Express Entry in 2025: Trends, Draws & How to Maximize Your Chances
Canada’s Express Entry system remains the backbone of skilled immigration. As 2025 unfolds, we are seeing important shifts in draw strategy, category-based rounds, and rising competitiveness. Here’s a closer look at current trends, and what you can do to stay ahead.
Recent Express Entry Trends & Draws: Increase in Category-Based Draws
In 2025, IRCC is placing more emphasis on category-based invitation rounds targeting candidates with strengths in certain fields or languages. These rounds invite candidates who satisfy specific criteria (e.g. French proficiency, trade workers, healthcare, education) beyond just having a high CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) score.
For instance, on October 6, 2025, IRCC held a French language proficiency draw, issuing 4,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) with a CRS cut-off score of 432. This marks the sixth French language proficiency draw of 2025. The minimum CRS score required was 14 points lower than the previous French language draw on September 4, which also issued 4,500 ITAs.
On September 19, 2025, IRCC held its first Education-specific draw in over four months, issuing 2,500 ITAs with a CRS cut-off of 462.
Another recent category-based draw was for Trade Occupations where 1,250 candidates were invited at a CRS cut-off of 505.
These draws show that targeted selection criteria can sometimes yield lower CRS thresholds than general draws, offering niche opportunities for candidates who meet those specific conditions.
Higher Competition in General & Program-Specific Rounds
While category rounds are becoming more common, general or program-specific draws (e.g. for the Canadian Experience Class, or PNP-linked draws) remain active.
One of the most notable recent draws occurred on October 1, 2025, when IRCC invited 1,000 candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) with a CRS cut-off score of 534. This draw continues a pattern of consistent monthly CEC draws with similar parameters.
Similarly, on September 3, 2025, and again on August 7, 2025 IRCC issued 1,000 ITAs in a general (or broader) draw at a cut-off CRS of 534.
In July 2025, multiple draws took place across different streams:
The July draw activity shows a mix of specialty draws (healthcare) and PNP draws with much higher CRS thresholds. The PNP draws often require very high scores because they combine provincial nomination points (600 extra points).
By mid-2025, Canada had held 27 Express Entry draws, matching the number by mid-2024, but with a stronger tilt toward PNP and category draws.
In total through 2025, IRCC has already issued tens of thousands of ITAs, and PNP draws remain frequent.
What’s Driving These Trends?
Some of the forces influencing the 2025 Express Entry landscape include:
Canada’s 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan which has slightly lower immigrant intake targets compared to recent years. This increases competition.
Labour market priorities: IRCC is aligning draws with sectors that face skilled labour shortages, such as healthcare, trades, education, and French-speaking talent.
Category-based draws allow IRCC more granular targeting of needed skills without relying solely on high CRS scores.
Emphasis on francophone expansion outside Quebec: both extra points for French and francophone draws feature prominently in 2025’s planning.
How to Improve Your Chances of an ITA
Given the higher competition and specialization, candidates should adopt a strategic approach:
Strengthen your language scores (especially French, if you can). High scores in French can unlock category-based draws or additional points.
Gain Canadian work experience: especially in in-demand sectors (healthcare, trades, STEM).
Explore Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) early. A provincial nomination can add 600 CRS points, effectively guaranteeing an ITA if your profile qualifies.
Keep your Express Entry profile updated with new credentials: educational upgrades, additional language tests, certification, or employment changes.
Target niche categories when eligible: if your job, skills, or language align with upcoming draw categories, you may benefit from lower CRS cut-offs.
Optimize timing: submit strong profiles before anticipated draws, knowing some draws may happen closer together in the same week.
Avoid profile errors or omissions: missed or incorrect information can lead to refusal or being left out of draws.
Final Thoughts
Express Entry in 2025 is more intricate and dynamic than ever. Relying on just a high CRS score is no longer enough. The trends are clearly favoring category-based draws, provincial nomination routes, and language strengths (especially French).
If your profile is not getting invited yet, now is the time to refine, enhance, and position yourself for the kinds of draws IRCC is prioritizing.
To learn more information or seek legal advice, please do not hesitate to reach out to our experienced law firm at rharding@hardingimmigrationlaw.com or book a consultation here.
