Canada Experience Class Immigration Issues 1,000 Invitations in First October Draw
Draw Details and Requirements
The specific requirements for this Canadian Experience Class immigration draw include:
• Minimum CRS Score: 534 points
• Profile Creation Time: Express Entry candidate profile must have been created before 4:01 AM UTC on February 21, 2025
• Number of Invitations: 1,000 Invitations to Apply
Notably, this is the third consecutive CEC category draw maintaining the same number of invitations and score threshold. Since August of this year, IRCC has adjusted the CEC category draw frequency to conduct regular draws once per month.
Recent Draw Activities
The October 1 CEC draw was the first Express Entry draw of the month. Prior to this, IRCC had just completed a series of draws across different categories:
• September 29: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) category draw
• September 18: Trade Occupations category draw
• September 17: Education category draw
2025 Express Entry Overall Data Analysis
To date, IRCC has issued 66,838 Invitations to Apply through the Express Entry system in 2025.
Draw Frequency by Category Statistics
| Draw Category | Number of Draws |
|---|---|
| Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 18 times |
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 10 times |
| French Language Proficiency | 5 times |
| Healthcare and Social Services | 4 times |
| Education | 2 times |
| Trade Occupations | 1 time |
Distribution of Invitations by Category
In terms of invitation numbers, French language category and CEC program have dominated:
| Category | Invitations Issued |
|---|---|
| French Language | 25,500 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 21,850 |
| Healthcare and Social Services | 7,500 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 6,947 |
| Education | 3,500 |
| Trade Occupations | 1,250 |
Immigration Policy Trend Observations
From the 2025 data, several distinct characteristics emerge in IRCC's invitation strategy for the Express Entry system:
- Clear Priority Categories: French language category candidates and Canadian Experience Class candidates have received the most invitation opportunities, together accounting for over 70% of total invitations.
- Stable Draw Frequency: The CEC category has established a fixed pattern of monthly draws, providing predictable opportunities for eligible candidates.
- Stable Score Threshold: The CEC category has maintained the 534-point threshold for three consecutive draws, indicating relative stability in the competitive landscape for this category.
- Diversified Draws: Beyond traditional Provincial Nominee and CEC categories, IRCC continues to conduct targeted invitations for specific occupational fields (such as healthcare, education, and trades), reflecting Canada's immigration policy emphasis on specific talent needs.
Outlook
With the start of October, IRCC is expected to continue maintaining a diversified draw strategy. For applicants intending to immigrate to Canada through the Express Entry system, understanding the draw frequency and score trends for each category and selecting the application category that best fits their background will help improve their chances of receiving an invitation.
Particularly for applicants with work experience in Canada, the monthly fixed CEC category draws provide them with stable application opportunities. Meanwhile, candidates with French language proficiency continue to enjoy a clear advantage in the Express Entry system, reflecting the Canadian government's ongoing emphasis on bilingual talent.
Summary of Express Entry draws in 2025
| Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | Cut-off CRS score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 534 |
| Sept 29 | Provincial Nominee Program | 291 | 855 |
| Sept 18 | Trade | 1,250 | 505 |
| Sept 17 | Education | 2,500 | 462 |
| Sept 15 | Provincial Nominee Program | 228 | 746 |
| Sept 4 | French language proficiency | 4,500 | 446 |
| Sept 3 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 534 |
| Sept 2 | Provincial Nominee Program | 249 | 772 |
| August 19 | Healthcare and social services | 2,500 | 470 |
| August 18 | Provincial Nominee Program | 192 | 800 |
| August 8 | French language proficiency | 2,500 | 481 |
| August 7 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 534 |
| August 6 | Provincial Nominee Program | 225 | 739 |
| July 22 | Healthcare and social services | 4,000 | 475 |
| July 21 | Provincial Nominee Program | 202 | 788 |
| July 8 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,000 | 518 |
| July 7 | Provincial Nominee Program | 356 | 750 |
| June 23 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,000 | 521 |
| June 26 | Provincial Nominee Program | 503 | 742 |
| June 12 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,000 | 529 |
| June 10 | Provincial Nominee Program | 125 | 784 |
| June 4 | Healthcare and social services | 500 | 504 |
| June 3 | Provincial Nominee Program | 277 | 726 |
| May 13 | Canadian Experience Class | 500 | 547 |
| May 12 | Provincial Nominee Program | 511 | 706 |
| May 2 | Healthcare and social services | 500 | 510 |
| May 1 | Education | 1,000 | 479 |
| April 28 | Provincial Nominee Program | 421 | 727 |
| April 14 | Provincial Nominee Program | 825 | 764 |
| March 21 | French language proficiency | 7,500 | 379 |
| March 17 | Provincial Nominee Program | 536 | 736 |
| March 6 | French language proficiency | 4,500 | 410 |
| March 3 | Provincial Nominee Program | 725 | 667 |
| February 19 | French language proficiency | 6,500 | 428 |
| February 17 | Provincial Nominee Program | 646 | 750 |
| February 5 | Canadian Experience Class | 4,000 | 521 |
| February 4 | Provincial Nominee Program | 455 | 802 |
| January 23 | Canadian Experience Class | 4,000 | 527 |
| January 8 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,350 | 542 |
| January 7 | Provincial Nominee Program | 471 | 793 |
Ontario Suspends Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream and Returns All Applications
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has suspended its Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream effective November 14, 2025, following a major program review that identified systemic misrepresentation and potential fraud. As part of the suspension, all in-progress applications will be returned with full refunds. The province states that the program’s current structure must be redesigned to ensure limited nomination spots benefit genuine candidates addressing Ontario’s skilled trades shortages. Affected applicants may submit a new Expression of Interest under another OINP stream if eligible.
