass Express Entry pathways in importance by 2024, recent developments indicate the opposite. Programs managed under Express Entry remain Canada’s largest channels for economic immigration, with their significance growing as allocations increase.
In the newly announced 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, IRCC has set ambitious targets for Express Entry landings, raising allocations from 110,770 in 2024 to 124,590 in 2025. In contrast, allocations for the PNP have been reduced from 110,000 in 2024 to 55,000 in 2025.
Impact of Allocation Changes
The revised allocation strategy will directly influence the volume of ITAs issued through these pathways. As PNP targets decrease, ITAs through base PNP streams are expected to decline in 2025 compared to 2024. Conversely, Express Entry programs will need to issue a higher number of ITAs to meet their increased landing targets.
This shift underscores the growing importance of Express Entry as a critical pathway for skilled foreign workers aiming to immigrate to Canada. It also highlights the need for candidates to remain proactive and informed about program requirements and strategies for success.
As Canada continues to refine its immigration policies, the Express Entry system remains a cornerstone of its economic immigration framework. With increased allocations and a renewed focus on candidates already established in Canada, the program offers significant opportunities for skilled workers. By understanding the system and taking proactive steps to improve their CRS scores, candidates can position themselves for success in this competitive process.
