Canada’s immigration system has just opened another opportunity for skilled workers. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently held a draw under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), issuing 1,000 invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residency.
To qualify for this draw, candidates needed:
- A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 531
- An Express Entry profile created before 7:02 p.m. (UTC) on October 8, 2025
This latest draw is notable because the CRS cut-off score has now dropped to the lowest level for CEC draws since July, breaking the previous trend of 533/534 points that had held for the last five CEC draws.
How the Canadian Experience Class Draws Have Changed
While the number of invitations remains consistent at 1,000 ITAs per draw, the CRS score drop shows that more candidates now have a real chance to receive an invitation, even if their scores are slightly lower than before. This draw also marks the 13th CEC draw of 2025, and it’s only the second CEC draw this month, which is unusual because recent trends showed just one CEC draw per month.
Express Entry Draws Summary for 2025
| Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | Cut-off CRS score |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 25 | Provincial Nominee Program | 777 | 699 |
| November 14 | Healthcare and social services | 3,500 | 462 |
| November 12 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 533 |
| November 10 | Provincial Nominee Program | 714 | 738 |
| October 29 | French language proficiency | 6,000 | 416 |
| October 28 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 533 |
| October 27 | Provincial Nominee Program | 302 | 761 |
| October 15 | Healthcare and social services | 2,500 | 472 |
| October 14 | Provincial Nominee Program | 345 | 778 |
| October 6 | French language proficiency | 4,500 | 432 |
| October 1 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 534 |
| September 29 | Provincial Nominee Program | 291 | 855 |
| September 18 | Trade | 1,250 | 505 |
| September 17 | Education | 2,500 | 462 |
| September 15 | Provincial Nominee Program | 228 | 746 |
| September 4 | French language proficiency | 4,500 | 446 |
| September 3 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 534 |
| September 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 26 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,000 | 521 |
| June 23 | 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 2 | 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 |
So far in 2025, IRCC has issued 88,476 invitations through Express Entry, focusing mainly on Provincial Nominee Program draws, Canadian Experience Class candidates, French-language proficiency candidates, and priority occupation categories.
Number of Draws by Type in 2025
| Draw Type | Number of Draws |
|---|---|
| Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 22 |
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 13 |
| French-language proficiency | 7 |
| Healthcare and social services | 6 |
| Education | 2 |
| Trade | 1 |
ITAs Issued by Stream
| Draw Type | ITAs issued to date |
|---|---|
| French | 36,000 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 24,850 |
| Healthcare and social services | 13,500 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 9,376 |
| Education | 3,500 |
| Trade | 1,250 |
Why This Draw Matters
This CEC draw gives more opportunities for candidates with slightly lower CRS scores, meaning more skilled workers can move closer to Canadian permanent residency. The drop to 531 is particularly encouraging for candidates who were previously just below the cut-off in past draws.
Q: What is the Canadian Experience Class?
A: It’s a program for people who have already worked in Canada on a temporary work permit. Candidates gain points based on age, work experience, education, and language skills.
Q: What is a CRS score?
A: The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score is a points-based system that ranks candidates in Express Entry. Higher points increase the chance of receiving an ITA.
Q: How can I improve my CRS score?
A: Ways to improve include gaining more work experience, completing higher education, improving language test scores, or getting a job offer from a Canadian employer.
Q: How often are CEC draws held?
A: Usually once per month, but IRCC can hold extra draws depending on immigration targets.
Q: How many ITAs are typically issued in a CEC draw?
A: Since August 2025, IRCC has consistently issued 1,000 ITAs per CEC draw.
