Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued 2,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in the most recent Express Entry draw focused on education-related occupations. The draw, held on September 17, 2025, required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 462 — a notable drop of 17 points compared to the previous education-focused draw on May 1.
This marks the second Express Entry draw of 2025 aimed specifically at education professionals and reflects Canada’s strategic use of category-based selections to address workforce needs in key sectors. The September 17 draw was the 37th Express Entry round of the year and the 367th overall since the system launched in 2015.
Just two days earlier, on September 15, a separate draw was held for candidates in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), issuing 228 ITAs with a significantly higher minimum CRS score of 764. Category-based draws like these are increasingly shaping Canada’s immigration strategy, targeting sectors such as education, healthcare, and technology, to align with critical labour market demands.
As of this latest round, a total of 63,297 ITAs have been issued through Express Entry in 2025. That follows a total of 98,903 invitations in 2024, and 110,266 in 2023. The record still stands at 114,431 ITAs in 2021, during which draws were exclusively issued to Canadian Experience Class and PNP candidates amid pandemic-related adjustments.
This year’s draw distribution highlights Canada’s shifting immigration priorities. So far in 2025, IRCC has conducted 17 draws for PNP candidates, nine for Canadian Experience Class (CEC), five focused on French language proficiency, four aimed at healthcare and social services, and now two targeting education occupations. These targeted draws are part of an ongoing effort to use Express Entry more surgically to fill sector-specific labour shortages.
The tie-breaking rule for the latest draw was implemented for profiles submitted before July 9, 2025, at 12:24 a.m. EST. This ensures fairness when multiple candidates have the same CRS score.
Successful candidates have 60 days to submit their complete permanent residence applications, with most expected to be processed within the standard six-month timeline.
As Canada continues to pivot toward category-based invitation rounds, professionals in key sectors such as teaching, healthcare, and technology stand to benefit significantly. This evolving strategy reflects IRCC’s commitment to a more responsive and targeted immigration system.
Maple News will continue to follow Developments in Canada’s Express Entry system and policy shifts impacting immigration pathways for skilled workers around the world.