Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued 5,000 invitations to apply (ITAs) in the latest Express Entry draw for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates, marking the lowest CRS cut-off score for the program in 2025.
To be invited in this draw, candidates were required to have:
- A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 515; and
- An Express Entry profile created before 6:58 p.m. (UTC) on September 9, 2025.
This is the second CEC draw in as many weeks, with IRCC issuing a combined 11,000 ITAs to CEC candidates over that period.
Lowest CEC CRS Cut-Off This Year
The CRS cut-off of 515 represents a new low for Canadian Experience Class draws in 2025. Prior to this, the lowest CRS score required for a CEC draw this year was 518 points.
The draw also breaks recent patterns. Express Entry draws are typically held on alternate weeks, and recent CEC rounds had featured higher CRS cut-offs while issuing only 1,000 ITAs per draw. The size and timing of this round therefore came as an unexpected shift.
December Draw Activity
This marks the fifth Express Entry draw in December, following:
- A Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw on December 16
- A healthcare and social services draw on December 11
- The largest CEC draw in 16 months, held on December 10
Express Entry in 2025: Overview
So far in 2025, IRCC has issued a total of 111,998 ITAs through the Express Entry system.
Draws this year have largely focused on the Provincial Nominee Program, with additional invitations extended to candidates under:
- Canadian Experience Class
- French-language proficiency
- Healthcare and social services
- Education
- Trade occupations
Number of draws by category in 2025:
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): 23
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC): 15
- French-language proficiency: 8
- Healthcare and social services: 6
- Education: 2
- Trade: 1
ITAs issued by draw type to date:
- French-language proficiency: 42,000
- Canadian Experience Class: 36,850
- Healthcare and social services: 13,500
- Provincial Nominee Program: 9,775
- Education: 3,500
- Trade: 1,250
IRCC’s latest draw continues to signal strong demand for candidates with Canadian work experience, while the lower CRS threshold offers new opportunities for eligible applicants already in the Express Entry pool.