Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada held an unanticipated Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw on October 28, issuing 1,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence. Candidates needed a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 533 and an Express Entry profile created before 04:16 UTC on March 21 2025. The tie-breaking rule suggests competition remains intense despite an overall slowdown in new profile submissions this quarter.
October’s draw continues IRCC’s 2025 strategy of program-specific invitations designed to manage backlogs and align selections with labour-market needs. So far this year, CEC-specific rounds have consistently issued 1,000 ITAs every six to eight weeks, allowing IRCC to prioritise candidates already living and working in Canada who can transition quickly to permanent status. With this latest round, total ITAs for 2025 surpass 70,300, putting Ottawa on track to meet its economic-class admission targets even if overall draw sizes remain lower than pre-2024 levels.
For employers, the draw is welcome news because many CEC candidates hold closed work permits tied to their current jobs. Securing permanent residence reduces turnover risk and allows companies to redeploy talent more flexibly across Canada without LMIA constraints. Global mobility teams should encourage eligible foreign workers to create or update Express Entry profiles, as IRCC has hinted at more frequent CEC draws once the new Immigration Levels Plan is released.
Analysts also note a subtle policy signal: the CRS cut-off fell by one point compared with the September CEC round, indicating marginal easing of competitive pressure. However, scores remain well above the 495-to-500 range seen in early 2024, reflecting high demand and IRCC’s cautious pace while it modernises internal processing systems.
Tip: CEC-eligible employees should gather police certificates and language-test results now; IRCC processing can be as fast as six months for complete applications filed immediately after an ITA.
October’s draw continues IRCC’s 2025 strategy of program-specific invitations designed to manage backlogs and align selections with labour-market needs. So far this year, CEC-specific rounds have consistently issued 1,000 ITAs every six to eight weeks, allowing IRCC to prioritise candidates already living and working in Canada who can transition quickly to permanent status. With this latest round, total ITAs for 2025 surpass 70,300, putting Ottawa on track to meet its economic-class admission targets even if overall draw sizes remain lower than pre-2024 levels.
For employers, the draw is welcome news because many CEC candidates hold closed work permits tied to their current jobs. Securing permanent residence reduces turnover risk and allows companies to redeploy talent more flexibly across Canada without LMIA constraints. Global mobility teams should encourage eligible foreign workers to create or update Express Entry profiles, as IRCC has hinted at more frequent CEC draws once the new Immigration Levels Plan is released.
Analysts also note a subtle policy signal: the CRS cut-off fell by one point compared with the September CEC round, indicating marginal easing of competitive pressure. However, scores remain well above the 495-to-500 range seen in early 2024, reflecting high demand and IRCC’s cautious pace while it modernises internal processing systems.
Tip: CEC-eligible employees should gather police certificates and language-test results now; IRCC processing can be as fast as six months for complete applications filed immediately after an ITA.
