IRCC reveals Express Entry category-based draws schedule for 2025

A newly obtained report has new details on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) plan to issue Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through Express Entry for the remainder of 2025.

According to the new report, Education, Healthcare and social services, and Trades are expected to see more category-based draws in the upcoming months. The Express Entry invitations schedule has been designed to align with the Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2025–2027, with most invitations issued in the second half of 2025 contributing toward the 2026 immigration targets.

The details comes from an Access to Information Request obtained by Mandeep Lidher, a Calgary-based Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC).

Allocation for Category-Based Draws in 2025

IRCC first introduced Express Entry category-based draws in may 2023 to target candidates with in-demand skills and work experience in key sectors. The latest Access to Information Request (ATIP) reveals important insights into the allocation of ITAs for 2025.

Planned ITAs by category:

This indicates that IRCC will conduct several rounds of category-based draws in the remaining months of the year 2025, particularly for Education occupations and Trades occupations.

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Six Express Entry category-based draw in 2025

• French-language proficiency
• Healthcare and social services occupations
• Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) occupations
• Trade occupations
• Agriculture and agri-food occupations
• Education occupations

Francophone Immigration

The new report further highlights Canada’s goal of strengthening French-language proficiency immigration outside Quebec. Between February and March 2025, IRCC conducted a series of French-proficiency draws over an eight-week period, issuing total 18,500 ITAs.

In addition, on August 8, 2025, another French-proficiency draw issued 2,500 ITAs, which will likely contribute to the 2026 admission targets. This supports the Canada federal government aim of achieving an 8.5% French admission target in 2025.

ITA Calendar for Provinces and Territories

Another key detail revealed in the ATIP is that IRCC will share an ITA calendar with provinces and territories. This calendar will provide a three-month outlook, including:

• The expected weeks when rounds will be held
• The type of rounds planned
• A projection of the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores for the next two months

This move is intended to help provinces and territories better coordinate their Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) nominations with upcoming federal draws.

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Tags: Express Entry Express Entry Program Express Entry category-based draws Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2025–2027 Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant French-language proficiency Canada Immigration News