4,500 Express Entry candidates invited with lowest CRS cut-off score since August, 2024

Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued more invitations to apply (ITAs) to candidates in the Express Entry system.

The immigration department issued 4,500 ITAs to candidates in a French-language proficiency draw.

To be considered for this draw, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 410, and to have created an Express Entry candidate profile before 7:47 am Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) on 11 February 2025.

See your eligibility for all Express Entry streams

Summary of Express Entry draws in 2025

Date	Draw Type	Number of ITAs	Cut-off CRS score
March 21	French language proficiency	7,500	379
March 17	Provincial Nominee Program	536	736
March 6	French language proficiency	4,500	410
March 3	Provincial Nominee Program	725	667
February 19	French language proficiency	6,500	428
February 17	Provincial Nominee Program	646	750
February 5	Canadian Experience Class	4,000	521
February 4	Provincial Nominee Program	455	802
January 23	Canadian Experience Class	4,000	527
January 8	Canadian Experience Class	1,350	542
January 7	Provincial Nominee Program	471	793

Today's draw is the second of the month and follows a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw on 3 March.

Express Entry draws in 2025 have largely focussed on Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and PNP candidates, following IRCC's commitment to prioritizing in-Canada candidates for ITAs. Thus far in the year, there have been four PNP draws and three CEC draws.

As of 6 March 2025, IRCC has held two draws this year under Express Entry category-based selections—both for candidates with French language proficiency. Previously the department issued 6,500 ITAs to candidates with advanced French proficiency on February 19.

The immigration department also recently announced its priority categories for 2025, adding a category for education occupations in the process. These 2025 priority categories are:

French-language proficiency;
Healthcare and social services occupations;
Trade occupations; and
Education occupations.

I am already working in Canada, does this count as a valid job offer under Express Entry?

In the spring of this year, IRCC plans to remove CRS points for job offers of arranged employment under the Express Entry system. This change will reduce some candidate's CRS scores by as much as 50 or 200 points, greatly impacting their chances of receiving an ITA.

In this context, it is important to know which candidates may be impacted. Working in Canada on a work permit is not the same as a job offer of arranged employment under Express Entry.

To work full-time in Canada as a foreign national, newcomers (who are not permanent residents) require work permits (or in some cases, only need study permits if they are pursuing a co-op placement for example).

To meet the requirements to award CRS points under Express Entry, a job offer must be:

Full-time and non-seasonal;
At least a year in duration;
For a skilled job in a National Occupation Classification (NOC) Training Education Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) level 0, 1, 2, or 3;
Be recent (issued within the last year); and
From an employer who is not an embassy, consulate, or high commission.

In addition, valid job offers must usually be supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which an employer must apply for and receive, to prove that a Canadian worker was not available within the labour market to fill this role instead.

If you're receiving points for an offer of employment that meets the above-listed conditions, you may be impacted by the impending removal of CRS points. Note that CRS points derived from your foreign or Canadian work experience will not be impacted by this change.

For more information on Express Entry, and the conditions for a valid job offer, visit our dedicated webpage.

See your eligibility for all Express Entry streams