Express Entry targets PNP candidates with invitations for a second straight week of draws

Express Entry in 2025: Big category draws, strong French advantage, and a clear tilt toward in-Canada talent

Canada’s Express Entry system spent 2025 doing something applicants have been asking for: picking more people by profile and priority, not just by overall score. The year’s draw history shows a steady mix of Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and category-based selections, with French-language proficiency standing out as the single biggest invitation stream.

By mid-December, the pattern is hard to miss. Larger draws are going to candidates already integrated into Canada’s labour market or aligned with targeted policy goals like Francophone immigration and critical occupations.

The latest draws: CEC stays strong, PNP remains competitive

December continued a two-track approach:

• December 10 (CEC): 6,000 invitations, CRS cut-off 520
• December 8 (PNP): 1,123 invitations, CRS cut-off 729

For many applicants, those numbers underline a practical reality. CEC draws can still land in a reachable range for candidates with Canadian work experience and solid language scores. PNP draws, by contrast, show high cut-offs because nominated candidates receive a major CRS boost, which pushes the minimum score up.

What the 2025 draw calendar reveals

Express Entry ran a busy schedule across multiple draw types this year:

• PNP: 23 draws
• CEC: 14 draws
• French-language proficiency: 8 draws
• Healthcare and social services: 6 draws
• Education: 2 draws
• Trade: 1 draw

This is not just variety for variety’s sake. It is a signal that selection is being used as a policy lever. Provinces are feeding candidates through nominations. Ottawa is also pulling specific groups directly through category draws, especially Francophone candidates.

Invitations issued so far: French leads the way

By the numbers, the biggest opportunity in 2025 has been French-language selection. Total invitations issued so far by stream are:

• French-language proficiency: 42,000
• Canadian Experience Class: 30,850
• Healthcare and social services: 13,500
• Provincial Nominee Program: 9,775
• Education: 3,500
• Trade: 1,250

That is more than 100,000 invitations across these draw types combined.

French draws also posted some of the year’s most accessible cut-offs. The lowest French cut-off on record in 2025 dropped to 379 (March 21). Several other French draws stayed in the low 400s. For comparison, PNP cut-offs frequently landed in the 700s, and even reached 855 (September 29).

Why scores look so different across draw types

A common mistake is comparing CRS cut-offs across draw types as if they measure the same competition.

• PNP cut-offs are high because nominees get a large CRS increase tied to the nomination. That inflates the score range inside the invited group.
• French cut-offs can be lower because the selection pool is narrower and policy is intentionally encouraging Francophone immigration.
• CEC tends to sit in the middle because it draws from candidates with Canadian work experience, many of whom have strong profiles but not always the extra boost that nominations provide.

The late-year CEC cut-off of 520 (December 10) also hints at a larger pool of eligible candidates inside Canada, including many temporary residents trying to transition to permanent residence.

What this means if you want to immigrate in 2026

The 2025 results point to three strategies that are likely to stay relevant.

1) If you can build French ability, it is one of the strongest levers in the system.
French-language draws delivered the most invitations in 2025 and often at lower CRS thresholds. For bilingual candidates, this can be the difference between waiting and receiving an invitation quickly.

2) Canadian work experience still pays off.
CEC remained a consistent feature of the year, including several 3,000-invitation draws and a major 6,000-invitation round in December. If you are in Canada on a work permit, the pathway is clear: strengthen language scores, keep skilled work experience continuous, and keep your profile updated.

3) Provincial nomination remains the high-impact option for candidates stuck below the usual cut-offs.
PNP draws were frequent, and nomination can move a candidate to the front of the line. The trade-off is complexity. You need to match a province’s priorities, timelines, and eligibility rules, which can change quickly.

The bigger story: Express Entry is acting more like a workforce filter

The 2025 draw mix suggests a system designed to select people Canada can integrate faster. Francophone applicants support demographic goals outside Quebec. CEC selections favour those already working in Canada. Healthcare, education, and trades draws reflect labour shortages that are difficult to solve quickly.

For applicants, the takeaway is simple. A strong CRS score still matters, but alignment matters more than it used to. The most successful candidates in this environment are the ones who treat Express Entry like a plan, not a lottery.

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