Canada Issues 8,036 Invitations For Permanent Residency In Recent Entry Draws To Attract Skilled Workers

• IRCC issued 8,036 ITAs for permanent residency in two recent Express Entry draws.
• The draws focus on attracting skilled applicants to Canada.
• Specific demographics targeted include French-speaking candidates and those with provincial nominations.

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has given a total of 8,036 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residency in Canada in two recent Express Entry draws, demonstrating its commitment to attracting competent applicants to Canada.

The draws targeted specific demographics, such as those with French language skills and provincial nominations.

According to Immigration News Canada (INC), the IRCC’s March 21st, 2025 draw targeted French-speaking candidates, granting 7,500 ITAs with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 379.

The March 17th draw targeted candidates with provincial nominations, issuing 536 ITAs.

Both draws indicate Canada’s continuous priority of luring talented immigrants, particularly those with French fluency and province nominations.

French language proficiency draw will take place on March 21st, 2025

The March 21st, 2025 lottery for French-speaking candidates encouraged 7,500 people to apply for permanent residency.  To be qualified, candidates must have a CRS score of 379 or higher.

The tie-breaking rule for this round was set for March 6th, 2025, therefore all applicants who submitted their profiles by that date and time were evaluated.

This indicates the continuation of IRCC’s emphasis on French language abilities, as several similar drawings have taken held in previous months.

 Provincial nominee program draw will take place on March 17th, 2025

Candidates with provincial nominations received 536 ITAs in a separate draw on March 17th, 2025.  The minimum CRS score to be eligible in this draw was 736.

The tiebreaker rule for this round was March 12th, 2025.  Provincial nominations provide a major advantage, adding 600 CRS points to a candidate’s score, increasing the likelihood of earning an ITA.

CRS Score Distribution and Predictions

The CRS score distribution for Express Entry candidates shows a considerable number of candidates with scores between 451 and 500, totaling 70,055.  Predictions indicate that by summer 2025, the CRS score for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates may fall below 500, as the pool shifts toward lower-scoring in-Canada candidates.

The cutoff score is also expected to fall to around 490 by late spring 2025, depending on the frequency of drawings.

Strategies to Improve Your Chances of Express Entry

Candidates who were not picked in these previous draws have many options to enhance their chances in future rounds:

1. Improve your language scores: Higher language exam scores can boost your CRS score by 20-30 points, especially if you meet higher Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) levels.
2. Gain Canadian experience: Working in Canada might boost your CRS score, especially for candidates in the Canadian Experience Class.
3. Investigate provincial nominee programs:  Consider filing for provincial nominations, which grant 600 more CRS points and can considerably increase your chances of being invited.
4. Update your profile:  Ensure that your Express Entry profile is comprehensive and precise to prevent losing points due to mistakes or outdated information.

The recent draws demonstrate Canada’s emphasis on luring qualified workers, particularly those who are currently in the country or possess specific language abilities.  The huge number of ITAs given in recent rounds indicates that persons seeking permanent residence in Canada will continue to have opportunities.

All express entry draws in 2025

Here’s a recap of the recent Express Entry draws for 2025:

• March 6, 2025: French language proficiency draw with 4,500 ITAs and a CRS score of 410.
• March 3, 2025: Provincial Nominee Program, 725 ITAs, a CRS score of 667.
• February 19th, 2025: French language proficiency draw, 6,500 ITAs, a CRS score of 428.
• February 17th, 2025: Provincial Nominee Program, 646 ITAs, a CRS score of 750.

As Canada continues to grant ITAs to a diverse range of individuals, the path to permanent residency remains open to those who qualify under the various Express Entry categories.