What’s New: Big Draws and Lower CRS Thresholds The immigration authorities have just held two major draws under Express Entry — on December 10 and
What’s New: Big Draws and Lower CRS Thresholds
The immigration authorities have just held two major draws under Express Entry — on December 10 and December 8, 2025 — reflecting a renewed push to hit end-of-year immigration targets:
- On December 10, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 6,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), with a minimum CRS cut-off of 520 points.
- December 10 CEC draw — with CRS cut-off dropping to 520 — marks a significant dip compared to previous CEC draws (which hovered mid-530s), giving many more CEC candidates a shot for PR this month.
- On December 8, IRCC held the largest PNP-only draw so far in 2025, issuing 1,123 ITAs under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) stream. The minimum CRS cut-off was 729 points.
- The December 8 PNP draw confirms that provincially nominated candidates remain a top priority, and that a nomination continues to be a powerful boost — especially for those whose base CRS scores might otherwise fall short.