Canada's first Express Entry draw under new Immigration Minister invites 277 applications

On June 3, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada ( IRCC) held the first Express Entry draw under the new Immigration Minister. In this round, 277 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued to candidates through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), according to a report by CIC News.

To qualify, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 726 and were required to have submitted their Express Entry profile before 3:46 p.m. UTC on September 24, 2024.

This draw is the first for June and follows previous draws held in May, including one for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates on May 13, another PNP draw on May 12, and two category-based draws targeting healthcare and education workers.

As per the CIC News report, including this latest round, IRCC has issued 34,717 ITAs through Express Entry in 2025. Most invitations this year have gone to PNP candidates. The remaining invitations have been divided among CEC applicants, French-speaking candidates, and those in key labour market categories such as healthcare, education, and social services.

Breakdown of draws in 2025 so far:

• Provincial Nominee Program: 9 draws
• Canadian Experience Class: 4 draws
• French-language proficiency: 3 draws
• Education: 1 draw
• Healthcare and social services: 1 draw

Canada continues to use the CRS to rank candidates based on factors such as age, education, language skills, and work experience. The system is designed to select skilled workers likely to succeed in the Canadian job market. IRCC research has shown that Express Entry immigrants tend to have strong labour market outcomes, including high employment rates, strong earnings, and low unemployment.