Francophones receive 4500 ITAs with lower scores than previous draw

On March 6, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada invited 4500 candidates for permanent residence through Express Entry and the score was even lower than what was required even in the previous draw on February 19, dropping from 428 to 410 in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The Express Entry category again focused on proficiency in French.

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In this blog, I will give you a summary of the Express Entry sweepstakes from January to date and an analysis of what the government's trend has been for invitations (ITAs). Read with me to the end and take note of what your immigration plan for Canada this year might look like based on the Express Entry dynamics. Let's get started.

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The first Express Entry 2025 drawings

Below are the first draws for fast-track entry to Canada, taken from the official Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship website:

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/policies-operational-instructions-agreements/ministerial-instructions/express-entry-rounds.html

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Trends observed in Express Entry sweepstakes

Analysis of the table shows a clear trend in this year's Express Entry draws in line with the priorities set out in Canada's Immigration Levels Plan 2025-2027. Let's look at more details.

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• Focus on French language proficiency:

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The February 6 and 19 draws prioritized francophone candidates, with a combined total of 11,000 ITAs (Invitations to Apply) issued. This reflects that the government is indeed delivering on the commitment to increase Francophone immigration out of Quebec, as per the tiered plan.

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• Emphasis on the Provincial Nominations Program (PNP):

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The March 3, February 17, February 4 and January 7 draws awarded a total of 2297 ITAs through the PNP. This approach allows provinces to select candidates that meet their specific economic and demographic needs.

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• Canadian Experience Class (CEC):

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The draws on February 5, January 23 and January 8 issued 9350 ITAs, making it evident that there is a common goal line for the plan to prioritize temporary residents already in Canada, facilitating their transition to permanent residency.

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The draws in this table are related to the Immigration Levels Plan 2025-2027, which sets clear goals for balancing population growth with integration capacity and economic sustainability. 

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What does the Immigration Levels Plan 2025-2027 seek?

Some objectives are mentioned below:

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• Reduction in total admissions: the plan projects a decrease in permanent resident admissions in 2025, prioritizing candidates already present in Canada.

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• Focus on key economic sectors: draws reflect the need for workers in sectors such as skilled trades and essential services, aligning with the economic priorities of the plan.

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• Increased French-speaking immigration: sweepstakes focused on French proficiency support the objective of strengthening French-speaking communities outside Quebec.

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So far, the Express Entry draws appear to be meeting the goals of the immigration tier plan. The prioritization of francophones, PNP candidates and the Canadian Experience Class demonstrates a strategic approach to addressing Canada's labor and demographic needs. The low score of this last draw for francophones is a good opportunity to get permanent residency for speaking French, many times the score is high and not all candidates manage to achieve it. So the trend is very positive for this category, at least as of the date of this publication.

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This is quite encouraging for foreigners who dream of living in this beautiful country. It means that by meeting the requirements and achieving a minimum score in the Comprehensive Classification System (CRS) cut-off, it is possible to receive an invitation to apply for permanent residency. The important thing is to know which category or immigration pathway of Express Entry adapts to your immigration profile. 

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Do you know your immigration profile to immigrate to Canada this year? If not, consult with our regulated team at Immiland Canada for a free assessment or request the nearest appointment here.

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I hope this topic will be helpful for your decision to immigrate to Canada. Thanks for reading, see you in the next blog!

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With love,

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Immiland Canada

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