Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) resumed Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Express Entry draws on May 13th, 2025, after a gap of over three months.
The latest draw issued only 500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence, with a high Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cutoff score of 547.
According to Immigration News Canada (INC), the May 13th draw marks the first Canadian Experience Class-specific round since February 5th, 2025. While the program’s resumption is notable, the limited number of invitations and the increased CRS score are key changes that impact potential applicants.
CEC Draw Details and High CRS Cutoff
In the May 13th CEC draw, only 500 applicants were invited to apply for permanent residence. The CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate was 547, which is the highest cutoff recorded so far in 2025 for a CEC draw.
The IRCC applied the tie-breaking rule based on the profile submission date of May 21st, 2024.
The extended pause in CEC draws since February contributed to a build-up in the applicant pool, which led to a higher cutoff score in this round.
CRS Score Distribution in the Express Entry Pool
As of May 13th, the Express Entry pool contained 250,082 candidates. A large number of profiles—22,435—had CRS scores between 501 and 600, while 73,741 candidates were in the 451–500 range. Other distributions included:
- 12,429 candidates with scores from 491–500
- 12,704 from 481–490
- 16,641 from 471–480
- 16,691 from 461–470
- 15,276 from 451–460
This distribution indicates that a significant number of applicants are competing within similar score ranges, which affects cutoff trends in future draws.
Strategies to Increase CRS Scores in 2025
To improve their chances of receiving an ITA, applicants can focus on increasing their CRS scores in several ways:
- Improve Language Proficiency
Taking language tests such as IELTS (English) or TEF (French) and achieving higher scores can increase CRS points. For example, scoring CLB 9 or higher in all four skills can add up to 150 points for applicants with a spouse. - Gain Work Experience
Accumulating more years of skilled work experience in NOC TEER 0–3 jobs can lead to more points. Canadian work experience can contribute up to 100 CRS points. - Pursue Further Education
Obtaining a master’s degree or PhD and having educational credentials assessed by a designated organisation can provide up to 135 points. - Secure a Provincial Nomination
A nomination through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) adds 600 points to the CRS score, which almost guarantees an ITA. - Include a Spouse or Partner
A spouse’s educational and language credentials can add up to 40 CRS points. Applicants are encouraged to include their spouse’s qualifications in the profile if beneficial.
CEC Draw Trends in 2025
The May 13th draw follows three previous CEC rounds this year:
- February 5th, 2025: 4,000 ITAs issued, CRS cutoff 521
- January 23rd, 2025: 4,000 ITAs issued, CRS cutoff 527
- January 8th, 2025: 1,350 ITAs issued, CRS cutoff 542
Compared to earlier rounds, the May 13th draw had the lowest number of invitations and the highest CRS cutoff of the year so far.
IRCC’s future direction under newly sworn-in Immigration Minister, Lena Metlege Diab remains to be seen. Stakeholders are watching closely to see whether upcoming draws will issue more invitations and bring down CRS thresholds.
