Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) kickstarted its first category-based Express Entry draw of 2025, issuing 6,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs). This draw specifically targeted French-speaking applicants, reinforcing Canada’s commitment to supporting Francophone communities outside Quebec and boosting bilingual immigration.
Who Was Eligible for This Draw?
To receive an ITA in this round, candidates needed to:
- Have a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 428
- Create their Express Entry profile before 4:41 PM UTC on February 10, 2025.
This draw is the fourth of the month, following two Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws and a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw earlier in February. In total, IRCC has issued 11,601 ITAs this month alone.
Why This Focus for 2025?
IRCC’s draws this year have primarily focused on candidates in the PNP and CEC categories. This aligns with Canada’s 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, which emphasizes already working immigrants who are and live in Canada including foreign workers an international graduates. A total of 82,890 admissions have been given out to this group for 2025 and fall under “In Canada Focus” category.
This focus highlights Canada’s strategy of retaining skilled workers who play a part in the economy and fill labor shortages, making the transition for new permanent residents smoother.
ITA vs. Landing – What’s the Difference?
Invitation to Apply (ITA): An ITA allows candidates in the Express Entry system to put in permanent residence.
Landing (Admission): A landing occurs when a newcomer physically arrives in Canada, has their permanent residence approved, and gets a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) document.
While ITAs indicate potential new immigrants, landing numbers reflect actual immigration figures, which is the government’s primary focus.
