May: Express Entry lottery issues 500 ITAs by CEC

On May 13, 2025, the fourth Express Entry lottery was held with the issuance of 500 invitations to apply for permanent residence. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) considered candidates according to the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

Read with me to the end of this blog for the details of this sweepstakes and what to expect this year in Canada's immigration trend. Let's get started!

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Fourth Express Entry Drawing in May: Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

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The 347th drawing on May 13 is the fourth of the month and the second this year, following the 335th drawing on February 5.

To be considered, candidates had to have:

• A minimum Comprehensive Rating System (CRS) score of 547.
• An applicant profile created on the Express Entry portal by 5:26 p.m. Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on May 21, 2024.

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If we compare this draw with the February draw, we have that the difference in the number of ITAs is notorious, with 4000 invitations versus 500 in May. In addition, Express Entry draws so far this year have been more focused on Provincial Nomination Programs (PNP), with 8 to date, with French and CEC being the next focuses, with 3 and 2 draws, respectively.

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What is the Canadian Experience Class (CEC)?

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The Canadian Experience Class program is a specific immigration pathway for temporary foreign workers and international skilled graduates who already have work experience in Canada and wish to obtain permanent residence in the country. 

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This program has become one of the major avenues of immigration for skilled workers and is part of the Express Entry system, however, it should be noted that Express Entry works by a point grid that is used to evaluate the applicant's eligibility, so the higher the score, the more likely you are to get an invitation to apply.

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Requirements and restrictions to apply for the CEC

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This program not only focuses on in-country work experience in general, but also has requirements that, if not met, create restrictions:

• Work experience must have been acquired within 3 years prior to application.
• The applicant must be fluent in English and/or French.
• Only work experience within Canada with a valid permit counts.
• The work must be paid. That is, volunteers or unpaid internships do not count.
• Does not apply to refugees or illegal workers.
• To demonstrate the level of education, post-secondary studies outside Canada must be evaluated through an ECA assessment. For more information on the ECA, click here.

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Current migration trends in Canada

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The new Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, is preparing to announce the implementation of immigration measures that have characterized his political tendency since the past and that he will now begin to apply. These measures are: 

• Decrease population levels of temporary residents (workers, students and visitors) by the end of 2027.
• Prioritize temporary residents for permanent residency.
• Control the population growth of temporary foreign workers, with a limit on work permits.
• To have less reliance on international students in university enrollment.
• Boost the construction sector to address the housing crisis.
• Focus on increased French-speaking immigration outside Quebec.

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In addition, this approach is expected to be expanded with new information on migration policies from the mandate of the recently appointed Minister of Immigration, Lena Metlege Diab.

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Thank you for reading us. If you would like an Immiland CICC regulated consultant to take your case to successfully apply for permanent residency, you can schedule an appointment today here.

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See you in the next blog.

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With love, 

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Immiland Canada

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