Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a targeted Express Entry draw on October 28, 2025, exclusively for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates. A total of 1,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued, with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score requirement of 533. This marks a slight decrease from the last CEC-specific draw on October 1, where the CRS cutoff was 534.
This was the 45th Express Entry draw of 2025 and the 375th since the system’s launch in 2015. The draw also implemented the tie-breaking rule, with priority given to candidates who submitted their profiles before March 21, 2025, at 12:16 AM EST, in cases where multiple candidates had the same CRS score.
The day before, on October 27, IRCC conducted a draw for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates, issuing 302 ITAs with a minimum CRS score of 761. This is part of Canada’s broader strategy of conducting targeted draws based on specific categories, such as occupation, language proficiency, and program eligibility.
So far in 2025, IRCC has issued 74,518 ITAs through the Express Entry system. In comparison, 98,903 ITAs were issued in 2024, 110,266 in 2023, and a record 114,431 in 2021, which was entirely dedicated to CEC and PNP candidates amid pandemic-related priorities.
In 2025 alone, IRCC has held 20 PNP draws, 11 CEC draws, six French-language proficiency draws, five healthcare and social services draws, two education-related draws, and one draw targeting trades. These figures highlight Canada’s increasingly strategic and diversified use of Express Entry to meet labor market and demographic needs.
CEC draws focus on individuals who already have Canadian work experience, making them strong candidates for economic integration and long-term settlement. The reduced cutoff score in this round suggests continued efforts to make permanent residency more accessible to experienced in-Canada workers.
Selected candidates now have 60 days to submit complete applications for permanent residence. IRCC typically processes Express Entry applications within six months, barring complications or additional requirements.
With Canada’s ongoing labor demands across various industries, employers are encouraged to explore options like the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or nominate potential hires through provincial programs to improve long-term hiring options.
Maple News will continue to monitor updates from the IRCC and provide timely insights for candidates and employers navigating Canada’s dynamic immigration system.