11/19/2025
Newfoundland and Labrador issues 330 ITAs in latest draw, marking the largest round since July
On November 12, 2025, Newfoundland and Labrador issued a total of 330 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), marking the largest draw since July. With 220 invitations going to NLPNP candidates, the province continues to rely heavily on its provincial nomination channels. As the province reaches its 13th draw of the year and prepares for expanded federal PNP admission targets in 2026, nomination allocations may increase further.
11/18/2025
IRCC releases latest processing time update with notable shifts across key immigration categories
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released its latest processing time update on November 12, 2025, covering citizenship applications, permanent resident (PR) cards, family sponsorship programs, economic immigration categories, study permits, and work permits. The update reflects real-world timelines for 80% of applications and is refreshed weekly or monthly depending on the category. The latest data shows significant increases in processing times for parents and grandparents under family sponsorship, while Express Entry streams remain stable. Business immigration and several Quebec programs continue to face multi-year backlogs. IRCC emphasizes that processing times are estimates only and can vary depending on an applicant’s location, background checks, case complexity, and IRCC’s operational capacity.
11/17/2025
Canada issues new round of Express Entry invitations for Healthcare and Social Services occupations
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a new Express Entry draw on November 14, 2025, issuing 3,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates in the Healthcare and Social Services occupations category. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required for this draw was 462—the lowest cutoff among the six Healthcare and Social Services draws held this year. This was also the third Express Entry draw of November, highlighting IRCC’s continued priority on recruiting healthcare professionals.
11/15/2025
Canada Issues 1,000 ITAs to CEC Candidates in Latest Express Entry Draw
On November 12, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a new round of Express Entry invitations, issuing 1,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required was 533, and candidates needed to have created their Express Entry profile before 3:39 a.m. Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on October 17, 2025. To date, IRCC has issued more than 82,000 ITAs in 2025, with CEC, French-language category, and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws remaining key priorities.
11/14/2025
Canada to Simplify Graduate Study Permit Process in 2026, Removing Provincial Attestation Requirement
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that, effective January 1, 2026, international master’s and doctoral students will no longer need to provide a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) when applying for a study permit. The policy aims to simplify the application process, maintain the two-week fast-track for doctoral students, and remove all limits on the number of eligible applicants. Qualified students may also include their family members in their applications. The change is expected to further strengthen Canada’s position as a global leader in higher education and research.
11/13/2025
IRCC holds largest Express Entry PNP-targeted draw in nearly six months
On November 10, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted the first Express Entry draw of the month, inviting 714 Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates to apply for permanent residence. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score was 738, and candidates needed to have created their Express Entry profile before 2:12 a.m. Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on February 22, 2025. This was the first draw since the release of the new Immigration Levels Plan and the largest PNP-targeted Express Entry draw since April 14, when 825 invitations were issued. Year-to-date, IRCC has issued 81,223 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through Express Entry.
11/12/2025
Manitoba Holds First November Draw, Focusing on Strategic Recruitment Initiative Candidates
On November 6, 2025, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) held its first draw of the month, issuing invitations to apply for provincial nomination to nearly 50 skilled worker candidates. A unique feature of this draw was that all invited individuals had to have previously declared being invited by the MPNP under a Strategic Recruitment Initiative. This draw follows a period of fluctuation for Manitoba's immigration allocation. After the federal government significantly cut the province's quota early in 2025, successful lobbying led to a substantial recovery in October, bringing the annual total to 6,239 nominations. Combined with the federal government's newly released multi-year immigration levels plan, Manitoba's capacity to nominate immigrants is expected to expand further in the coming years.
11/11/2025
Northwest Territories Nominee Program adds a third intake window; eligibility changes in effect through year-end
The Northwest Territories (NWT) has announced a third application intake window for its Nominee Program (NTNP), running from November 10, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. to November 24, 2025. To complete the 2025 target of 300 nominations, the territory plans to process up to 103 additional eligible applications by year-end and has introduced temporary eligibility adjustments: removal of the work-permit expiry-date restriction, reinstatement of certain 2024 work-experience requirements, and elimination of employer submission caps tied to company size. Applications will be prioritized for candidates whose work permits expire within the next three months, followed by filing date order; if processing exceeds capacity or cannot be finalized by December 23, applications will be withdrawn, with the option to reapply in 2026.
11/10/2025
Quebec Announces Closure of Experience Program, Tightening Pathways to Permanent Residence
On November 6, 2025, the Quebec government announced that it will permanently close one of its most popular pathways to permanent residence—the Quebec Experience Program (Programme de l’expérience québécoise, PEQ)—which includes the Quebec Graduates Stream and the Temporary Foreign Workers Stream. Both streams will officially end on November 19, 2025. At the same time, three permanent immigration pilot programs will also conclude as scheduled on January 1, 2026. This means that, going forward, foreign workers and graduates seeking to obtain permanent residence in Quebec will only be able to apply through the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ).
11/08/2025
# Can spouse of international students work in Canada?# How is the CRS Score Calculated?# What is Express Entry?# How to become a licensed immigration consultant in Canada?# Why Need a Professional, Licensed Immigration Consultant for Immigrating to Canada?# How to verify if my immigration consultant is licensed?# Difference between licensed and unlicensed immigration consultants?# Is it mandatory to be licensed to practice immigration consulting in Canada?