Canada’s Express Entry system has always been a popular route to permanent residency, but 2025 has brought big changes. If you’re planning to immigrate to Canada, it’s important to understand what’s happening and how it affects your chances.
For the first time in Express Entry’s 10-year history, Canada has completely stopped all-program draws. These are the draws that used to invite candidates from all three main economic immigration programs based on their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score alone.
Instead, the focus has shifted to targeted draws. That means Canada is now selecting candidates who meet specific needs, like French speakers or people in high-demand jobs such as healthcare and trades.
Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws, which were once common, have also slowed down and haven’t happened since February 5, 2025.
This change is part of Canada’s bigger immigration plan, which is now focused on addressing labour shortages, housing problems, and helping newcomers settle into the economy faster.
What Is Express Entry and How Does It Work?
Express Entry is the system Canada uses to manage permanent residency applications for skilled workers. It includes three main programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) – for professionals with work experience outside Canada.
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC) – for people who already have skilled work experience in Canada.
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) – for workers in skilled trades like construction or industrial work.
Candidates are given a CRS score based on age, education, work experience, language skills, and more. The highest-scoring candidates receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency during a draw.
In past years, all-program draws were the norm. But in 2025, that has changed entirely. Only targeted draws are happening now.
What’s New With Express Entry Draws in 2025?
As of May 7, 2025, Canada has done zero all-program draws. Instead, the focus has been on four types of draws:
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws – where provinces choose skilled workers who meet their local needs
- Occupation-based draws – focused on key sectors like healthcare, education, and skilled trades
- French language draws – for candidates who speak French
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws – only held early this year
The pause in CEC draws since February has left many international graduates and temporary residents waiting.
This shift clearly shows that Canada wants to bring in immigrants who can quickly fill job gaps and settle well in the country.
How Many Express Entry Draws Have Happened So Far in 2025?
From January 1 to May 2, 2025, Canada has held:
Total draws: 15
Total Invitations to Apply (ITAs): 33,404
Here’s the breakdown:
| Draw Type | Number of Draws | Total ITAs Issued |
|---|---|---|
| French language draws | 3 | 18,500 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 3 | 9,350 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 5 | 3,632 |
| Occupation-specific draws | 2 | 1,500 (healthcare, education) |
The largest draw so far was on March 21, 2025, inviting 7,500 French-speaking candidates with a CRS cut-off score of 379 – the lowest this year.
Most PNP draws had very high CRS cut-offs (700+), because getting a provincial nomination adds 600 points to your score.
Why Did Canada Stop All-Program Draws in 2025?
There are three main reasons behind this major shift:
1. Lower Immigration Targets
Canada’s immigration target was reduced from 485,000 in 2024 to 395,000 in 2025. This happened due to growing concerns about:
- Housing shortages, especially in big cities
- Healthcare strain from rapid population growth
- Economic pressures, where the government now wants immigrants who can quickly support the workforce
2. More Targeted Strategy
Canada now wants to select immigrants who already have what the economy needs, like:
- French language skills
- Work experience in high-demand jobs like nursing or teaching
- Canadian work experience
- Provincial nominations, which show a province already needs you
This makes the process faster and more effective.
3. Economic and Political Pressures
Public opinion around immigration is shifting. Canadians are asking how newcomers will affect jobs, infrastructure, and services. So Canada is choosing fewer people, but focusing on those who can contribute right away.
Express Entry Timeline: From 2015 to 2025
- 2015 – Express Entry launches. All-program draws begin.
- 2016–2019 – Regular draws happen every 2 weeks with scores between 440–500.
- 2020–2021 – COVID-19 causes a pause in all-program draws. Focus shifts to people already in Canada (CEC and PNP).
- 2022–2023 – All-program draws resume. In 2023, category-based draws start for French speakers and key occupations.
- 2024 – Only 6 all-program draws happen.
- 2025 – No all-program draws so far. Only targeted draws happening.
What Does This Mean for You as an Applicant?
Here’s what it means depending on your profile:
If your CRS score is 450–500
That used to be a good score. But now, you might not get invited unless you also:
- Have a provincial nomination
- Can speak French
- Have Canadian work experience
- Work in a targeted job (like nurse, electrician, teacher)
If you speak French
You’re in luck! You have a huge advantage right now. French draws have low CRS scores (as low as 379) and large quotas.
If you’re nominated by a province
That adds 600 points to your score, so you almost guarantee an invitation. But beware: some provinces, like Ontario and BC, have slowed down their nomination programs in 2025.
If you have Canadian work experience
You’re eligible for CEC draws, which are very helpful. But no CEC draws have happened since February 2025, so it’s a waiting game right now.
If you work in a high-demand occupation
Healthcare, trades, and education jobs are targeted, but competition is very high and draw sizes are small so far.
What Will Happen to Express Entry in the Rest of 2025?
Canada hasn’t officially said that all-program draws are gone forever, but the current trends show the government will continue with only targeted draws.
There are already over 850,000 PR applications being processed, enough to meet immigration targets for the next two years.
So in 2025 and beyond, Canada will likely focus on:
- Job market needs – Only inviting people in in-demand occupations
- French speakers – To support bilingual communities
- Provincial needs – Through PNP draws
- Applicants already in Canada – With work or study experience
This means you need to adapt to stay competitive.
What is the latest Express Entry CRS cut-off score?
The most recent CRS cut-off score is 763 in a PNP draw. This high score includes the 600 bonus points from provincial nominations.
Will CRS scores go down in 2025?
Yes, CRS scores may go down due to recent changes in the points system, like removing job offer points in March 2025. This could make it easier for some to qualify.
Is 450 a good CRS score in 2025?
Not anymore if you’re applying under the regular Federal Skilled Worker or CEC categories. But 450 is competitive if you qualify under French language draws or occupation-based categories like trades.
