IRCC Invites 2,000 Candidates in CEC Express Entry Draw

Key Takeaways  

Type of draw: Canadian Experience Class 

Invitations issued: 2,000

Minimum CRS score: 515

Tie-breaking rule: June 10, 2025 at 02:46:26 UTC

Prediction for next draw: Category-Based Selection on April 15. Check our dedicated page for more on when we’re expecting the next Express Entry draw. 

Our Analysis of this Express Entry Draw 

IRCC invited 2,000 CEC candidates today with a minimum CRS cut-off score of 515.  

The number of ITAs issued is consistent with IRCC’s recent CEC draws. We are seeing the draws get smaller as the year progresses, but that’s expected due to the volume of CEC ITAs that have been issued since the start of the year, now up to 32,250. That’s almost as many as were issued in the whole of 2025 (33,850).  

IRCC is not likely to be able to keep going with a high volume of ITAs in each draw without exceeding its Express Entry admissions target for the year, especially considering the 54,600 CEC applications currently waiting to be processed. That doesn’t account for other Express Entry programs.  

The CRS score is the highest we’ve seen so far this year for CEC, but still consistent with recent draws, ranging between 515 (today) and 507 throughout 2026 so far. This is because IRCC has a large pool of candidates with a CRS score in that range. The latest pool update (as of March 29) shows 11,648 candidates with a score between 501 and 600 and that has likely changed since.  

What Does it Mean for Express Entry? 

It seems like a massive change to Express Entry is almost inevitable in the coming months. IRCC has put forward a proposal to eliminate all current Express Entry programs and streamline them into one program for Federal High Skilled Workers.  

This means that every Express Entry candidate would have the same eligibility requirements and the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Trades Program and the Federal Skilled Worker Program would cease to exist. 

It also means that CEC draws in their current form will stop. 

There is no detail on what would happen to those with applications already in the pool, or exactly what will change for the Comprehensive Ranking System. 

Based on last week’s internal memo, we know that IRCC is not planning to remove or modify points for human capital factors such as age, education and first and second official languages. There will also still be points for Canadian work experience but it’s not totally clear how that will change for sure. 

It’s likely to be quite a while before we see any of these proposed changes come into effect, so the best thing an Express Entry candidate can do is continue to maximize their current CRS score according to the system we have now.  

Further Resources for CEC Candidates    

• Use our  Canadian Experience Class score calculator to see where you stand and how to improve your score.    
• Learn more about the latest Express Entry draws.      
• Check the state of the Express Entry pool.      
• Learn when to expect the next Express Entry draw.