Insights from Express Entry Draws in 2025 (So Far)

The Express Entry draws in 2025 have revealed several patterns that highlight both continuity and change compared to 2023 and 2024.

This article will cover:

• The types of draws and how they compare to previous years
• The number of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) issued, relative to past years
• The cut-off scores for each draw type and how they have shifted
• What to expect from Express Entry for the remainder of the year

How Many Draws Have Been Held So Far?

Between January 1 and July 24, 2025, Canada conducted 27 Express Entry draws.

This pace matches 2024’s mid-year total and is slightly higher than the 22 draws held by the same point in 2023. However, 2025 has seen a clear shift toward Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws, which have been more frequent in the first half of the year than in previous years.

Draw frequency has stayed high, with multiple rounds most months. Notably, March and June each featured four or more draws.

How Many ITAs Have Been Issued So Far?

From January 1 to July 24, 2025, a total of 49,403 ITAs were issued across all draw types.

This is lower than the totals recorded in both 2024 and 2023, reflecting Canada’s reduced immigration targets for 2025. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is deliberately slowing immigration in an effort to address housing supply and affordability challenges.

Which Draw Types Saw the Most Invitations and Selection Rounds in Early 2025?

From January 1 to July 24, 2025, the distribution of draws and ITAs was as follows:

Key Observations:

• French-language draws accounted for 37.4% of all ITAs this year, despite being limited to just three rounds. Their large draw sizes and close scheduling boosted their impact.
• CEC draws were the second-largest contributor, making up 38.1% of all ITAs. They were also the second most frequent type of draw, often issuing between 3,000 and 4,000 ITAs per round, especially from May onwards.
• PNP rounds were the most frequent but contributed only 12.2% of ITAs, averaging around 500 invitations per draw.
• Occupation-based draws were more common than in past years but still represented only 12.1% of total ITAs. They generally issued small numbers (500–1,000 ITAs), except for the larger 22 July Healthcare and Social Services draw.

CRS Cut-Off Scores and Trends in 2025

The table below shows the lowest and highest Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores for each draw type in 2025, excluding PNP draws:

Trend Analysis:

• CEC scores have been gradually decreasing since mid-May, coinciding with larger and more frequent draws.
• French draws had the lowest CRS scores of the year, dropping sharply due to back-to-back large draws. However, the extended pause in French-language draws suggests the next CRS cut-off could be higher than the most recent 379.

Factors Likely to Shape Express Entry for the Rest of 2025

While exact predictions are impossible, several current trends and policy decisions provide clues to what may happen in the second half of the year:

1. Ongoing Focus on Stated Program Priorities

Unless priorities change, IRCC is expected to keep targeting candidates who align with the February 2025 priority list:

• Canadian Experience Class candidates for permanent residence (PR)
• Priority categories:
  • Healthcare and social services
  • Education
  • Trades*
  • French-language proficiency

* Although Trades is a designated priority category this year, no trade-specific draws have been held yet. The category was also expanded to include several construction occupations—potentially linking to other federal efforts to attract construction workers, such as the new regularization policy and apprenticeship pathway.

2. Potential Increase in Draw Size and Frequency from July Onwards

A July 2024 IRCC memo explained that most ITAs issued between mid-year and the following February count toward the next year’s PR targets.

Given that the 2026 target is 123,320 Express Entry admissions, it’s possible that IRCC will boost draw sizes or frequency in the latter half of 2025. This would follow the precedent of July 2024—one of the busiest months in Express Entry history, with 25,125 ITAs issued across nine draws.

3. Changes to Express Entry Categories in 2025

In February 2025, IRCC made significant changes to occupational categories:

• New Education category introduced (5 occupations, including teachers and assistants)
• Transport category removed (previously active in 2023 and 2024)
• Occupation list adjustments across most categories:

While STEM and Agriculture remain active categories, neither has been prioritized in 2025 draws.