Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued additional Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through the Express Entry system.
In this round, 4,000 ITAs were granted to candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) category.
To be eligible for this draw, candidates were required to have:
- A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 521
- Created an Express Entry profile on or before 2:52:14 AM (UTC) on November 14, 2024
IRCC Conducts Second Express Entry Draw of the Week, Issuing More ITAs for CEC Candidates
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued additional Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through the Express Entry system.
In today’s draw, 4,000 ITAs were granted to candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). To be eligible, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 521 and must have created an Express Entry profile on or before 2:52:14 AM (UTC) on November 14, 2024.
This marks the second Express Entry draw of the week, following a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw on February 4, which invited 455 candidates through enhanced PNP programs.
Express Entry Draw Summary for 2025
| Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | Cut-off CRS Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
In January 2025, IRCC issued a total of 5,821 ITAs across CEC and enhanced PNP programs.
Trends in Express Entry Draws
According to Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan, the majority of ITAs in 2025 are expected to focus on the priority categories set by the federal government through Express Entry, including:
- CEC and PNP candidates through the newly established “In-Canada Focus” category
- Category-based selection candidates through the “Federal Economic Priorities” category, targeting:
- Healthcare workers
- Skilled trades workers
- Candidates with advanced French-language proficiency
Between these two categories, IRCC aims to welcome over 124,000 new permanent residents in 2025.
The latter half of 2024 also prioritized candidates fitting into these categories, signaling a continued focus on targeted immigration selection.
Express Entry vs. Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
Canada operates both federal and provincial immigration programs. While the federal government has the ultimate authority to approve permanent residence applications, provinces and territories run their own immigration programs to address regional labor market needs.
Express Entry: Canada’s Largest Federal Immigration System
Express Entry is the primary pathway for economic immigration and includes three main programs:
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
PNPs are region-specific immigration programs designed to spread the benefits of immigration across Canada. Each province and territory has its own PNP streams, which are divided into:
- Base PNPs (non-Express Entry aligned)
- Candidates must first apply for a provincial nomination.
- If nominated, they can apply to IRCC directly for permanent residence.
- Final approval is granted by the federal government.
- Enhanced PNPs (Express Entry-aligned)
- Candidates in the Express Entry pool may receive a provincial nomination.
- A nomination adds 600 CRS points, virtually guaranteeing an ITA in the next draw.
- Candidates can either:
- Apply for an enhanced PNP stream after entering the Express Entry pool.
- Be passively considered and invited to apply for nomination by a province.
With PNPs and Express Entry draws continuing to shape Canadian immigration in 2025, candidates should focus on optimizing their CRS scores and eligibility for priority categories to maximize their chances of receiving an ITA.
IRCC issues more CEC invitations in second Express Entry draw of the week | CIC News
