IRCC followed up its healthcare-focused draw by issuing 6,000 Invitations to Apply under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) on 10 December 2025—the biggest CEC-specific round in nearly 18 months. The CRS threshold fell to 520, down from the mid-530s seen throughout 2025 and offering long-awaited relief to temporary foreign workers and international graduates already in Canada.
CEC candidates benefit from at least one year of skilled Canadian work experience, which research shows accelerates labour-market integration and earnings. By boosting CEC invitations, the government aims to retain talent trained in Canada rather than lose them to competing jurisdictions once post-graduation work permits expire.
If you’re preparing an Express Entry profile or need clarity on the documents required to maintain legal status during the transition from work permit to permanent residence, VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) can streamline the process with personalized checklists, live support and secure application tracking—saving time for both applicants and HR teams.
![Largest Canadian Experience Class Draw Since 2024 Invites 6,000 Skilled Workers]()
The timing matters for employers: many post-graduation work permits issued in 2022 will start expiring in early 2026. Securing PR now allows workers to stay with their current companies without employer-specific LMIA requirements. Mobility teams should review permit-expiry rosters and align internal sponsorship policies accordingly.
Analysts say the lower cut-off may be temporary, as inventory data show a large pool of high-scoring candidates waiting. Future rounds could oscillate depending on back-end processing capacity and evolving labour-market indicators.
Successful applicants will land as permanent residents in mid-2026, adding experienced talent to sectors ranging from ICT to advanced manufacturing.
CEC candidates benefit from at least one year of skilled Canadian work experience, which research shows accelerates labour-market integration and earnings. By boosting CEC invitations, the government aims to retain talent trained in Canada rather than lose them to competing jurisdictions once post-graduation work permits expire.
If you’re preparing an Express Entry profile or need clarity on the documents required to maintain legal status during the transition from work permit to permanent residence, VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) can streamline the process with personalized checklists, live support and secure application tracking—saving time for both applicants and HR teams.
The timing matters for employers: many post-graduation work permits issued in 2022 will start expiring in early 2026. Securing PR now allows workers to stay with their current companies without employer-specific LMIA requirements. Mobility teams should review permit-expiry rosters and align internal sponsorship policies accordingly.
Analysts say the lower cut-off may be temporary, as inventory data show a large pool of high-scoring candidates waiting. Future rounds could oscillate depending on back-end processing capacity and evolving labour-market indicators.
Successful applicants will land as permanent residents in mid-2026, adding experienced talent to sectors ranging from ICT to advanced manufacturing.
