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IRCC Resumes CEC Invitations After Three-Month Pause, Appoints New Immigration Minister

IRCC Resumes CEC Invitations After Three-Month Pause, Appoints New Immigration Minister

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    500 Candidates with Canadian Work Experience Invited to Apply for Permanent Residence in Canada

    Canada’s immigration system continues to see dynamic developments as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) resumes the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws after a prolonged pause and transitions to new leadership at the federal level.

    The latest draw, held on May 13, marked the first CEC-specific round since early February and came amid a series of notable changes in Canada’s immigration landscape.
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    Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2025

    Results: Rounds of invitations

    • Number of ITAs: 500
    • Date and time of round: May 13, 2025 at 14:57:30 UTC
    • CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited: 547
    • Tie-breaking rule: May 21, 2024 at 17:26:27 UTC

    If more than one candidate has the lowest score, the cut-off is based on the date and time they submitted their Express Entry profiles.

    Invitations to apply to the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades Program may be issued through this round of invitations.

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    Return of CEC Draws: A Targeted Move

    After more than three months of inactivity in this category, IRCC issued 500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to Canadian Experience Class candidates through the Express Entry system. This return to CEC-specific draws indicates renewed focus on candidates with in-Canada work experience—a group seen as readily equipped to integrate into the Canadian workforce and society.

    To qualify for this round, candidates were required to meet two criteria:
    The high CRS threshold reflects a competitive selection, possibly driven by limited intake numbers and IRCC’s broader strategy to manage immigration levels in line with labour market needs.

    Express Entry Trends: A Shift Toward PNP and Specialized Categories

    IRCC’s draw pattern in 2025 demonstrates a strategic shift, with the majority of ITAs going to candidates nominated through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). This allows provinces and territories to hand-pick skilled workers who meet their unique labour market demands.

    The remaining invitations have been distributed across the following streams:
    Draw Type Number of Draws
    Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) 8
    French-language proficiency 3
    Canadian Experience Class (CEC) 4
    Education 1
    Healthcare and social services 1
    This reflects IRCC’s growing reliance on category-based selection introduced in 2023, targeting specific sectors and skill sets critical to Canada’s economy.

    Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2025

    Below is an overview of all Express Entry draws conducted so far in 2025:
    • Canadian Experience Class (CEC) : 9,850
    • Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) : 4590
    • French language proficiency: 18,500
    • Education Professionals 1,000
    • Healthcare and social services occupations 500
    Draw Date Draw Type Number of ITAs Minimum CRS
    347 May 13 CEC 500 547
    346 May 12 PNP 511 706
    345 May 02 Healthcare and social Services Occupations 500 510
    344 May 01 Education Professionals 1,000 479
    343 April 28 PNP 421 727
    342 April 14 PNP 825 764
    341 March 21 French language 7,500 379
    340 March 17 PNP 536 736
    339 March 06 French language 4,500 410
    338 March 03 PNP 725 667
    337 February 19 French language 6,500 428
    336 February 17 PNP 646 750
    335 February 05 CEC 4,000 521
    334 February 04 PNP 455 802
    333 January 23 CEC 4,000 527
    332 January 8 CEC 1,350 542
    331 January 7 PNP 471 793

    As of May 13, a total of 34,440 ITAs have been issued through the Express Entry system in 2025.

    Express Entry Draw Reports

    Leadership Transition: Lena Metlege Diab Appointed New Immigration Minister

    The May 13 draw also marks a significant administrative transition, being the final Express Entry round under the leadership of former Immigration Minister Rachel Bendayan.

    Lena Metlege Diab, former Nova Scotia cabinet minister and federal MP, has been named the new Minister of Immigration under Prime Minister Mark Carney’s newly shuffled cabinet. Minister Diab brings extensive legal and political experience, particularly in immigration and multicultural affairs, which is expected to influence Canada’s policy direction in the coming years.

    Current Express Entry Trends and Category Breakdown

    With the latest draw, the healthcare and social services category now joins a growing list of specialized selection categories implemented this year. The distribution of draws in 2025 highlights a more nuanced approach to selecting candidates who meet Canada’s urgent labour and demographic needs.

    Draw Type Number of Draws
    Provincial Nominee Program 7
    French-language proficiency 3
    Canadian Experience Class 3
    Education 1
    Healthcare and social services 1

    What to Expect Under Minister Diab’s Leadership

    Prime Minister Carney’s immigration platform calls for both stability and reform. Under Minister Diab’s stewardship, the following priorities are expected to gain momentum:

    • Capping permanent resident intake to 1% of Canada’s population annually by 2027.
    • Enhancing francophone immigration, especially outside Quebec.
    • Modernizing the Global Talent Stream (GTS) to draw high-impact talent from around the globe.
    • Controlling temporary resident volumes, including study and work permit holders.

    Details of these initiatives will likely emerge with the upcoming ministerial mandate letter, which outlines formal objectives for Minister Diab’s term.

    Looking Ahead: Policy Shifts and Express Entry Prospects

    As Canada navigates its evolving demographic and economic landscape, IRCC is fine-tuning its immigration pathways. The reintroduction of CEC draws suggests a balanced approach, valuing both provincial input and domestic experience. Meanwhile, category-based selections are likely to remain a cornerstone of Canada’s strategy to address workforce shortages in high-demand sectors.

    With a new minister at the helm, stakeholders in Canada’s immigration space—applicants, employers, and provinces alike—will be watching closely for policy changes that may redefine the country’s immigration landscape in the months to come.

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