In the late-evening hours of December 13, IRCC quietly published results of its December 10 Canadian Experience Class (CEC)-only Express Entry draw—its biggest of the year. Six thousand Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued and the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off slipped to 520, down 11 points from November’s CEC round.
CEC candidates already hold at least one year of skilled Canadian work experience, making them attractive to employers seeking to retain talent whose Post-Graduation Work Permits or employer-specific LMIA exemptions may soon expire. The draw pushes 2025’s cumulative ITAs past the 100,000 mark, keeping Ottawa on pace to meet its federal economic-class admissions targets before year-end.
![Largest CEC Draw of 2025 Issues 6,000 Express Entry Invitations at 520 CRS]()
While Express Entry is handled directly through IRCC, many foreign professionals still need visitor visas, electronic travel authorizations (eTAs) or passport renewals as they move between countries for work and to finalize paperwork. VisaHQ’s digital platform (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) streamlines those ancillary applications, offers real-time status tracking, and provides dedicated customer support—making it easier for both applicants and HR departments to stay focused on the permanent-residence process itself.
For human-resources teams the lower threshold is a retention opportunity: sponsored employees who secure permanent residence are no longer tied to a specific employer or location yet typically stay in Canada’s labour market long-term. Advisors urge applicants who received an ITA to submit electronic applications within 60 days and to book biometrics early to avoid holiday backlogs.
Immigration lawyers expect at least one more, likely category-based, Express Entry draw before IRCC pauses over Christmas. Candidates should keep language tests current and update profiles promptly to capture potential extra points from provincial nominations or Canadian education.
CEC candidates already hold at least one year of skilled Canadian work experience, making them attractive to employers seeking to retain talent whose Post-Graduation Work Permits or employer-specific LMIA exemptions may soon expire. The draw pushes 2025’s cumulative ITAs past the 100,000 mark, keeping Ottawa on pace to meet its federal economic-class admissions targets before year-end.
While Express Entry is handled directly through IRCC, many foreign professionals still need visitor visas, electronic travel authorizations (eTAs) or passport renewals as they move between countries for work and to finalize paperwork. VisaHQ’s digital platform (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) streamlines those ancillary applications, offers real-time status tracking, and provides dedicated customer support—making it easier for both applicants and HR departments to stay focused on the permanent-residence process itself.
For human-resources teams the lower threshold is a retention opportunity: sponsored employees who secure permanent residence are no longer tied to a specific employer or location yet typically stay in Canada’s labour market long-term. Advisors urge applicants who received an ITA to submit electronic applications within 60 days and to book biometrics early to avoid holiday backlogs.
Immigration lawyers expect at least one more, likely category-based, Express Entry draw before IRCC pauses over Christmas. Candidates should keep language tests current and update profiles promptly to capture potential extra points from provincial nominations or Canadian education.
