Express Entry in 2025

Across the board, the prevailing trend in Canada is that immigration is decreasing. There are frequently new restrictions on new immigrants, and immigration programs have been changed to curb the flow of people into Canada. Additionally, there is further evidence to support the Canadian Government’s plan to reduce immigration, as there are reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will eliminate 3,300 positions across the country over the next three years. The job cuts are partly due to the recently announced Immigration Levels Plan, which projects lower immigration targets over the next three years, reducing staffing needs. Despite these cuts and restrictions, Canada’s Express Entry system is still issuing Invitations to Apply, and is still a viable way for foreign nationals to immigrate to Canada.

Express Entry into Canada

Since its introduction on January 1, 2015, Canada’s Express Entry system has consistently been one of the most popular pathways for skilled workers to immigrate to Canada. The Express Entry system processes applications for three main economic immigration programs that allow people to apply for permanent residence in Canada.

In order to apply for Express Entry, interested candidates must create an online profile and provide details about their age, work experience, education, language skills, and other factors. Once submitted, candidates are entered into the Express Entry pool, which also contains the other candidates in the category.

About the Scoring System

Candidates in the Express Entry pool are assigned a Comprehensive Ranking System score, which is based on several factors that the candidate was asked about in their online profile. These factors include age, work experience, education, language skills, Canadian work experience, and other factors.

The maximum Comprehensive Ranking System Score is 1,200, and higher scores increase the chance of receiving an Invitation to Apply. However, as we will see later, nowhere near a maximum score is needed in order to receive an Invitation to Apply.

Changes to the Ranking System

An upcoming change to the comprehensive ranking system is the removal of a Canadian job offer as a consideration. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced that sometime in Spring 2025, having a Canadian job offer will no longer be considered as part of a candidate’s Comprehensive Ranking System score. This is important to know for people who are considering becoming an Express Entry candidate, as it the change will make it easier for people without a job offer to have a competitive Comprehensive Ranking System score.

Express Entry Programs

Each Express Entry program has different requirements; one program may be better suited to a specific candidate than others. Some Provinces and Territories also use Express Entry through Provincial Nominee Programs to select candidates.

The Three Main Programs Under Express Entry Are:

1. Federal Skilled Worker Program

This program is for people with skilled work experience in professional fields. Applicants to the Federal Skilled Worker Program do not require Canadian work experience but should demonstrate that they have sufficient financial funds to settle in Canada.

2. Federal Skilled Trades Program

This program is for people with skilled work experience in skilled trades. Candidates for the Federal Skilled Trades program must have work experience that fits into a National Occupational Classification. Some examples of work experience that fits into these classifications include:

• Industrial, electrical and construction work;
• Maintenance and equipment operation;
• Supervisors and technical jobs in natural resources, agriculture and related production;
• Processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors or central control operators;
• Chefs and cooks; and
• Butchers and bakers.

Candidates must have at least two years of full-time work experience in their field in the last five years before they apply. They must also plan to live outside of Quebec if they are coming to Canada.

3. Canadian Experience Class

This application class is for people with prior Canadian work experience. Candidates for this class must have worked at least one of the previous three years preceding their application in Canada to apply. The work experience must be in a National Occupational Classification TEER of 0, 1, 2, or 3. Candidates for this class must also plan to live outside of Quebec.

Invitations to Apply

If selected under one of the Express Entry programs, an Invitation to Apply is valid for 60 days. The Canadian Government recommends filling out the application form right away to ensure that deadlines are met. The application form can be found online. Documents must be uploaded along with the application, and the application fee must be paid in order to submit the application.

Express Entry Draws in 2025

So far in 2025, Express Entry has continued to issue Invitations to Apply. As of late January 2025, there have been three Express Entry draws in 2025. There has been one Provincial Nominee Program draw that issued just under 500 Invitations to Apply. There have also been two Canadian Experience Class draws that have issued 5,350 total Invitations to Apply. The cut-off Comprehensive Ranking Score for the Canadian Experience Class is much lower than that for the Provincial Nominee Program as well, as the most recent draw on January 23, 2025, had a cut-off score of 527.

Even as immigration numbers in Canada are going down, Express Entry seems to be stable for the time being, representing a good option for foreign nationals to continue to immigrate to Canada. Under the Immigration Levels Plan, there are supposed to be around 125,000 people accepted for permanent residence through Express Entry in 2025, and given that the plan was released in late 2024, it is likely that the Canadian government will mostly adhere to the plan.

Based on the Express Entry draws and the announced plan, it seems like Express Entry is not only here to stay, but will continue to be a major part of Canada’s immigration system.

Contact Garson Immigration Law for Immigration Assistance

Garson Immigration Law is a Toronto-based law firm that helps people find solutions for their immigration needs, such as obtaining permanent residence in Canada and overcoming inadmissibility. Our focus on immigration allows us to understand our clients’ unique concerns and obstacles. Our skilled immigration lawyers have extensive expertise in all immigration matters, including work permits, student visas, and US immigration from Canada. If you have any questions about an immigration matter, do not hesitate to contact us online or call us at 416-321-2860.