Maple News reports that Express Entry activity in Canada slowed considerably in April 2025, marking a shift from the more robust pace set earlier in the year. Following a consistent pattern of four draws each in both February and March, April saw only two draws conducted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), with a total of 1,246 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) issued — the lowest monthly total so far in 2025.
Both April draws were exclusively for candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), reflecting IRCC’s continued focus on inviting candidates with provincial endorsements. The two draws occurred on April 14 and April 28, yielding 825 and 421 ITAs respectively. The associated Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off scores were relatively high, at 764 and 727.
In a notable departure from earlier months, IRCC did not conduct French-language proficiency or Canadian Experience Class (CEC) category-based draws in April. This pivot may reflect evolving priorities in Canada’s immigration strategy as it shifts focus toward aligning immigration streams with specific labor market demands.
As of April’s end, a total of 4,079 ITAs have been issued to PNP candidates through 2025’s Express Entry draws. This puts IRCC on a cautious trajectory compared to earlier expectations for higher annual intake volumes.
However, May began with renewed activity. For the first time, IRCC invited educational professionals through the Express Entry system—signaling more specialized, occupation-targeted draws likely aimed at addressing critical labor shortages in sectors like education.
The current composition of the Express Entry pool remains competitive, with high CRS scores dominating PNP invitations. As candidates await further updates, understanding how their CRS score aligns with the wider pool will be crucial for optimizing their application timeline.
Maple News will continue to provide timely updates as Express Entry trends evolve through 2025, particularly as IRCC rolls out more category-based and occupation-specific selection mechanisms in alignment with Canada’s economic goals.