How Canada’s Reduced Immigration Levels Have Changed Express Entry in 2025

Canada’s Express Entry system has undergone a dramatic transformation in 2025. For the first time in its 10-year history, not a single all-program draw has been conducted so far this year. Instead, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued invitations only through occupation-specific, Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and French language proficiency draws.

This shift comes as part of Canada’s broader strategy to align immigration with labour market needs while responding to growing concerns about housing, healthcare capacity, and economic integration.

On This Page, You Will Find:

• What has changed in Express Entry in 2025
• A breakdown of draw types this year
• A look back at Express Entry’s history
• The impact of Canada’s reduced immigration targets
• What candidates should expect going forward

Express Entry in 2025: What Has Changed?

In previous years all-program draws were the backbone of Express Entry. These rounds allowed candidates from any of the three federal economic immigration programs to receive Invitations to Apply (ITAs) based on their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score alone.

In 2023, IRCC conducted 14 all-program draws. In 2024, the number dropped to just six, with the last such draw held on April 24, 2024. As of May 2025, zero all-program draws have taken place this year.

Instead, IRCC has issued invitations through the following draw types:

• PNP draws – High CRS thresholds (often 700+)
• Occupation-specific draws – Healthcare, education, trades, and more
• French language proficiency draws – Larger and more frequent than before
• Canadian Experience Class draws – Mostly in early 2025

Breaking Down the 2025 Draw Data

From January 1 to May 2, 2025:

• Total draws conducted: 15
• Total ITAs issued: 33,404
• Draws for French speakers: 3 (18,500 ITAs)
• PNP draws: 5 (3,632 ITAs)
• Occupation-specific draws: 2 (1,500 ITAs – education and healthcare)
• CEC draws: 3 (9,350 ITAs)

The largest draw so far in 2025 was on March 21, inviting 7,500 French-speaking candidates with a CRS cut-off of 379 — one of the lowest of the year. In contrast, the April 28 PNP draw had a CRS cut-off of 727, typical of provincial nominee draws where candidates already have 600 points from nomination.

This strategy reflects a preference for pre-screened candidates — those with Canadian experience, provincial nominations, or French proficiency — who are perceived as more likely to integrate quickly and meet pressing economic demands.

A Brief History of Express Entry

When Express Entry launched in January 2015, it revolutionised Canada’s approach to economic immigration. Instead of processing applications on a first-come, first-served basis, the system ranked candidates and invited only the highest-scoring individuals.

From 2015 to 2019, IRCC conducted regular all-program draws, typically twice a month, with CRS cut-offs ranging from the mid-400s to low 500s. The system proved effective in attracting highly skilled immigrants — particularly from IT, finance, engineering, and healthcare.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, Express Entry adapted again. IRCC paused all-program draws for over a year and issued record-breaking invitations to Canadian Experience Class and PNP candidates, including a historic draw on February 13, 2021, that invited 27,332 applicants with a CRS of just 75.

All-program draws resumed in July 2022 but became less frequent and more competitive by late 2023. The gradual shift to category-based selection — introduced in mid-2023 — signalled a new, targeted direction.

Now, in 2025, that evolution has reached a new milestone: zero all-program draws and a fully strategic, occupation-driven model.

Why Did Canada Stop All-Program Draws?

The biggest factor is the 2024–2026 Immigration Levels Plan, which reduced Canada’s permanent resident targets from 485,000 in 2024 to 395,000 in 2025 — the first annual reduction in immigration targets in over a decade.

With a smaller intake, IRCC is focused on selectivity. By prioritising those with provincial nominations, in-demand occupations, French-language ability, or Canadian experience, the government aims to reduce processing times, ease pressure on housing and services, and ensure better integration outcomes.

What This Means for Candidates

The absence of all-program draws means that candidates with strong CRS scores but no provincial nomination, no Canadian experience, or no French ability may find it harder to get invited in 2025.

Applicants will likely need to adapt their strategies, such as:

• Seeking a provincial nomination
• Improving French language skills
• Gaining Canadian work experience through a work permit
• Targeting in-demand occupations like healthcare, trades, or early childhood education

Looking Ahead

IRCC has not formally ruled out a return to all-program draws, but the trend suggests Canada will continue to prioritise category-based selection in the short term.

While this may limit pathways for some high-scoring candidates, it also reflects a more deliberate immigration model — one that responds directly to workforce needs and integration capacity.

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