IRCC issues 6,000 invitations to CEC candidates in latest draw

Key Takeaways 

• Type of draw: Canadian Experience Class (CEC)  

• Invitations issued:  6,000 

• Minimum CRS score:  508

• Tie-breaking rule: March 16, 2025 at 09:35:59 UTC
• Prediction for next draw: Category-based selection February 18. Check out our dedicated page for more info on when we’re expecting the next Express Entry draw. 

Our Analysis of this draw 

Today’s draw followed the trend of the past several draws. December and January featured record-breaking numbers of ITAs, with 11,000 going out in December and 14,000 going out in January.  

Over the past two months, we have seen a small, but steady descent in the CRS cutoff scores. The December 10 draw had a cutoff score of 520. By January 21, the score had dropped to 509. 

The numbers indicate that competition is fierce among candidates in the same  501- 510 CRS score band.  In fact, the latest numbers show that despite the record-breaking draws, there were 16,559 in the score range of 501-600 in the Express Entry pool as of Februrary 15. 

This doesn’t even touch the next score band, 451-500 where there are 73,609 applications in the pool. That is nearly the entire yearly Express Entry target as outlined in the Immigration Levels Plan for 2026 (109,000). 

This means that IRCC can afford to be picky, and a higher CRS score is more important than ever for CEC candidates. 

What’s next for CEC draws? 

Express Entry draws happen roughly every two weeks, with at least two draws in a week for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates and a CEC draw. This will sometimes be followed by a category-based selection draw.  

There’s no way to know for sure if CEC draws will stay large. Overall, this trend could last a little while but ultimately, it may not be sustainable. The Immigration Levels Plan target for Federal High Skilled candidates is 109,000 for 2026. That’s the number of new permanent residents Canada is planning to admit, not the number of ITAs issued.  

Admissions in 2026 also factor in ITAs that were issued in the later half of 2025. There are currently 25,400 candidates waiting for a decision on their CEC application. That potentially (assuming everyone gets a positive decision) leaves 83,600 admission spaces.  

However, this also includes category-based selection draws. So, could we see larger CEC draws for awhile? Yes. Will every draw be like this? Probably not. 

What does this mean for CEC candidates? 

Large draws and incremental drops in the CRS cutoff score mean that you can expect a fight for an ITA. The CEC is the most popular Express Entry program and with 235,605 applications in the pool, it might be worth exploring ways to boost your CRS score.  

This could be through improving your Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score in English or French, returning to school for more education or even applying with a spouse or common-law partner if you have one. 

Further Resources for CEC Candidates  

For more information:
 

• Use our Canadian Experience Class Points Calculator to learn more about your current score and how to improve it.  

• 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.