IRCC’s 2025 Express Entry Draw Schedule Revealed – Categories, ITAs, and CRS Insights

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has released its 2025 Express Entry draw schedule, providing candidates with greater clarity on upcoming opportunities to receive Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence. Based on internal memos and Access to Information (ATIP) findings, the details outline category-based priorities, Francophone immigration goals, and how provinces will coordinate their programs with federal draws.

Key Highlights of Express Entry in 2025

• Category-Based Draws: Healthcare, trades, and education remain the main focus areas for 2025.
• Francophone Priority: IRCC targets 8.5% of admissions outside Quebec for 2025, increasing to 9.5% in 2026.
• ITA Distribution: Tens of thousands of ITAs have already been issued, with more rounds scheduled.
• Provincial Coordination: Provinces will now receive a three-month ITA forecast to align nominations with federal draws.
• 2026 Link: ITAs issued late in 2025 may count toward 2026 immigration admissions due to processing times.

Category-Based Draws Breakdown for 2025

Healthcare Professionals

• Planned: 8,000 ITAs
• Issued: 7,500
• Remaining: 500
  Healthcare remains the top category, addressing Canada’s urgent demand for nurses, doctors, and allied health staff.

Education Workers

• Planned: 3,000 ITAs
• Issued: 1,000
• Remaining: 2,000
  Teachers and early childhood educators are in demand, with additional draws expected before year-end.

Skilled Trades

• Planned: 3,300 ITAs
• Issued: 0
• Remaining: 3,300
  Trades represent the biggest untapped opportunity in 2025. Candidates in construction, transport, and manufacturing could benefit from upcoming draws, often with lower CRS cut-offs.

Francophone Immigration – A Growing Priority

IRCC continues to expand Francophone immigration outside Quebec. Recent memos confirm:

• 18,500 ITAs issued during February–March Francophone draws.
• 2,500 ITAs issued on August 8, likely counted toward 2026 targets.
• Annual goal: 8.5% Francophone admissions in 2025.

Francophone candidates also benefit from up to +50 CRS points, improving competitiveness in both general and category-based draws.

ITA Forecast for Provinces and Territories

For the first time, IRCC will share a three-month ITA calendar with provinces and territories, indicating:

• Scheduled draw weeks
• Types of draws (general, PNP, or category-based)
• Projected CRS cut-offs (subject to operational updates)

This transparency will help provinces align their PNP streams with federal Express Entry rounds, offering candidates more predictability.

Link Between 2025 and 2026 Admissions

IRCC confirmed that ITAs issued in late 2025 may contribute to 2026 permanent resident admissions, given standard processing times. This ensures draws in Q4 2025 support both current-year and upcoming immigration targets under the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan.

What This Means for Candidates

1. Trades offer the largest opportunity – with 3,300 ITAs still available.
2. Healthcare and education remain strong priorities, with more draws ahead.
3. Francophone applicants have an edge, benefiting from high ITA volumes and CRS bonuses.
4. CRS strategy matters – category-based draws typically cut off 20–40 points lower than general rounds, giving a chance to candidates in the 480–490 range.
5. Plan around timing – applying in late 2025 may position applications for the 2026 intake.

Final Takeaway

IRCC’s 2025 Express Entry schedule confirms that healthcare, education, trades, and Francophone immigration will dominate selection. With thousands of ITAs still available—especially in trades and education—candidates who strategically align their profiles stand an excellent chance of receiving an ITA.

By understanding category-based allocations, CRS score dynamics, and provincial coordination, skilled workers can better prepare for success in the upcoming draws.