Toronto, June 26, 2025 – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) hosted its second Express Entry draw this week, targeting applicants within the Canadian Experience
Toronto, June 26, 2025 – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) hosted its second Express Entry draw this week, targeting applicants within the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). In this selection round, 3,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residency were issued to CEC candidates.
Draw Highlights
- Draw date: June 26, 2025
- Target stream: Canadian Experience Class
- Number of ITAs: 3,000
- Minimum CRS score: 521
- Profile registration deadline: Profiles must have been submitted on or before 3:56 p.m. UTC, November 21, 2024 CIC News+11CIC News+11cicnewsupdate.com+11
June 2025 Express Entry Summary
| Date | Category | ITAs | CRS Cut-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 26 | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 3,000 | 521 |
| Jun 23 | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 503 | 742 |
| Jun 12 | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 3,000 | 529 |
| Jun 10 | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 125 | 784 |
| Jun 4 | Healthcare & Social Services | 500 | 504 |
| Jun 2 | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 277 | 726 |
So far in 2025, IRCC has issued a total of 41,845 ITAs via Express Entry.
Does This Signal a Shift Toward More CEC Draws?
Traditionally, IRCC’s draw focus has been on PNP candidates. In fact, out of the ten Express Entry draws this year, there have been 11 PNP draws, 6 CEC draws, 3 draws targeting French‑language proficiency, plus 2 healthcare & social services and 1 education‑themed draw.
The back‑to‑back CEC draws this week mark a notable change. It’s the first time since February that consecutive weekly draws were exclusively for CEC candidates. Before June, IRCC largely paused CEC‑specific draws in favor of PNP and category‑based selections, typically issuing significantly fewer ITAs per draw.
While it’s too early to confirm a lasting shift, this could signal renewed emphasis on the CEC stream, hinting at promising times ahead for profile holders in Canada.
What This Means for Applicants
- Lower CRS threshold: The cut‑off dropped from 529 on June 12 to 521 on June 26, benefiting many candidates.
- CEC stream strengths: Ideal for those already working in Canada, the CEC path offers no proof-of‑funds requirement and typically fast tracking (within six months).
- Profile boost strategies: To raise your CRS score, consider improving language results, gaining more Canadian work experience, or securing a job offer or provincial nomination.
Why This Matters
These recent developments highlight Canada’s ongoing commitment to attracting skilled entrants already integrated into the Canadian workforce. If IRCC continues issuing regular, sizable CEC draws, it could signal a strategic pivot from PNP-dominant invitations to greater inclusion of domestic talent via the CEC stream.
