Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted its third Express Entry draw this week, issuing 800 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) specifically in a category-based selection for French-speaking candidates. Eligible applicants needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 478 to qualify in this round.
This draw, held in mid-November, follows closely on the heels of a previous draw on November 13, which invited 400 applicants under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Altogether, this is the third Express Entry draw to take place within just a few days, signaling an active period for Canada’s federal immigration system.
The November draws coincide with the release of Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan for 2025. Under this roadmap, IRCC aims to welcome 124,680 new permanent residents through Express Entry-managed programs next year. The plan includes ambitious targets to support Canada’s labor market needs and demographic goals through both In-Canada and Federal Economic categories.
Of the total annual Express Entry admissions target, 82,980 spots are reserved for candidates already residing in Canada. These candidates are typically individuals transitioning from temporary to permanent resident status through programs like CEC or the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). This new “In-Canada focus” strategy accounts for approximately 40% of Canada’s total economic immigration intake for 2025.
Meanwhile, 41,700 of next year’s Express Entry admissions will fall under the Federal Economic Priorities category. This target allows IRCC to prioritize applicants who can address critical labor shortages—such as healthcare workers, tradespeople, and French-speaking newcomers outside of Quebec.
By holding targeted draws like the one focused on French-language proficiency, IRCC continues to use category-based selection to shape its immigration intake toward pressing national goals, including bolstering bilingual communities and solving occupational shortages.
As IRCC maintains an aggressive pace of draws and applies more strategic filters to candidate selection, potential applicants should ensure their Express Entry profile reflects the most up-to-date information and qualifications to stay competitive in future rounds.