4,500 Express Entry candidates invited with lowest CRS cut-off score since August, 2024

Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued more invitations to apply (ITAs) to candidates in the Express Entry system.

The immigration department issued 4,500 ITAs to candidates in a French-language proficiency draw.

To be considered for this draw, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 410, and to have created an Express Entry candidate profile before 7:47 am Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) on 11 February 2025.

See your eligibility for all Express Entry streams

Summary of Express Entry draws in 2025

Date	Draw Type	Number of ITAs	Cut-off CRS score
December 10	Canadian Experience Class	6,000	520
December 8	Provincial Nominee Program	1,123	729
November 28	French language proficiency	6,000	408
November 25	Canadian Experience Class	1,000	531
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

Today's draw is the second of the month and follows a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw on 3 March.

Express Entry draws in 2025 have largely focussed on Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and PNP candidates, following IRCC's commitment to prioritizing in-Canada candidates for ITAs. Thus far in the year, there have been four PNP draws and three CEC draws.

As of 6 March 2025, IRCC has held two draws this year under Express Entry category-based selections—both for candidates with French language proficiency. Previously the department issued 6,500 ITAs to candidates with advanced French proficiency on February 19.

The immigration department also recently announced its priority categories for 2025, adding a category for education occupations in the process. These 2025 priority categories are:

• French-language proficiency;
• Healthcare and social services occupations;
• Trade occupations; and
• Education occupations.

I am already working in Canada, does this count as a valid job offer under Express Entry?

In the spring of this year, IRCC plans to remove CRS points for job offers of arranged employment under the Express Entry system. This change will reduce some candidate's CRS scores by as much as 50 or 200 points, greatly impacting their chances of receiving an ITA.

In this context, it is important to know which candidates may be impacted. Working in Canada on a work permit is not the same as a job offer of arranged employment under Express Entry.

To work full-time in Canada as a foreign national, newcomers (who are not permanent residents) require work permits (or in some cases, only need study permits if they are pursuing a co-op placement for example).

To meet the requirements to award CRS points under Express Entry, a job offer must be:

• Full-time and non-seasonal;
• At least a year in duration;
• For a skilled job in a National Occupation Classification (NOC) Training Education Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) level 0, 1, 2, or 3;
• Be recent (issued within the last year); and
• From an employer who is not an embassy, consulate, or high commission.

In addition, valid job offers must usually be supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which an employer must apply for and receive, to prove that a Canadian worker was not available within the labour market to fill this role instead.

If you're receiving points for an offer of employment that meets the above-listed conditions, you may be impacted by the impending removal of CRS points. Note that CRS points derived from your foreign or Canadian work experience will not be impacted by this change.

For more information on Express Entry, and the conditions for a valid job offer, visit our dedicated webpage.

See your eligibility for all Express Entry streams