Express Entry: IRCC Holds Largest PNP Draw of 2025 

Canada invited 1,123 people to apply for permanent residence in a new Provincial Nominee Program draw. IRCC set the cut-off score at 729. Candidates also needed to create their Express Entry profile before 5:10 a.m. UTC on March 5, 2025.

This draw added more movement to a busy year for Express Entry. Officers continue to use frequent rounds to target workers in several categories across the country.

Strong Activity Across 2025

IRCC held many draws this year. These rounds focused on PNP candidates, French-speaking applicants, CEC workers, and people in key job sectors.

French-language draws stood out. One round invited 7,500 candidates with a score of 379. Other major draws also took place in healthcare, trades, and education. Several rounds for CEC applicants also brought strong numbers, often reaching 1,000 or more invitations each time.

PNP draws stayed steady through the year. Some saw high cut-off scores, such as 855 in late September. Others offered more modest thresholds. Each round aimed to support provincial needs and labour gaps.

Healthcare and social service draws kept a constant pace. These rounds often brought in between 500 and 4,000 candidates. Education and trade draws also played a role, though fewer in number. A large September trade draw invited 1,250 skilled workers.

CEC draws remained frequent as well. These rounds often used scores near the low to mid-500s. Many skilled workers already in Canada saw new chances to move forward.

Year-to-Date Invitations Rise

IRCC issued 95,599 invitations this year through all Express Entry streams. French-language rounds led with 42,000 invitations. CEC applicants followed with 24,850. Healthcare and social services reached 13,500. PNP rounds delivered 9,376. Education draws brought 3,500, while trade candidates received 1,250.

These numbers showed a strong push toward workers in key sectors. They also showed the importance of French-speaking talent and Canadian work experience. Provinces also gained steady support through PNP rounds.

December Begins With New Momentum

The new PNP draw came right after major activity at the end of November. These included a large French-language round on November 28, a CEC draw on November 26, and another PNP round on November 25. The December draw kept that pace going.

Canada continues to use targeted draws to meet labour shortages and long-term goals. Many candidates now watch closely for more rounds this month. IRCC also signals strong plans for skilled newcomers as 2025 moves forward.