In 2025, significant changes were made to Canada’s Express Entry system, impacting the immigration process for many applicants seeking permanent residence.

This year, Express Entry underwent key modifications, such as the elimination of points for arranged employment and the restructuring of categories, affecting the issuance of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence.

Overview of Express Entry Draws and Policy Changes

Throughout 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a total of 58 Express Entry draws, issuing 113,998 ITAs. This marked an increase of 15,195 ITAs compared to the previous year.

The majority (59%) of ITAs were distributed through category-based selection, with the rest allocated through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws.

From January to April, IRCC primarily focused on CEC, PNP, and French-language draws before expanding to include other category-based rounds, particularly in healthcare and social services.

Below is a summary of the number of draws and ITAs issued per program and category in 2025:

Category or Program	Number of Draws	Number of ITAs Issued
French-language Proficiency	9	48,000
Canadian Experience Class	15	35,850
Healthcare and Social Services	7	14,500
Provincial Nominee Program	24	10,898
Education	2	3,500