When Is the Next Express Entry Draw and What to Expect

Express Entry Next Draw Prediction in October 2025

Draws are currently challenging to predict due to inconsistent draw patterns from IRCC in 2025.

Date of the next Express Entry draw

Predicted date: October 16-17, 2025 

Type of Draw:  Category-Based Express Entry Draws – French or Trades

CRS Prediction: 430+

• Learn more about the latest Express Entry draw here

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Next Express Entry Draw: Predictions by Category

Given the volatility we’ve seen in Express Entry Draws, it is hard to predict the exact schedule for 2025. But we do estimate the following draws, based on past trends: 

Provincial Nominee Program: Predicted Draws in 2025

• October 27
• November 13

Canadian Experience Class: Predicted Draw Dates in 2025

We estimate we may see Canadian Experience Class draws on the following dates:

• October 29-30.

There has been a great deal of turbulence in the schedule for Canadian Experience Class draws in 2025. Unfortunately, this makes it very challenging to predict when the next draw may take place. We understand that it’s frustrating for those of you in the pool waiting for an invitation to apply, and we’re sorry it’s happening.

Category-Based Express Entry Draws: Predicted Dates in 2025

Category-based draws in 2025 have shown a degree of unpredictability. However, Our estimates suggest that Category-Based Express Entry Draws are likely to be held on the following dates:

• October 16-17, focusing on one of the following categories: French-Proficiency or Trades.

Categories where further draws are expected

• Healthcare: IRCC’s target for this category is 8,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in 2025. With approximately 7,500 ITAs already issued, we anticipate one final healthcare draw this year, likely issuing around 500 ITAs to meet the target.
• Trades: According to the ATIP data, IRCC plans to issue about 3,300 ITAs under the trades category for 2025. So far, around 1,250 ITAs have been issued, leaving room for one potential additional trade draw before the end of the year. However, it remains uncertain whether IRCC will hold another round to meet this allocation. Read more here.
• French-Proficiency: While the ATIP data does not specify a fixed number of ITAs for French-proficiency candidates, IRCC continues to prioritize this category to help meet its 8.5% Francophone admissions target outside Quebec. Given rising refusal rates among applicants in this stream, we expect several more French-proficiency draws in the coming months to help IRCC stay on track toward its annual goal.

Category where no further draws are expected

• Education: According to an Access to Information and Personal Information (ATIP) request made by RCIC Mandeep Lidher, IRCC’s internal planning data indicates a total of 3,000 ITAs were allocated to the education category in 2025. As this allocation has already been exhausted, no further education-based draws are expected for the remainder of the year.

What Do We Expect From Express Entry Draws in the rest of 2025?

Provincial Nominee Program Draws:

Canada’s 2025–2027 immigration levels plan significantly reduces Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) targets, cutting planned admissions from 120,000 in 2025 to 55,000, compared to an expected 110,000 in 2024. This sharp decrease will likely result in fewer invitations in PNP Express Entry draws in 2025, although draw frequency should remain similar to 2024- that is, one PNP draw every two weeks.

Provinces have recently been given the option to gain back some PNP spots lost in the 2025 allocations, on the condition that they accept more refugees. To date, Newfoundland and Labrador is the only province to take advantage of this, but we expect other provinces to be in talks with the federal government to regain reduced PNP spots. You can read more about this here.

Canadian Experience Class Draws:

Category-Based Draws:

Just over 40,000 invitations are allocated for category-based draws in the 2025–2027 immigration levels plan. As a result, we expect to see one to two category-based draws a month, focusing on Healthcare, Trade and those with French language Proficiency.

General/ All Program Draws:

With IRCC focusing more on in-Canada and category-based applicants this year, we don’t expect to see any general or all-program draws for the rest of 2025. So far, there haven’t been any general draws this year, and the last one was held on April 23, 2024. Based on how things are going, it would be quite surprising if IRCC decides to hold another general draw before the year ends.

How Does Moving2Canada Predict the Next Express Entry Draws?

It’s impossible to know exactly when the next Express Entry draw will happen. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has full discretion over the timing and type of draws — they could, in theory, hold one large draw a year or several smaller ones each week.

That said, IRCC usually aims to maintain a consistent schedule. This regularity helps build trust in the Express Entry system and allows IRCC to better manage application volumes.

At Moving2Canada, our team carefully tracks Express Entry trends, including changes in CRS scores, shifts in the candidate pool, and new immigration data and announcements from IRCC. We stay informed about the latest policy updates, draw patterns, and released government data so we can provide the most accurate and up-to-date predictions possible.

Also, our category-based draw estimates are based on data obtained through an Access to Information and Personal Information (ATIP) request made by RCIC Mandeep Lidher. In response to that request, IRCC shared its plans for the number of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to be issued per category in 2025. These figures give us valuable insight into which categories may still see draws this year — and which ones may not.

Predicting the type of upcoming draws for the rest of 2025 is still challenging, but recent patterns and IRCC communications provide strong hints. We expect a continued focus on PNP and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws, aligning with IRCC’s commitment to help more temporary residents become permanent residents. IRCC will continue to prioritize Francophone immigration outside Quebec, so we expect to see more French-proficiency draws throughout the rest of 2025 as part of that effort.

What Factors Influence When The Next Express Entry Draw Will Happen?

The schedule of Express Entry draws is influenced by a range of factors. Understanding these can help you guess when the next draw might happen.

Government Policies and Immigration Targets

The Canadian government’s immigration policies and annual targets play a significant role in determining the frequency, size, and type of Express Entry draws. 

Economic Needs and Labor Market Demands 

Canada’s economic needs and labor market demands are also critical factors. The government may adjust the draw schedule based on the current economic climate and the demand for specific skills in the labor market. 

Historical Trends and Administrative Considerations

Looking at historical trends can provide insights into the timing of draws. Typically, draws are held approximately every two weeks. However, this can vary due to administrative considerations, such as processing backlogs or policy changes. Monitoring the patterns over the past months or years can help predict future draws, though these are always subject to change.

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