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Dear future neighbour,

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has continued its targeted Express Entry strategy with two new draws held on July 7 and July 8, 2025. These latest rounds of invitations reflect Canada’s ongoing focus on Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) applicants—two of the most sought-after immigration streams under the Express Entry system.

See below details of July 7 Express Entry draw:

• Program: Provincial Nominee Program
• Date and time: July 7, 2025
• CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited: 750
• Number of invitations issued: 356
• Rank needed: 356 or above
• Tie-breaking rule: March 19, 2025

This was a category-specific draw aimed solely at Express Entry candidates who had secured a nomination from a Canadian province or territory. The high minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 750 reflects the 600-point boost that comes with a provincial nomination.

PNP draws remain one of the fastest and most reliable pathways to permanent residency for candidates working in high-demand occupations across Canada.

See below details of July 8 Express Entry Draw

• Program Targeted: Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
• Date of Draw: July 8, 2025
• CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited: 518
• Number of invitations issued: 3,000
• Rank needed: 3,000 or above

The second draw, held on July 8, 2025, invited 3,000 candidates under the Canadian Experience Class—marking the third consecutive CEC-specific draw this summer.

This draw saw a slight drop in the minimum CRS score, down from 521 in the previous CEC round. The consistent number of invitations suggests that IRCC is ramping up efforts to transition more temporary workers and graduates already in Canada to permanent residency.

CEC draws continue to benefit international graduates and skilled foreign workers who have gained at least one year of Canadian work experience in a skilled occupation.

See below CRS Score Distribution in the Pool

The Express Entry pool had 256,224 candidates as of July 6, 2025, with the following breakdown::

CRS score range	Number of candidates
601-1200	358
501-600	22,591
451-500	77,550
491-500	13,342
481-490	13,830
471-480	17,534
461-470	17,309
451-460	15,535
401-450	72,608
441-450	15,069
431-440	15,786
421-430	14,341
411-420	14,315
401-410	13,097
351-400	53,697
301-350	21,135
0-300	8,285
Total	256,224

Immigration Strategy and Planning

These two draws reflect IRCC’s deliberate shift toward targeted, program-specific invitations. The current Express Entry strategy, introduced in mid-2023, allows the department to invite candidates based on specific categories such as provincial nominations, in-Canada experience, healthcare occupations, STEM professionals, French speakers, and others.

As of July 8, 2025, IRCC has issued a total of 42,201 ITAs through Express Entry, across general, program-specific, and category-based draws.

What This Means for Candidates

• PNP applicants should maintain high CRS scores and monitor provincial nomination opportunities closely.

• CEC candidates with CRS scores above 510 may find improved chances in upcoming rounds, especially as IRCC balances scores to meet annual targets.

• Category-based draws are expected to continue throughout 2025, focusing on Canada’s labor market needs and demographic goals.