The latest Express Entry CEC draw 2025 brings in great news with 6,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) issued by the IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada). The ITAs issued on December 10, 2025, are the largest number of invitations issued to CEC candidates in 16 months.
To receive an invitation, candidates must have had a cut-off CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) score of 520 and should have created an Express Entry profile before July 15, 2025, at 17:30 UTC. In 2025 as of now, through the Express Entry system, IRCC has issued 105,599 ITAs.
In this IRCC's latest Express Entry draw for CEC candidates, applicants who have Canadian work experience, valid Express Entry profiles, and a CRS cut-off score above 520 were given preference. Temporary workers, international graduates, and applicants transitioning to permanent status were the candidates who mostly benefitted from the draw. This draw offers the opportunity to receive an invitation for candidates who were unable to receive a previous invitation due to the high cut-offs.
In the previous five CEC draws, the CRS cut-off scores were 533-534, and also only 1,000 ITAs were issued each. The current large draw provides a clear route to permanent residency for long-term workers already in Canada, it supports the stabilization of temporary residents in Canada, and addresses the increasing labour shortages across different industries.
The most number of Express Entry draw type in 2025 has been for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)—22 draws, followed by CEC—14 draws, French-language proficiency—8 draws, Healthcare and Social Services—6 draws, Education -2 draws and Trade—1 draw.
Upon receiving an invitation to apply, a candidate must submit a permanent residency application that is complete within 60 days. The documents that are to be submitted include:
The IRCC’s new immigration level plans for 2026-2028 prioritize temporary residents in Canada and hence, the CEC draw size and cut-offs will keep on changing. IRCC takes into consideration factors such as the number of workers with their work permits ending, the current pool of Express Entry candidates, annual immigration targets, and labour demands for holding large CEC draws. According to the recent trends large CEC draw could continue into 2026.
To make use of the opportunity and receive an invitation, it is essential to remain aware and complete your profile on time. ImmiLaw Immigration, Canadian immigration lawyers will guide you through the entire Express Entry process, applying on time and improving the possibility of securing a permanent residency.
Read to know: Nova Scotia Immigration 2025 Update
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