Express Entry: IRCC invites 4,000 CEC candidates In Latest Draw

In the third draw of the year, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has invited 4,000 candidates to apply for permanent residence through the Express Entry system. This latest invitation was extended to those in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) category.

To be eligible for an invitation, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 527. Additionally, they had to have submitted their Express Entry profile before 7:06:43 AM Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on July 23, 2024.

This draw follows earlier ones, including a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw on January 7, and a CEC draw on January 8. IRCC has made it clear that they will continue issuing invitations for CEC candidates in the future. As part of the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, IRCC aims to welcome 82,890 new immigrants under the "In-Canada Focus" category in 2025.

Here’s a quick look at the Express Entry draws in 2025:

• January 23: 4,000 ITAs for CEC candidates, CRS cut-off: 527
• January 8: 1,350 ITAs for CEC candidates, CRS cut-off: 542
• January 7: 471 ITAs for PNP candidates, CRS cut-off: 793

The CRS assigns points to candidates based on various factors, including education, work experience, language skills, and more. To maximize their CRS score, candidates can take steps such as:

• Obtaining higher education credentials.
• Improving official language skills in English or French, especially if proficient in both.
• Gaining more work experience, either in Canada or abroad.
• Receiving a provincial nomination, which adds significant points to a candidate’s profile.
• For skilled tradespeople, obtaining a certificate of qualification issued by a Canadian province can also boost scores.

Candidates should note that if they have a spouse or common-law partner, their factors will also contribute to the total CRS score, which may impact the final score.

While the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) had been expected to surpass Express Entry in terms of immigration targets for 2024, Express Entry remains the largest pathway for skilled immigrants seeking to settle in Canada.

According to the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, IRCC has increased its target for Express Entry candidates, aiming to welcome 124,590 newcomers through this program in 2025. This is a significant increase from 110,770 landings in 2024. In contrast, the PNP allocation for 2025 has been reduced from 110,000 to just 55,000.

These adjustments to the landing targets are expected to affect the number of ITAs IRCC issues for each program. With fewer PNP invitations, Express Entry will likely see an increase in ITAs as the program becomes more vital for those wishing to immigrate to Canada.

For skilled workers looking to settle in Canada, the Express Entry system is more crucial than ever, offering an efficient pathway to permanent residency.