As we step into 2026, it’s time to look back at how Express Entry evolved in 2025—and what these changes mean for your Canadian immigration plans this year.
The 2025 immigration landscape underwent dramatic transformations that reshaped who receives invitations to apply for permanent residence. If you’re planning to immigrate to Canada in 2026, understanding last year’s trends and upcoming changes is absolutely critical.
This comprehensive analysis breaks down everything that happened in 2025 and provides strategic insights for navigating Express Entry in 2026.
What Is Express Entry?
Express Entry manages applications for permanent residence from skilled workers worldwide. It’s the gateway to three federal immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
Think of it as an applicant pool where candidates are ranked by their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. The highest-scoring candidates—or those in priority categories—receive Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence.
2025 Year in Review: The Numbers Tell a Story
Last year, Canada issued 113,998 Invitations to Apply across 58 Express Entry draws. This represented a 15% increase over 2024’s 98,803 invitations distributed through 52 draws.
But here’s what most people miss: it wasn’t just about the volume—it was about who received those invitations.
The Breakdown by Category
French Language Proficiency dominated with 48,000 invitations (42% of all ITAs) across just 9 draws. Single draws issued between 2,500 and 7,500 invitations, making French proficiency the most powerful advantage you could have.
Canadian Experience Class followed with 35,850 invitations (31%) across 15 draws, reinforcing that Canada wants immigrants who already understand Canadian workplace culture.
Healthcare and Social Services received 14,500 invitations across 7 draws—addressing critical labor shortages in sectors still recovering from pandemic-era staffing challenges.
Provincial Nominee Program issued 10,898 invitations across 24 draws, making it the most frequent draw type even though individual draw sizes were smaller.
Education (3,500 ITAs) and Trades (1,250 ITAs) received fewer invitations but represented new pathways opened in 2025.
Notable Absences
STEM professionals and agriculture workers saw zero dedicated draws in 2025. The last STEM draw occurred in 2024, leaving these candidates competing through general pathways or provincial nominations.
More significantly, there were no all-program general draws in 2025. The last one happened on April 23, 2024, marking Canada’s complete shift to targeted selection.
Monthly Patterns: Strategic Timing Matters
Invitation volumes fluctuated dramatically throughout 2025:
December was record-breaking with 19,522 invitations (17% of the entire year), followed by strong months in October (15,647) and November (12,991).
April hit rock bottom with only 1,246 invitations, making it the slowest month.
The final quarter exploded with 58,178 invitations—more than half the year’s total—as IRCC rushed to meet admission targets.
What this means for 2026: Expect similar year-end surges, but don’t wait until December to optimize your profile. Early preparation gives you multiple chances at selection.
CRS Score Analysis: What Did Success Look Like?
Understanding last year’s score trends helps you set realistic targets for 2026.
French Language Proficiency: The Golden Ticket
Score range: 379–481 points
These draws consistently featured the lowest CRS cutoffs despite issuing massive invitation volumes. Why? The barrier to entry (NCLC 7 in French) naturally limits the candidate pool, while Canada’s commitment to Francophone immigration outside Quebec keeps invitation volumes high.
If you’re serious about Express Entry and can achieve French proficiency, this remains your best pathway in 2026.
Canadian Experience Class: Stable but Competitive
Score range: 515–547 points
Here’s something fascinating: between August and November, five consecutive CEC draws maintained nearly identical cutoffs (533-534 points) with exactly 1,000 invitations each. This suggests a highly stable candidate pool during that period.
However, the year ended with CEC scores peaking at 547 points—matching 2024’s high despite the removal of job offer points. The pool has become increasingly competitive.
Healthcare and Social Services: Accessible for Qualified Professionals
Score range: 462–510 points
These draws offered the most accessible scores for category-based selection outside of French proficiency. December saw particularly favorable cutoffs (476 points), suggesting IRCC was working to fill healthcare positions before year-end.
Provincial Nominee Program: High Floor, Guaranteed Success
Score range: 699–855 points
While these cutoffs seem impossibly high, remember that a provincial nomination automatically adds 600 points to your base score. PNP essentially guarantees an invitation—the challenge is securing the nomination itself.
