Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued 1,000 new Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in its latest Express Entry draw targeting Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates. This marks the second CEC-specific draw within just two weeks, highlighting a notable deviation from the monthly pattern previously followed by IRCC.
To qualify for this latest draw, candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 533. They also needed to have created their Express Entry profile before 3:39 a.m. UTC on October 17, 2025.
This is the fifth consecutive CEC draw where IRCC has issued 1,000 invitations and maintained a high CRS cut-off of either 533 or 534, a trend that has persisted since August 2025. However, the frequency of these draws appears to be changing. Traditionally, CEC-specific rounds were held roughly once a month, but this marks a shift in timing, with the previous CEC draw having taken place on October 28.
In total, 2025 has seen a substantial level of Express Entry activity. With this draw, IRCC has now distributed 82,223 ITAs across various categories, including other recent draws for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), French-speaking candidates, and healthcare and social services professionals.
Recent data shows increased activity in December as well, with multiple draws for CEC, PNP, and targeted occupations such as healthcare. Notably, a December 17 CEC draw issued 5,000 ITAs with a lower CRS cut-off of 515, indicating unpredictability and potential opportunities for lower-scoring candidates.
The shift in strategy may be due to IRCC adjusting admission priorities to meet immigration targets before the end of the year. As Canada continues to diversify its Express Entry system through category-based selections, candidates with Canadian work experience, French proficiency, and expertise in high-demand sectors are seeing more frequent opportunities to receive invitations.
Whether this increased frequency in CEC-specific draws continues remains to be seen, but it suggests IRCC’s ongoing responsiveness to labor market needs and policy goals. Maple News will continue monitoring these developments closely.