OTTAWA INVITED 3,000 CANADIAN EXPERIENCE CLASS CANDIDATES IN THE NEW EXPRESS ENTRY DRAW

On July 8, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted Express Entry round #355, targeting candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). A total of 3,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residency were issued, marking one of the largest CEC-specific draws of the year. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required was 518—three points lower than the previous CEC-targeted draw—indicating a slight decrease in competition among top-ranked profiles.

The tie-breaking rule for this draw was set at October 2, 2024, at 1:48:36 UTC, meaning candidates with a CRS score of 518 who submitted their profiles before this date and time received invitations. This round is part of Canada’s ongoing strategy to prioritize applicants with Canadian work experience, as CEC candidates have already demonstrated their ability to integrate into the labour market.

As of July 6, 2025, there were 256,224 active profiles in the Express Entry pool. This draw brings the total number of ITAs issued in 2025 to 45,201 across 25 draws, including general, program-specific, and category-based invitations.

The Express Entry system remains a key component of Canada's economic immigration framework, and CEC draws continue to support the transition of skilled workers already contributing to the Canadian economy. Future draws are expected to follow similar trends as IRCC balances immigration targets with labour market needs and settlement capacity.

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