December’s Trend: Lower Scores, Higher Volume
The year’s final month saw notably lower cutoffs across most categories (French at 399, CEC at 515, Healthcare at 476) combined with massive invitation volumes. This pattern aligns with IRCC’s push to meet annual admission targets and will likely repeat in December 2026.
Game-Changing Policy Shifts That Redefined Express Entry
1. Job Offer Points Eliminated (March 25, 2025)
This was perhaps the most controversial change. IRCC removed all CRS points for arranged employment, eliminating 50-200 points from candidates with valid job offers.
Initially announced as “temporary” by former Immigration Minister Marc Miller in December 2024, the measure remained in effect throughout 2025. As of January 2026, there’s no indication it will be reversed.
Impact: Job offers no longer provide a scoring advantage, though they may still help with PNP applications. Success now depends more heavily on language proficiency, education credentials, and Canadian work experience.
Strategic response for 2026: Stop pursuing job offers solely for CRS points. Focus instead on improving language scores (especially French) and gaining Canadian work experience if possible.
2. Complete Category Restructuring (February 27, 2025)
IRCC dramatically overhauled Express Entry categories, introducing new priorities and eliminating others:
Added:
- Education category (5 eligible occupations)
- 19 trade occupations
- 8 healthcare/social service occupations
- 6 STEM occupations
Removed:
- Transportation category entirely
- 19 STEM occupations
- 6 healthcare occupations
- 4 trade occupations
- 2 agriculture occupations
New priority categories declared: French language proficiency, healthcare and social services, trades, and education.
The reality check: Despite being “priority categories,” STEM and Agriculture saw zero draws in 2025. Declaring something a priority doesn’t guarantee draws will follow.
3. Upfront Medical Exams Required (August 21, 2025)
The days of completing medical exams after receiving an ITA ended on August 21, 2025. Now, most Express Entry candidates must complete an Immigration Medical Exam (IME) before submitting their PR application.
Financial impact: Budget $200-450 CAD per person for the medical exam, plus potential travel costs to reach an approved panel physician.
Time consideration: Medical exams are valid for 12 months. Time your exam strategically—too early and it might expire before you receive an invitation; too late and you’ll delay your application submission.
Silver lining: Upfront medicals can significantly speed up your overall processing time since IRCC won’t need to request them later.
4. New Physician Category Announced (December 8, 2025)
Just before year-end, IRCC announced a new “Physicians with Canadian work experience” category featuring three eligible NOC codes. Doctors must have at least 12 months of Canadian work experience within the past three years in a single eligible occupation.
Additional measures for physicians:
- 5,000 reserved PR spaces for provincially nominated doctors (beyond regular PNP allocations)
- Expedited 14-day work permit processing for doctors with provincial nominations
First draws expected: Early 2026, according to Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab.
Why this matters: Canada’s healthcare system remains under severe strain. If you’re a physician, 2026 could be your year.
The 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan: Reading Between the Lines
Canada targeted 124,680 permanent residence admissions through Express Entry in 2025—up from 110,770 in 2024.
The plan introduced two revealing categories:
In-Canada Focus (82,980 admissions – 66%): Prioritizing candidates already in Canada through CEC and provincial pathways. This explains why CEC draws occurred more than twice as frequently as French draws despite issuing fewer total invitations.
Federal Economic Priorities (41,700 admissions – 34%): Targeting category-based selection to address specific labor market gaps.
The 2026 Reality Check
Here’s the sobering news: the 2026 target drops to 109,000 admissions—a 12.6% reduction from 2025. This suggests either:
- More competitive draws with higher CRS cutoffs
- Fewer total draws throughout the year
- Smaller invitation volumes per draw
- Or all of the above
Given Canada’s current political climate around immigration levels, expect increased competition in 2026.
