The first half of 2025 has offered some clear insights into how Canada’s Express Entry system is evolving. While draw frequency remains consistent with previous years, the focus and distribution of invitations have shifted.
This overview will cover:
- The types of draws compared to 2023 and 2024
- How many Invitations to Apply (ITAs) have been issued
- CRS score trends across different draw categories
- What we might expect in the second half of 2025
Draw Frequency: How Often Has IRCC Held Draws?
Between January 1 and July 24, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted 27 Express Entry draws. This is on pace with the same period in both 2023 and 2024.
| Year | Number of Draws (to July 24) |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 27 |
| 2024 | 27 |
| 2023 | 22 |
Notably, 2025 has seen a marked increase in Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws. This suggests a strategic shift toward regional immigration targets.
How Many ITAs Have Been Issued So Far?
IRCC has issued 49,403 ITAs as of July 24, 2025. This represents a decline compared to the same period in the last two years. This aligns with the government’s decision to reduce immigration levels slightly in response to housing and affordability concerns.
| Year | Total ITAs Issued (Jan–July 24) |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 49,403 |
| 2024 | 62,615 |
| 2023 | 69,148 |
Breakdown by Draw Type: Who’s Being Invited?
Here’s how the different categories stacked up between January and 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 | 3 | 18,500 |
| Healthcare & Social Services | 3 | 5,000 |
| Education Occupations | 1 | 1,000 |
Key Observations:
- French language draws made up only 3 rounds but accounted for 37.4% of all ITAs. These large, rapid-fire draws featured the lowest CRS scores this year.
- CEC draws were the second most frequent and made up 38.1% of all ITAs, with multiple rounds in May and June offering between 3,000 and 4,000 invitations each.
- PNP draws were the most frequent, but only accounted for 12.2% of total ITAs—likely due to smaller draw sizes.
- Occupation-based draws (e.g., healthcare, education) were more frequent than in previous years, though they still made up just 12.1% of the total.
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CRS Score Trends by Draw Type
Here’s a look at the highest and lowest Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off scores across various draw types:
| Draw Type | Lowest CRS | Highest CRS |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian Experience Class | 518 | 547 |
| French Language Proficiency | 379 | 428 |
| Healthcare & Social Services | 475 | 510 |
| Education Occupations | 479 | — |
Notable trends:
- CEC scores began trending downward after mid-May as draw sizes increased.
- French-language draws had the lowest cut-offs of any category this year, thanks to back-to-back high-volume draws.
- If French draws resume, a higher cut-off may occur in the next round than the last one (379). This is due to the long pause.
What Could Happen in the Second Half of 2025?
While no one can predict the future with certainty, some clear indicators give us a sense of what’s ahead.
IRCC Will Likely Stick to Its 2025 Priorities
Unless major policy changes occur, expect IRCC to continue emphasizing:
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates
- Priority categories, including:
- Healthcare and social services
- Education-related occupations
- Trades (though no draws have occurred yet)
- French-language proficiency
Notably, trades-related draws are still absent in 2025 despite being listed as a priority. The category was even expanded earlier this year. It now includes more construction occupations. This change aligns with Canada’s need for skilled trades workers.
ITA Volume May Increase in Late 2025
An internal IRCC memo from July 2024 explained that most ITAs issued between July and February have a specific impact. They are counted toward the following year’s permanent resident admissions. This could mean that:
- IRCC may increase draw size or frequency in the latter half of 2025 to meet 2026 targets (set at 123,320).
- July 2024, for example, was one of the busiest months ever, with 25,125 ITAs issued across nine draws.
There is no change to Express Entry’s six-month processing standard. It’s reasonable to expect a ramp-up in activity from late summer onward.
Express Entry Category Updates in 2025
Big changes came in February 2025, when IRCC revamped Express Entry categories:
- A new Education category was introduced, including roles like early childhood educators, K–12 teachers, and teacher assistants.
- The Transport category was removed, despite being active in 2023 and 2024.
- Several categories saw major adjustments in eligible occupations:
| Category | Occupations Added | Occupations Removed |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare & Social Services | 8 | 6 |
| STEM | 6 | 19 |
| Trades | 19 | 4 |
| Agriculture & Agri-food | 0 | 2 |
Although STEM and Agriculture categories remain eligible, they are not currently prioritized in 2025 draw rounds.
For a detailed breakdown of the changes, see our full update. You can learn about the specific occupations added or removed in the Express Entry category modifications.
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