Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued additional Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates in the Express Entry system.

4,500 Express Entry candidates invited with the lowest CRS cut-off score since August 2024

In a recent French-language proficiency draw, the immigration department granted 4,500 ITAs.

If a candidate needs to be eligible ,then a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System(CRS) score of 410 is required. Also, he/she must have created an Express Entry profile before 7:47 AM Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) on February 11, 2025.

In 2025, the Express Entry Draws have predominantly targeted candidates from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and PNP.

This aligns with the IRCC’s focus on prioritizing in-Canada applicants for the ITAs. Four PNP draws and three CEC draws have been held so far this year.

IRCC conducted two category-based selection draws under Express Entry until March 6th, 2025. Both targeted candidates with French Language proficiency. On February 19, the department issued 6,500 ITAs to applicants with advanced proficiency in the French language.

IRCC has also revealed its priority categories for 2025. It has also introduced a new category for Education-related occupations. The following are the priority categories for 2025:

French-language proficiency
Healthcare and social services occupations
Trade occupations
Education occupations

It is also important to know which candidates will be impacted. One needs to understand that working in Canada on a work permit is different from receiving a job offer of arranged employment under Express Entry.

If you need to work full-time in Canada as a foreign national, you require a work permit if you are a newcomer, or in other cases, only a study permit is required if you are pursuing a co-op placement.

To fulfill the conditions to award CRS points under Express Entry, a job offer must be:

Full-time and non-seasonal;
At least a year in duration;
For a skilled job in a National Occupation Classification (NOC) Training Education Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) level 0, 1, 2, or 3;
Be recent (issued within the last year); and
From an employer who is not an embassy, consulate, or high commission.

In addition to the above, a valid job offer must be supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment, which needs to be applied for and obtained. This is to prove that a Canadian worker was unavailable within the labour market to fill the role.

If you receive points for an offer of employment that meets the above-listed condition, then you might also be impacted by the impending re-evaluation of CRS Points.

CRS points that you derive from foreign or Canadian work experience will not be impacted.