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Immigration
By Stephanie Ford
Posted on June 12, 2025
The June 12, 2025 Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw is the first major CEC-specific round since February, issuing 3,000 invitations with a CRS cut-off score of 529. This is a noticeable drop from the last CEC-specific draw on May 13, where the cut-off was 547 and only 500 invitations were issued. It also marks a return to larger, more inclusive CEC rounds — the first of its kind since February, when 4,000 candidates were invited with scores as low as 521.
But, this is a high threshold by historical CEC standards and reflects the intense competition currently present in the Express Entry pool, especially in the 501+ range. With limited program-specific draws so far in 2025, the number of highly qualified candidates has continued to build.
One detail that stands out in this draw is the tie-breaking rule: September 28, 2024. This rule only applies to candidates with a CRS score of exactly 529. In practical terms, if you have a CRS of 529 but submitted your Express Entry profile after that date, you are not invited in this round. However, anyone with a score higher than 529 would have received an invitation regardless of when they entered the pool.
We hope this draw marks a return to bi-weekly Canadian Experience Class draws in the range of 3,000-4,000, which is what we would expect to see for IRCC to hit its permanent resident targets for the in-Canada focus.
However, given the inconsistent draws so far this year, we would want to wait a few more draw weeks before assuming that this draw marks ‘a return to business as usual’.
We still don’t know why there was such a lengthy pause in the Canadian Experience Class draws. IRCC has not yet released information explaining the decision to cease CEC draws despite publicly stating that there is an in-Canada focus.
We will keep our fingers crossed for another large CEC draw in two weeks, and we’ll keep you posted on any updates.
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There are a few reasons you may not have received an invitation through this Express Entry round:
If this is you, we suggest doing what you can in the short term to improve your CRS. Your language proficiency results are the lowest hanging fruit here, and we suggest retaking your language test if possible to improve your results. But you can use our interactive CRS calculator to learn what you have received points for and what areas you have for improvement.
Applying for a provincial nomination is another option, since competition remains low at the moment in the Express Entry pool. That said, competition is extremely high at the provincial level, with many provinces delaying or pausing programs to cope with very high levels of demand. So, receiving a provincial nomination is a strong strategy this year but, if you choose to go this route, you should have alternatives planned.
Canada launched its Rural and Francophone Community Pilots for 2025. These programs offer a pathway to permanent residency for those willing to move to and work in certain rural communities or communities looking to attract French speakers.
Finally, there is the option of learning French. We have a special offer for those looking to learn French — but you can only get it in our Facebook group or by joining our email list for Express Entry news.
You want the ITA so you can apply for PR, but you don’t have the points or the profile. Get the free email course that has helped 80k+ people on their Express Entry journey.
If you’re not familiar with Canada’s Express Entry system, it’s an application management system used to manage economic immigrants to Canada. It offers streamlined application timelines for those who are invited to apply for permanent residence.
With that in mind, the Canadian Experience Class is a program for people in the Express Entry pool and who have qualifying work experience in Canada. The idea is that those who have lived and worked in Canada before becoming a permanent resident are more likely to succeed in and stay in Canada — and the research shows that those who come through the Canadian Experience Class are more likely to earn more in Canada than those who become permanent residents without working in Canada as a temporary resident first.
Not sure if you’re eligible for the Canadian Experience Class? Sign up for our free account to access helpful tools, like an eligibility quiz.
You can also sign up for up-to-date information about Express Entry draws via your free Moving2Canada account. Just subscribe to our newsletter for news about the draws and our analysis as it happens, so you’ll never miss the latest results. This can be a powerful tool to help you identify trends and map your pathway to permanent residence in Canada.
For up-to-date information about Express Entry draws, consider creating a free Moving2Canada account and subscribing to our newsletter. We share news about the draws and our analysis as it happens, so you’ll never miss the latest results.
For more information:
Canada Abroad is a transparent Canadian immigration consultancy with advice you can trust. Led by Deanne Acres-Lans (RCIC #508363), the team delivers professional, regulated, and efficient service.
Led by Anthony Doherty (RCIC #510956) and Cassandra Fultz (#514356), the Doherty Fultz team uses their 40+ years of experience to empower you towards settling in Canada.
Led by Jenny Perez (RCIC #423103), Perez McKenzie Immigration is a Canadian immigration consultancy based in British Columbia, with offices in Vancouver and Whistler.
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