Express Entry in 2025: The Year in Review

That’s why this quick year-end review is worth five minutes of your day. It gives you a clear, data-backed snapshot of how IRCC actually issued invitations in 2025, who was prioritized, which categories got the most attention, and where the biggest opportunities (and surprises) showed up. 

This article reflects Express Entry activity throughout 2025 based on the draw data we have today. It’s meant to be a reflection, not a prediction for 2026, you can find this here.  

Let’s dig in. 

Express Entry in 2025: A Fully Targeted System 

In previous years, candidates could reasonably expect a General (all-program) draw every couple of weeks. That era is now over. In 2025, IRCC did not hold a single General draw. 

Instead, invitations were issued through: 

• Canadian Experience Class (CEC) rounds 

• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) rounds 

• Category-based rounds tied to Canada’s labour market and language priorities 

Draw activity in 2025 was also hard to predict, with invitations issued in waves rather than on a steady, every-two-weeks rhythm, although there were still moments where the old cadence showed up. Some weeks saw multiple rounds across different streams, while other periods were quiet, making timing far less reliable as a planning tool for candidates. 

Just as important as what IRCC did prioritize is what was absent in 2025. Some categories that appear on the category list were not targeted in 2025, including: 

• Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations 

• Agriculture and agri-food occupations 

And 2025 also introduced a notable new category late in the year: on December 8, IRCC added a new category targeting physicians with Canadian work experience. 

Here is what the draws looked like for 2025. 

Quick Facts about the Express Entry Draws in 2025 

Here’s the year in numbers: 

• Total draws: 58 

• Total ITAs issued: 113,998 

• Lowest CRS invited: 379
  French-language proficiency draw – March 21 

• Highest CRS invited: 855
  PNP draw – September 29 

Three Different Types of Rounds in 2025 

Canadian Experience Class (CEC) 

CEC CRS cutoffs stayed consistently high. Competition among candidates already in Canada was intense.

And with only 35,850 of the 113,998 ITAs issued in 2025 (about 31%) going to CEC rounds, many in-Canada applicants were disappointed by how limited CEC invitations were overall. That frustration was amplified by the pause in CEC draws between February 17 and May 13. 

• CEC draws: 15 

• ITAs issued: 35,850 

• Lowest CRS: 515 (December 16) 

• Highest CRS: 547 (May 13) 

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) 

While a nomination is still one of the strongest routes to an invitation, PNP volumes were limited in 2025 due to restricted provincial quotas for much of the year. The program finished strong, with more invitations issued toward year-end after provinces received a higher quota later in 2025. 

• PNP draws: 24 

• ITAs issued: 10,898 

• Lowest CRS: 667 (March 3) 

• Highest CRS: 855 (September 29)  

Category-Based Rounds 

Category-based selection drove most invitations in 2025. 

• Category draws: 19 

• ITAs issued: 67,250 

• Lowest CRS: 379 (French – March 21) 

• Highest CRS: 510 (Healthcare – May 2) 

Category rounds accounted for the majority of ITAs issued in 2025. With 67,250 of 113,998 ITAs (60%) going to category-based draws, there’s no doubt IRCC prioritized category draws in 2025. These rounds had lower CRS cutoffs than CEC and PNP draws, with French-language candidates benefiting from some of the lowest CRS cutoffs of the year. 

That said, there’s growing debate about how effective category-based selection is in practice, and whether it can (or should) stay at the centre of Express Entry long-term. We know we said this article isn’t about predictions, but with major policy and planning shifts underway, 2026 could look very different when it comes to category draws. 

Category-Based Draws in 2025: What IRCC Prioritized 

French-Language Proficiency: The Leader in 2025 

French draws weren’t just frequent, they were the biggest driver of invitations overall. 

• French draws: 9 

• ITAs issued: 48,000 

• Lowest CRS: 379 (March 21) 

• Highest CRS: 481 (August 8) 

French-language proficiency remained one of the strongest advantages a candidate could bring into the pool in 2025. French-language draws accounted for 48,000 ITAs, or about 42% of all invitations issued. 

Healthcare and Social Services Occupations 

Healthcare remained a consistent priority throughout the year. 

• Healthcare draws: 7 

• ITAs issued: 14,500 

• Lowest CRS: 462 (November 14) 

• Highest CRS: 510 (May 2) 

Healthcare rounds continued to offer a comparatively accessible path for qualified candidates, even while other streams stayed highly competitive, but the overall number of invitations was still disappointing when you consider Canada’s ongoing healthcare worker shortages and how heavily the system relies on internationally trained professionals.

Education Occupations: Introduced February 2025 

Education was added as a targeted category in 2025 and got off to a modest start in terms of the number of ITAs issued. 

• Education draws: 2 

• ITAs issued: 3,500 

• CRS range: 462 (first draw – May 1), 479 (second draw – September 17) 

Trade Occupations 

Trades were targeted once in 2025, following significant controversy and confusion over which occupations would actually be included, and who would ultimately be invited in a trades draw. 

• Trades draws: 1 

• ITAs issued: 1,250 

• CRS: 505 (September 18) 

A New Focus Late in the Year: Physicians with Canadian Work Experience 

A notable update in 2025 was the introduction of a new targeted focus on December 8: physicians with Canadian work experience. 

It’s a strong signal that IRCC is increasingly using Express Entry to prioritize candidates in critical roles who can transition to PR quickly. We’ll be watching this closely to see the impact it will have on category draws for 2026. 

How the Express Entry Pool Evolved in 2025 

Beyond the draw results themselves, it’s also worth looking at how the composition of the Express Entry pool evolved in 2025. 

The year began with roughly 227,000 candidates in the pool in late January. From there, the pool grew steadily through the first half of the year, reflecting a continued inflow of new candidates and relatively limited invitation volumes early in the year. By early summer, the pool reached its highest point at 257,557 candidates on June 11.  

From mid-June onward, the trend slowly reversed. While new profiles continued to enter the system, ongoing draws, particularly large category-based rounds, began to reduce the overall pool size, alongside normal churn as some candidates became ineligible over time. Through late summer and fall, the number of candidates declined gradually, finishing the year at approximately 237,302 candidates on December 15. 

You can see how this is spread out across different CRS ranges on our dedicated Express Entry pool breakdown page. 

Other Notable Takeaways from Express Entry in 2025 

One of the biggest Express Entry changes in 2025 was IRCC’s decision to stop awarding CRS points for arranged employment (job offers). As of March 25, 2025, candidates no longer receive the extra 50 or 200 CRS points that used to come with certain qualifying job offers.   

You can read more about this update here.  

Tips for Succeeding in Your Immigration Journey In 2026

If you’re trying to turn these trends into an actionable plan, here are the most practical steps to improve your chances. 

• Check your category eligibility early (French, healthcare, education, trades, and any updated categories) 

• If possible, improve language scores and if it’s feasible, explore French as an option 

• If you’re in Canada, maximize Canadian experience and ensure your profile supports CEC eligibility 

• Explore PNP options in parallel, especially if your occupation aligns with provincial needs, or if you have a connection through work or education to a province. 

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