Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has held its second draw under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) stream in just two weeks, continuing a sharp focus on candidates already living and working in Canada.
On November 12, 2025, IRCC issued 1,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to CEC-eligible profiles, setting a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cutoff of 533 points. By prioritizing the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the department is reinforcing its commitment to retaining skilled workers already integrated into Canada’s labor market.
Details of the Draw
Date: November 12, 2025
Draw type: Canadian Experience Class (CEC)-specific
Number of Invitations Issued: 1,000
Minimum CRS Cut-off: 533
Tie-breaking rule: Profiles submitted before 3:39 a.m. UTC on October 17, 2025
Context in draw sequence: This marks the second Express Entry draw of November and follows a PNP-specific round on November 10, issued to 714 candidates.
Overview of the Draw
This round was exclusively for CEC candidates, those with skilled work experience in Canada.
In 2025, Express Entry rounds have increasingly targeted specific categories rather than holding broad, all-program draws. IRCC’s draw log shows that CEC draws have become a regular and predictable option for eligible candidates.
For candidates, this means: if you already have skilled Canadian work experience, the CEC route remains among the most accessible. It also signals that IRCC is emphasizing retaining international graduates and temporary foreign workers who are already contributing to Canada’s economy.
Impact on Immigration
This CEC-specific draw underscores a broader shift in Canada’s immigration strategy: from purely score-based, generalised selection to targeted streams aligning with economic outcomes. By repeatedly selecting CEC candidates, IRCC is signalling that those already integrated into the Canadian labour market are being prioritised.
The impact is layered:
For overseas skilled workers without Canadian experience, the competition may become more acute as more draws favour the in-Canada workforce.
For employers and regional labour markets, this approach supports quicker retention of talent without the uncertainties of recruiting from abroad.
On a national scale, it aligns with the forthcoming 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, which emphasises economic integration and regional development.
Snapshot
According to IRCC data, the total number of ITAs issued through Express Entry so far in 2025 has exceeded 82,000, spread across program-specific and category-based rounds.
Candidates and advisors should note that while the CRS cut-off may appear lower than in high-competition all-program draws, the effective competitiveness remains high given the concentrated talent pool in the CEC stream.
Future Outlook
With IRCC increasingly leaning toward targeted category-based draws, experts anticipate that French-speaking and healthcare-specific invitations will continue to dominate upcoming rounds.
This shift signals a long-term restructuring of Canada’s Express Entry priorities, focusing less on overall CRS scores and more on addressing key labor shortages and demographic imbalances.
Policy Direction
The approach also aligns with Ottawa’s broader push to stabilize population growth and ease pressure on housing and infrastructure, signaling that future policy adjustments may continue to favor in-country applicants and sector-specific talent over purely high-scoring foreign profiles.
As Canada continues to refine its Express Entry strategy, draws like these highlight a more targeted, retention-driven approach to immigration. With policy momentum favoring domestic talent, the coming months could see even more CEC-focused rounds shaping Canada’s skilled workforce landscape.