Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted its first category-based Express Entry draw of December 2025, inviting 1,000 candidates from the healthcare and social services sector to apply for permanent residence.
To be eligible for this targeted draw, candidates were required to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 476 and to have submitted their Express Entry profiles before 7:44 a.m. UTC on November 26, 2025.
This latest draw is part of Canada’s broader strategy to attract skilled professionals in critical sectors facing labour shortages, such as healthcare, education, and trades. As Canada’s population ages and the demand for healthcare services increases, IRCC has emphasized recruiting qualified healthcare workers through category-based selections.
The December 11 draw aligns with a particularly active period for Express Entry invitations this month. It closely follows a record-breaking Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw held on December 10, which saw 6,000 invitations issued—the largest CEC draw in over 16 months. Just days earlier, on December 8, IRCC issued 1,123 invitations through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), marking the largest PNP draw of the year. On November 28, 6,000 invitations were also sent in a French-language proficiency draw.
So far in 2025, IRCC has issued a total of 106,599 invitations through the Express Entry system. This year’s draws have primarily focused on candidates in the PNP (24 draws), CEC (15 draws), and those with strong French-language skills (9 draws). Healthcare and social services occupations have been the focus of 7 draws, followed by education (2 draws) and trades (1 draw).
Category-based draws were introduced to better align immigration with Canada’s labor market needs. By targeting specific professions, the government aims to support economic growth and address sector-specific gaps as part of Canada’s long-term immigration strategy.
These draws also indicate IRCC’s commitment to efficiently transitioning temporary residents in high-demand roles into permanent status, strengthening the country’s healthcare infrastructure and economic resilience.
Maple News will continue to track and report on the latest Express Entry developments, including upcoming draws and policy updates impacting skilled immigration to Canada.