Maple News reports a notable shift in Canada’s Express Entry system as the number of candidates in the pool declined by 2,472 between August 5 and August 17, 2025. Most of the decrease came from the competitive 481–600 CRS score range, which saw a sharp drop of 2,342 profiles.
August also stood out for several key developments in Express Entry draws. The month recorded the highest CRS cut-off score of the year for French-language proficiency draws and the second highest score for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws, highlighting Canada’s growing emphasis on targeted immigration streams.
Throughout August 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued a total of 6,417 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) over five draws. These included:
– August 6: PNP draw with 225 ITAs (CRS 739)
– August 7: Canadian Experience Class draw with 1,000 ITAs (CRS 534)
– August 8: French-language proficiency draw with 2,500 ITAs (CRS 481)
– August 18: PNP draw with 192 ITAs (CRS 800)
– August 19: Healthcare and social services category draw with 2,500 ITAs (CRS 470)
These draws reflected the 14th and 15th PNP rounds of the year, the eighth Canadian Experience Class draw, and the fourth instances for both French-language and healthcare-focused categories. The trend underscores IRCC’s ongoing strategy to align immigration with Canada’s labour market needs and demographic goals.
Despite a robust configuration of draws in August, the total number of ITAs issued was 1,141 fewer than July, making it the fourth-lowest month for ITAs this year. To date, January, April, and May have reported even lower totals.
Cumulatively, from January 1 to August 31, 2025, IRCC has issued 55,820 ITAs through Express Entry—down 23,143 compared to the same period in 2024. This drop suggests a more targeted and selective approach in Canada’s 2025 immigration strategy.
As the pool narrows and CRS cut-off scores reach new highs, applicants aiming for Express Entry should closely monitor category-based invitations and consider factors such as language proficiency and provincial nominations to enhance their competitiveness.