Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has conducted its second Express Entry draw of 2025, issuing 1,350 invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residence. This draw targeted Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates with Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores of at least 542.
Recent Express Entry Activity:
- January 7, 2025: 471 invitations to PNP candidates (minimum CRS: 793)
- December 2024: 2,561 total invitations
- October-November 2024: Over 5,000 invitations each month through six draws
2024 Selection Pattern:
IRCC consistently focused on three main candidate streams:
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Enhanced Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)
- French-language proficiency category
2025 Immigration Strategy:
IRCC’s latest Immigration Levels Plan prioritizes two main categories:
“In-Canada Focus”:
- Targets candidates already in Canada
- Primarily includes CEC and PNP candidates
- May include candidates from other Express Entry programs
“Federal Economic Priorities”:
New priority categories for 2025:
- Healthcare occupations
- Trades occupations
- French-language proficiency
While these categories are prioritized, IRCC has not announced the discontinuation of other category-based selections, and all six original categories remain active.
This new structure reflects IRCC’s emphasis on addressing Canada’s labor market needs while prioritizing candidates already established within the country.
