Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held an Express Entry draw on August 7, 2025, inviting 1,000 candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). This move is part of IRCCโ€™s ongoing strategy to prioritize skilled workers who already have Canadian work experience, making them more likely to integrate successfully.

To qualify, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 534, and IRCC applied a tie-breaker timestamp of August 3, 2025, at 06:22:02 UTC to determine which profiles with identical scores would receive invitations.

Details of the Draw

  • Draw Type: Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

  • Draw Date: August 7, 2025

  • Number of ITAs Issued: 1,000

  • Minimum CRS Score: 534

  • Tie-Breaking Rule: Profiles created before August 3, 2025, at 06:22:02 UTC

Overview of the Draw

This was the 29th Express Entry draw of 2025, highlighting Canadaโ€™s continued focus on retaining skilled professionals already in the country. The CRS cutoff of 534 reflects a competitive environmentโ€”higher than some earlier CEC rounds this year.

Notably, this draw came just before a category-based draw on August 8 targeting French-speaking candidates, and after a PNP draw on August 6. This sequence shows IRCCโ€™s deliberate mix of program-specific and category-based streams to meet diverse immigration needs.

By sequencing these draws so closely together, IRCC is signaling an aggressive approach to meeting its annual immigration targets while addressing specific labor market gaps. This strategy not only accelerates the intake of high-priority candidates but also ensures a balanced inflow of newcomers with diverse skills, language abilities, and regional ties.

Impact on Immigration

1. Canadian Experience Still Counts

The CEC stream continues to be one of the strongest pathways to permanent residency for those who have already worked in Canada. This draw reaffirms the value IRCC places on domestic work experience.

2. Competitive CRS Threshold

A CRS cutoff of 534 is relatively high for a CEC-specific draw. Candidates need a strong combination of language proficiency, education, and skilled work experience to stay competitive.

3. Timeliness Matters

The tie-breaker rule highlights the importance of maintaining an up-to-date profile. Among candidates with the same score, those who submitted earlier were prioritized.

4. Momentum Toward Targets

With this draw, IRCC has issued over 50,600 ITAs in 2025 across all Express Entry categories, showing steady progress toward meeting annual immigration targets.

5. A Rallying Call for Non-CECs

Those who do not qualify under CEC should consider alternate pathways like the Provincial Nominee Program or work on improving their CRS score through language tests, additional education, or Canadian work experience.

This draw reinforces Canadaโ€™s commitment to welcoming skilled talent already contributing to its economy. For eligible candidates, itโ€™s a reminder that preparation, timing, and profile strength can make all the difference in securing an ITA.

Canada Express Entry Draw List 2025

Draw

Date

Number of Invitations

CRS Score

Draw Type

359

August 7, 2025

1,000

534

Canadian Experience Class

358

August 6, 2025

225

739

Provincial Nominee Program

357

July 22, 2025

4,000

475

Healthcare and social services occupations

356

July 21, 2025

202

788

Provincial Nominee Program

355

July 08, 2025

3,000

518

Canadian Experience Class

354

July 07, 2025

356

750

Provincial Nominee Program

353

June 26, 2025

3,000

521

Canadian Experience Class

352

June 23, 2025

503

742

Provincial Nominee Program

351

June 12, 2025

3,000

529

Canadian Experience Class

350

June 10, 2025

125

784

Provincial Nominee Program

349

June 04, 2025

500

504

Healthcare and social services occupations

348

June 02, 2025

277

726

Provincial Nominee Program

347

May 13, 2025

500

547

Canadian Experience Class

346

May 12, 2025

511

706

Provincial Nominee Program

345

May 02, 2025

500

510

Healthcare and social services occupations

344

May 01, 2025

1,000

479

Education

343

April 28, 2025

421

727

Provincial Nominee Program

342

April 14, 2025

825

764

Provincial Nominee Program

341

March 21, 2025

7,500

379

French language proficiency

340

March 17, 2025

536

736

Provincial Nominee Program

339

March 6, 2025

4,500

410

French language proficiency

338

March 3, 2025

725

667

Provincial Nominee Program

337

February 19, 2025



6,500

428

French language proficiency

336

February 17, 2025

646

750

Provincial Nominee Program

335

February 5, 2025

4,000

521

Canadian Experience Class

334

February 4, 2025

455

802

Provincial Nominee Program

333

January 23, 2025

4,000

527

Canadian Experience Class

332

January 8, 2025

1,350

542

Canadian Experience Class

331

January 7, 2025

471

793

Provincial Nominee Program