Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has published details regarding the Express Entry invitation process throughout the remainder of 2025. As the allocation is directly correlated with the Immigration Levels Plan of 2025-2027, invitations in this year are already being prepared to meet the Canadian 2026 goals. The news provides precise details for applicants on what categories are still open and where the remaining invites will go.
Allocation for the Year
Category-based draws, first introduced in 2023, allow IRCC to focus on specific skill areas Canada needs most. Healthcare, education, and trades stand out in the 2025 plan, with many pending invitations. According to a recent Access to Information Request, here is how the allocation looks:
| Category | Total ITAs for 2025 | ITAs Issued so far | ITAs Remaining in 2025 |
| Education | 3,000 | 1,000 | 2,000 |
| Healthcare | 8,000 | 7,500 | 500 |
| Trades | 3,300 | 0 | 3,300 |
The numbers reveal an interesting trend. Healthcare has nearly reached its quota, while education and trades still have a significant portion left. That means upcoming rounds in the year’s final months will likely concentrate on those two categories.
Six Categories in Total
For 2025, six groups are targeted: healthcare and social services, STEM, trades, agriculture and agri-food, education, and French-language proficiency. Early in the year, IRCC relied heavily on healthcare and French draws. As quotas tighten, attention is expected to shift toward other occupations, particularly education and trades, where thousands of invitations remain unused.
