Canada’s Biggest CEC Draw in 16 Months Shakes Up Express Entry
So, here’s a major update from Canada’s Express Entry system that has caught everyone’s attention. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada just released one of the biggest Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws we’ve seen in more than 16 months. A total of 6,000 Invitations to Apply were issued, which instantly makes this draw stand out—not just for its size, but for what it signals about where Express Entry might be headed next.
In this draw, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 520, which is actually a significant drop from the cut-off scores we’ve been seeing lately. For the past several CEC rounds, the CRS sat stubbornly at 533 or 534, creating a bit of a bottleneck. But with this draw, that gridlock was finally broken. It’s a shift many candidates have been eagerly waiting for, especially those who have been stuck just below that threshold for months.
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Another key detail is the profile submission requirement. To be included in this round, candidates must have created their Express Entry profile before July 15, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. UTC. That’s a standard tiebreaker rule, but it always matters in large draws where thousands of people are clustered around the same score range.
Now, this wasn’t just a random large draw—it follows a series of intense activity from IRCC. In the past few weeks alone, there have been targeted rounds for French-speaking candidates, healthcare and social services workers, and several Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws. In fact, earlier this month, the largest PNP draw of 2025 took place. Overall, Express Entry has been running at full speed this year, with more than 105,000 invitations issued across all categories so far.
When you look at the numbers for 2025, it’s clear that IRCC is spreading invitations across a wide range of priorities. There have been 22 PNP draws, 14 CEC draws, eight French-language rounds, six focused on healthcare and social services, plus additional draws for education and trade occupations. French-speaking candidates and CEC applicants have received the bulk of ITAs this year, followed closely by those in healthcare.
For candidates, this latest CEC draw is more than just a statistic—it’s a major signal. Lower CRS cut-offs, larger draw sizes, and frequent category-based rounds all suggest that IRCC is actively working to clear backlogs and diversify the pool. If you’re preparing your own Express Entry profile, keeping an eye on these trends can help you plan strategically and understand where your best opportunity may lie.
Overall, this draw feels like a turning point, especially for people already building their careers in Canada. With momentum picking up again, many more candidates may soon find themselves one step closer to permanent residency.
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