The first Express Entry Draw of February 2025 has issued 4,000 Invitations To Apply (ITAs) for permanent residency to candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
Express Entry is an online system used by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to manage permanent residence applications under economic immigration programmes.
Candidates submit their profiles to the Express Entry pool, where they are ranked according to their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores.
The CRS evaluates factors such as age, education, work experience, and language proficiency.
Candidates with the highest CRS scores are invited to apply for permanent residency through regular draws.
A CRS score shows how strong a person’s profile is compared to other applicants, and plays a major role in getting an Invitation to Apply for permanent residency in Canada.
The higher a candidate’s CRS score, the better their chances of receiving an ITA for permanent residency.
Immigration News Canada (INC) noted that the draw, which was held on February 5, 2025, invited candidates with a CRS score of 521 or higher.
This is the lowest CRS cutoff for a CEC draw this year. The tie-breaking rule for the draw was set for November 14, 2025.
Hereunder are possible ways candidates can increase their CRS scores:
Language Skills: Higher language test scores can significantly increase CRS points.
Canadian Work Experience: Gaining more work experience in Canada can boost your score.
Provincial Nomination: A nomination from a Canadian province adds 600 points, making it nearly certain that you will receive an ITA.
Education: Further education in Canada or the recognition of foreign qualifications can increase your score.
As Canada moves forward with its 2025-2027 immigration plans, more Express Entry draws are expected, with some potentially focusing on specific groups such as French speakers or individuals with high-demand skills.
