IRCC Issues 3,000 ITAs in CEC Draw with 2025’s Lowest CEC CRS Cut-Off

Key Takeaways From The CEC Draw on July 8, 2025

• Type of draw: Canadian Experience Class
• Draw number: 355
• Invitations issued: 3,000
• CRS score: 518
• Tie-breaking rule: October 02, 2024 at 1:48:36 UTC
• Prediction for the next draw: Potentially a French category-based draw or trades draw tomorrow or Thursday (July 10 2025)
• New to the excitement of Express Entry draws? Check out our guide to Express Entry

Our Analysis of This Express Entry Draw

Today’s draw closely mirrors the CEC-only rounds on June 12 and June 26, each of which issued 3,000 invitations to apply. What’s interesting is how the CRS score cut-off has been gradually trending downward:

• June 12: 3,000 ITAs with a CRS cut-off of 529

• June 26: 3,000 ITAs with a CRS cut-off of 521

• July 8: 3,000 ITAs with a CRS cut-off of 518

That’s an 11-point dip over three draws, suggesting a slow but steady easing in competitiveness within the CEC pool. While the drop may seem modest, in the world of Express Entry, it can open the door for a significant number of applicants who may have been just below the previous threshold.

And it’s worth noting,  the CRS score of 518 is the lowest cut-off we’ve seen for a CEC draw so far in 2025 (in fact, it is the lowest we have seen since in almost 10 months!), adding weight to the idea that slowly but surely, competition within the pool is easing.

Emerging CEC patterns

This draw marks the 7th CEC-specific Express Entry draw of 2025, bringing the total number of ITAs issued under this category to 18,850 so far. With that, the CEC stream officially becomes the highest-volume category of 2025,  just edging out the French-language proficiency category, which has seen 18,500 ITAs issued to date.

Another key pattern? This is the third consecutive CEC draw in which IRCC has issued exactly 3,000 invitations. While it’s too early to declare this a fixed quota, it’s certainly suggestive. If this cadence holds, both in volume and increasingly in frequency, it could signal a more predictable rhythm to CEC draws moving into the second half of the year.

For CEC hopefuls in the Express Entry pool, this emerging consistency offers a bit of clarity in what’s otherwise been a fairly unpredictable draw landscape. While CRS scores remain high, a clearer draw trend could give candidates more confidence when planning their pathway to Permanent Residence.

Further Resources for CEC Candidates

For more information:

• Learn more about the latest Express Entry draws.
• Learn more about the state of the Express Entry pool.
• Learn when to expect the next Express Entry draw.
• Use our online Express Entry CRS calculator to learn more about your current score and how to improve it.