Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a targeted Express Entry draw on August 19, 2025, issuing 2,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence to candidates in healthcare and social services occupations. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required for this round was 470 — the lowest ever for this category.
This draw follows a similar healthcare-focused invitation round on July 22, which saw 4,000 ITAs issued, but with a higher CRS threshold. The lower cutoff in the latest draw suggests an increased focus on attracting talent in critical sectors such as nursing, medical technology, and social support services.
Prior to this, the most recent draw took place on August 18 and was geared toward candidates with provincial nominations under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). It invited 192 applicants with a significantly higher minimum CRS score of 800.
So far in 2025, IRCC has conducted 32 Express Entry rounds, issuing a total of 55,820 ITAs. These include 15 PNP-specific draws, 8 targeting the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), 4 focused on French-speaking candidates, one draw for education-related occupations, and 4 rounds prioritizing professionals in healthcare and social services.
By comparison, Canada issued 98,903 ITAs in 2024 and 110,266 in 2023, reflecting a continued but slightly moderated effort to invite skilled immigrants. The record high of 114,431 ITAs was set in 2021 during a year dominated by draws focused entirely on CEC and PNP candidates due to pandemic-related travel limitations.
The tie-breaking rule in the latest draw was applied to profiles submitted before April 32, 2025, at 4:08 p.m. EST. In cases where multiple applicants shared the minimum CRS score, only those who submitted their profiles before this timestamp received an invitation.
Candidates selected in the August 19 draw have 60 days to submit a complete application for permanent residency. IRCC aims to process these applications within its standard six-month timeframe.
Canada’s targeted immigration strategy continues to address labor shortages in key sectors by aligning immigration pathways with employer needs across provinces and industries. The healthcare sector remains a central priority as the country aims to strengthen its public and private healthcare infrastructure through skilled migration.
Employers are encouraged to explore Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) and provincial nominations as part of long-term workforce planning. Meanwhile, prospective immigrants could improve their chances of selection by securing a valid job offer or improving their CRS score.
Maple News will continue to monitor and report on Canada’s evolving Express Entry landscape as IRCC adapts its approach to meet demographic, economic, and labor market needs.