Canada Issues 4,000 Invitations For Permanent Residency In First Express Entry Draw Of February

• This is a key event for temporary residents in Canada who want to move to permanent status.

The first Express Entry lottery in February 2025 offered 4,000 invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residency to candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

This is a key event for temporary residents in Canada who want to move to permanent status.

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses Express Entry, an online system, to administer permanent residence applications for economic immigration programs.

Candidates submit their profiles to the Express Entry pool, which ranks them based on their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) ratings.

The CRS considers age, education, employment experience, and language proficiency. Those with the highest CRS scores are eligible to seek for permanent residency through monthly lotteries.

According to Immigration News Canada (INC), the draw took place on February 5th, 2025, and invited candidates with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 521 or higher. This is the lowest CRS threshold for this year’s CEC draw. The tie-breaking rule for the draw was scheduled for November 14th, 2025.

CRS score distribution in the pool

A CRS score indicates how excellent a person’s profile is in comparison to other candidates and is a crucial factor in receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency in Canada. The higher a candidate’s CRS score, the greater their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency.

As of February 5th, 2025, the following breakdown shows how many applicants fit within each CRS score range:

• 601-1200: 173 candidates had CRS scores between 601 and 1200.
• 501-600: 23,165 candidates have a CRS score between 501 and 600.
• 451-500: 68,910 candidates have a CRS score between 451 and 500.
• 401-450: There are 63,508 candidates with CRS scores between 401 and 450.
• 351-400: 51,079 candidates have a CRS score between 351 and 400.
• 301-350: 21,576 candidates have CRS scores between 301 and 350.
• 0-300: There are 5,641 candidates with CRS scores less than 300.

This distribution illustrates how many people fall into each CRS score range, which can help you evaluate how competitive the pool is. For example, there are a huge number of candidates with scores ranging from 451 to 500, indicating intense rivalry for invitations.

Effect of the draw on potential applicants

INC claims that the huge number of invites issued in this draw demonstrates Canada’s commitment to luring qualified workers with Canadian work experience.

The CRS score of 521 is a challenging but attainable goal for many individuals in the pool. This is a 21-point drop from the first CEC draw of 2025, giving hope to those who scored close to the cut-off.

How to Improve Your CRS Score

Several ways can help applicants enhance their prospects in future drawings by boosting CRS scores:

• Language skills: Higher language exam results can result in more CRS points.
• Canadian job experience: Increasing your work experience in Canada can improve your score.
• A nomination from a Canadian province adds 600 points, ensuring that you will acquire an ITA.
• Education: Additional education in Canada or the recognition of international qualifications can help you improve your score.

As Canada pushes forward with its immigration objectives for 2025-2027, more Express Entry draws are likely, with some potentially targeting specific groups such as French speakers or persons with in-demand skills.

For individuals currently in the Express Entry pool, this latest draw provides an opportunity to analyze their situation and take efforts to improve their profile for future rounds.

The Express Entry system is the principal path for skilled workers seeking permanent residency in Canada, creating additional opportunities for those who meet the requirements and contribute to the country’s booming economy.