4,500 Express Entry candidates invited with lowest CRS since August

Canada has issued 4,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in its latest Express Entry draw. This draw, held on March 6, 2025, focused on candidates with strong French language skills. To qualify, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 410 and must have created their Express Entry profile before February 11, 2025.

Breakdown of 2025 Express Entry Draws

This draw is the second in March and follows a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw on March 3. So far in 2025, the immigration department has conducted several draws across different categories, including the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), PNP, and French-language proficiency.

Here is a summary of the 2025 Express Entry draws:

• March 6: French-language proficiency – 4,500 ITAs, CRS 410
• March 3: PNP – 725 ITAs, CRS 667
• February 19: French-language proficiency – 6,500 ITAs, CRS 428
• February 17: PNP – 646 ITAs, CRS 750
• February 5: CEC – 4,000 ITAs, CRS 521
• February 4: PNP – 455 ITAs, CRS 802
• January 23: CEC – 4,000 ITAs, CRS 527
• January 8: CEC – 1,350 ITAs, CRS 542
• January 7: PNP – 471 ITAs, CRS 793

This year, Canada has primarily focused on inviting candidates under the CEC and PNP streams. The government aims to prioritize applicants already in Canada, aligning with its commitment to supporting domestic immigration.

So far, only two category-based draws have been held, both for French-speaking candidates. The first one took place on February 19 and saw 6,500 ITAs issued.

Canada’s Immigration Priorities for 2025

In addition to French language skills, the government has set other priority categories for 2025. These include:

• Healthcare and social services occupations
• Trade occupations
• Education occupations

A new category for education professionals was introduced this year, highlighting Canada’s focus on attracting skilled workers in teaching-related roles.

Job Offer Changes in Express Entry

Canada is preparing to change how job offers affect CRS scores. Sometime in spring 2025, points for arranged employment will be removed. This could reduce some candidates’ CRS scores by up to 200 points, making it harder to get an ITA.

However, not all job offers qualify for CRS points. To count, a job offer must:

• Be full-time and non-seasonal
• Last at least one year
• Be in a skilled occupation under the National Occupation Classification (NOC) TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3
• Be recent (issued within the last year)
• Come from an employer who is not a diplomatic mission

Most job offers also require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), proving no Canadian worker was available for the position.

Candidates who lose CRS points due to this change should explore other ways to improve their scores, such as gaining more work experience or improving language skills.