What Worked in 2025: Success Strategies Analyzed
Looking at last year’s data, certain strategies consistently resulted in invitations:
The French Advantage
With the lowest CRS cutoffs and highest invitation volumes, French proficiency was objectively the best investment. A candidate with 380 points and NCLC 7 French had a better chance than someone with 510 points but no French.
The Canadian Experience Premium
CEC draws occurred regularly throughout the year, providing consistent opportunities for candidates already working in Canada. This pathway will remain strong in 2026.
The Healthcare Fast Track
Despite mid-range CRS cutoffs, healthcare draws provided reliable pathways for qualified professionals. With ongoing healthcare worker shortages, expect this to continue.
The Provincial Strategy
While PNP draws had high CRS cutoffs, they also occurred more frequently than any other draw type (24 times). Provincial nominations remain a highly effective pathway, especially for candidates who can’t reach high CRS scores through federal programs.
Common Myths Debunked by 2025 Data
Myth 1: “STEM professionals are in high demand” Reality: Zero STEM draws occurred in 2025 despite STEM being listed as a category. Don’t rely on occupation alone—focus on building a strong overall profile.
Myth 2: “Job offers are essential for Express Entry” Reality: Not only are they non-essential, they no longer provide CRS points. Most successful candidates don’t have job offers.
Myth 3: “General draws will return” Reality: It’s been nearly two years since the last general draw. Canada has committed to targeted selection.
Myth 4: “Higher CRS scores always mean faster invitations” Reality: A candidate with 480 points and French proficiency received invitations throughout 2025, while a candidate with 530 points but no French or Canadian experience might have waited all year.
Strategic Positioning for 2026 Success
Based on 2025’s patterns, here’s how to maximize your chances this year:
If You’re Outside Canada:
Priority 1: Learn French This remains the single most impactful action you can take. Even achieving NCLC 7 (intermediate level) opens doors to the lowest-cutoff, highest-volume draws.
Priority 2: Target Healthcare, Trades, or Education These categories received dedicated draws in 2025 and address ongoing labor shortages. If your background aligns, position yourself within these occupations.
Priority 3: Pursue a Provincial Nomination Research PNPs that align with your profile. While the process is more complex, a nomination essentially guarantees an Express Entry invitation.
Priority 4: Consider Canadian Education A Canadian degree or diploma adds CRS points, provides Canadian experience, and may open provincial pathways. It’s an investment, but data shows it pays off.
If You’re Already in Canada:
Maximize Canadian Work Experience Every month of Canadian work experience adds points and strengthens your CEC eligibility. Document everything carefully.
Retake Language Tests With job offer points gone, language proficiency carries more weight. Even marginal improvements matter—the difference between CLB 9 and CLB 10 can be 6-24 CRS points depending on other factors.
Explore Provincial Pathways Many provinces prioritize candidates already working locally. Research Express Entry-aligned provincial streams in your province.
Consider a Strategic Career Move If you’re close to qualifying for a priority category (healthcare, trades, education), gaining experience in these fields could provide new pathways.
Universal Strategies for Everyone:
Get Your Medical Exam Done Strategically Since it’s now required upfront, time it carefully. Complete it when you’re within 200-300 points of recent cutoffs in your category—close enough to potentially receive an invitation within the exam’s 12-month validity.
Improve Education Credentials Whether through additional degrees, diplomas, or certifications, educational improvements provide permanent CRS point increases.
Optimize Your Profile Completely Small details matter: accurate NOC selection, complete work history, proper translation of documents. A perfectly optimized profile can be worth 10-30 additional points.
Monitor Draw Patterns Subscribe to draw alerts and track patterns. Understanding when your category typically gets draws helps you plan profile updates strategically.
