Express Entry: CRS Score Drops to Lowest Level for CEC Draw Since July
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued another round of invitations through the Express Entry system, marking an important update for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates.
In the latest draw, IRCC invited 1,000 CEC candidates to apply for permanent residence. This marks the second CEC draw in November and continues the trend of regular monthly rounds.
To qualify for this draw, candidates needed:
A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 531, and
An Express Entry profile created before 7:02 p.m. UTC on October 8, 2025.
This CRS requirement is notable because it breaks the recent pattern of scores staying at 533/534 for the past five CEC draws. The new score of 531 is the lowest CRS cut-off for a CEC draw since July 8, when the cut-off was 518.
Despite the lower score, IRCC has continued the consistent pattern of issuing 1,000 ITAs in each CEC draw since August 7. This latest round represents the 13th CEC draw of 2025.
This draw is also the fifth Express Entry draw in November, following:
A PNP draw on November 25
A Healthcare category draw on November 14
A CEC draw on November 12
So far, IRCC has issued 88,476 invitations through Express Entry in 2025.
Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2025
Express Entry activity has remained strong throughout the year, with draws targeting different categories such as the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), CEC, French-language candidates, healthcare professionals, and priority occupations.
Below is a summary of all Express Entry draws in 2025:
Date – Draw Type – Number of ITAs – Cut-Off CRS Score
(Full chronological table retained for accuracy)
November 25 – Provincial Nominee Program – 777 – 699
November 14 – Healthcare and social services – 3,500 – 462
November 12 – Canadian Experience Class – 1,000 – 533
November 10 – Provincial Nominee Program – 714 – 738
October 29 – French-language proficiency – 6,000 – 416
October 28 – Canadian Experience Class – 1,000 – 533
October 27 – Provincial Nominee Program – 302 – 761
October 15 – Healthcare and social services – 2,500 – 472
October 14 – Provincial Nominee Program – 345 – 778
October 6 – French-language proficiency – 4,500 – 432
October 1 – Canadian Experience Class – 1,000 – 534
September 29 – Provincial Nominee Program – 291 – 855
September 18 – Trade – 1,250 – 505
September 17 – Education – 2,500 – 462
September 15 – Provincial Nominee Program – 228 – 746
September 4 – French-language proficiency – 4,500 – 446
September 3 – Canadian Experience Class – 1,000 – 534
September 2 – Provincial Nominee Program – 249 – 772
August 19 – Healthcare and social services – 2,500 – 470
August 18 – Provincial Nominee Program – 192 – 800
August 8 – French-language proficiency – 2,500 – 481
August 7 – Canadian Experience Class – 1,000 – 534
August 6 – Provincial Nominee Program – 225 – 739
July 22 – Healthcare and social services – 4,000 – 475
July 21 – Provincial Nominee Program – 202 – 788
July 8 – Canadian Experience Class – 3,000 – 518
July 7 – Provincial Nominee Program – 356 – 750
June 26 – Canadian Experience Class – 3,000 – 521
June 23 – Provincial Nominee Program – 503 – 742
June 12 – Canadian Experience Class – 3,000 – 529
June 10 – Provincial Nominee Program – 125 – 784
June 4 – Healthcare and social services – 500 – 504
June 2 – Provincial Nominee Program – 277 – 726
May 13 – Canadian Experience Class – 500 – 547
May 12 – Provincial Nominee Program – 511 – 706
May 2 – Healthcare and social services – 500 – 510
May 1 – Education – 1,000 – 479
April 28 – Provincial Nominee Program – 421 – 727
April 14 – Provincial Nominee Program – 825 – 764
March 21 – French-language proficiency – 7,500 – 379
March 17 – Provincial Nominee Program – 536 – 736
March 6 – French-language proficiency – 4,500 – 410
March 3 – Provincial Nominee Program – 725 – 667
February 19 – French-language proficiency – 6,500 – 428
February 17 – Provincial Nominee Program – 646 – 750
February 5 – Canadian Experience Class – 4,000 – 521
February 4 – Provincial Nominee Program – 455 – 802
January 23 – Canadian Experience Class – 4,000 – 527
January 8 – Canadian Experience Class – 1,350 – 542
January 7 – Provincial Nominee Program – 471 – 793
Draw Trends in 2025
IRCC’s draw strategy this year has focused heavily on the Provincial Nominee Program, followed by frequent draws for CEC and French-language candidates. Priority occupation draws in healthcare, trades, and education have also taken place regularly.
Number of draws by category:
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): 22
Canadian Experience Class (CEC): 13
French-language proficiency: 7
Healthcare and social services: 6
Education: 2
Trade: 1
Total ITAs issued by category in 2025:
French-language category: 36,000
Canadian Experience Class: 24,850
Healthcare and social services: 13,500
Provincial Nominee Program: 9,376
Education: 3,500
Trade: 1,250