What to Expect in 2026: Educated Predictions
Based on 2025 trends, policy announcements, and immigration targets, here’s what likely lies ahead:
Confirmed Changes:
- Physician draws beginning in early 2026
- Reduced admission targets (109,000 vs 124,680)
- Continued upfront medical exam requirements
Likely Patterns:
- Continued emphasis on French proficiency with large invitation volumes
- Regular CEC draws prioritizing candidates with Canadian experience
- Healthcare draws addressing ongoing sector shortages
- Year-end invitation surge in Q4 2026 to meet annual targets
Possible Developments:
- Return of STEM draws (though not guaranteed despite 2025’s absence)
- New categories introduced to address evolving labor needs
- Potential policy adjustments depending on political pressures around immigration levels
Uncertain Areas:
- Job offer points restoration (initially called “temporary” but no indication of reversal)
- General draw resumption (unlikely but theoretically possible)
- Category-specific invitation volumes (could shift based on labor market demands)
Your 2026 Action Plan: Step-by-Step
Whether you’re just starting or already in the Express Entry pool, follow this strategic timeline:
Immediate Actions (January-February 2026):
- Create or update your Express Entry profile reflecting all 2025 policy changes
- Take language tests (IELTS, CELPIP, TEF, or TCF) or retake to improve scores
- Get Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) if you haven’t already
- Research provincial nominee programs that align with your profile
- Calculate your CRS score and identify improvement opportunities
Short-Term Goals (March-June 2026):
- Complete your medical exam if you’re within 200 points of recent cutoffs
- Address CRS weaknesses: additional education, language improvement, or gaining Canadian experience
- Research French language training if serious about maximizing invitation chances
- Monitor draw patterns specific to your category
- Connect with licensed immigration consultants for personalized strategy
Medium-Term Strategy (July-December 2026):
- Implement profile improvements (additional credentials, certificates, experience)
- Apply to provincial programs if eligible
- Retake language tests if previous attempts fell short of CLB 10
- Stay informed on policy changes and new categories
- Optimize timing for year-end invitation surge
Frequently Asked Questions About 2026
Q: Will CRS scores be higher or lower in 2026? A: With reduced admission targets (109,000 vs 124,680), expect slightly higher competition and potentially higher cutoffs—though category-specific draws may maintain accessible scores.
Q: Should I wait for general draws to return? A: No. It’s been nearly two years without a general draw. Build a strategy around targeted selection, not wishful thinking.
Q: Is learning French worth the time investment? A: Absolutely. French proficiency provided the lowest cutoffs and highest invitation volumes in 2025. If you can achieve NCLC 7, it’s your most powerful tool.
Q: Can I still succeed without Canadian experience? A: Yes, primarily through French draws, category-based selection, or provincial nominations. However, Canadian experience significantly improves your competitiveness.
Q: How long does Express Entry typically take? A: From profile creation to PR approval, expect 8-14 months total. Processing times vary by application volume and individual circumstances.
Q: Do I need a lawyer or consultant? A: Not required, but professional guidance helps navigate complex rules and optimize your profile. Many successful candidates apply independently using official resources.
Q: What if my occupation isn’t in a priority category? A: You can still receive invitations through CEC (if in Canada) or PNP draws. Focus on building a strong overall CRS score rather than relying solely on occupation-based selection.
Q: Will STEM draws return in 2026? A: Possibly, but don’t count on it. STEM was absent throughout 2025 despite being listed as a category. Build backup strategies.
The Bottom Line: Adapt or Wait
Express Entry in 2025 proved one thing definitively: general, points-based selection is over. Canada now chooses immigrants strategically based on immediate labor market needs and policy priorities.
Success in 2026 requires a targeted approach:
- If you can learn French, that’s your clearest path
- If you’re in Canada, maximize that advantage through CEC
- If you’re in healthcare, trades, or education, align yourself with these priority categories
- If none of these apply, provincial nominations become essential
The 114,000 invitations issued in 2025 prove Canada continues welcoming skilled immigrants despite stricter targeting. The opportunities exist—but they demand strategic positioning rather than passive waiting.
With reduced 2026 targets, competition will intensify. Those who adapt their approach, improve their profiles, and align with Canada’s priorities will succeed. Those who wait for the “old system” to return will be left behind.
The choice is yours.
Disclaimer: Immigration policies evolve constantly. Always verify current requirements on the official IRCC website (www.canada.ca/ircc) or consult licensed immigration professionals before making decisions. This article reflects information available as of January 5, 2026.
