Canada’s Express Entry program, a cornerstone of the country’s economic immigration strategy, is set to undergo transformative changes in 2025.
Recent consultations by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), along with statements from Minister Marc Miller, have highlighted key updates including specialized draws, expanded pathways for in-Canada applicants, and potential modifications to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
These updates are designed to address evolving labor market demands, foster linguistic diversity, and prioritize growth in emerging industries. This article explores the proposed reforms, their impact on applicants, and strategies for success under the revamped system.
Feedback from Stakeholders
🇨🇦 IRCC is now consulting until July 28 to determine continuing/discontinuing existing #ExpressEntry categories and introducing a new category in 2025
🇨🇦 Check out IRCC priorities and Canada’s new proposed Express Entry draw categories for 2025👇https://t.co/VDauz1eEaQ
— Immigration News Canada 🇨🇦 (@CanadaImmigra20) July 27, 2024
Between June 27 and July 28, 2024, IRCC conducted extensive consultations to refine Express Entry categories for 2025. Input was gathered from employers, provincial and territorial governments, industry leaders, immigration professionals, and the public.
Key Insights
- Facilitating pathways for temporary residents: Stakeholders emphasized creating more routes for international students and temporary foreign workers. Their contributions and integration into Canadian society make them strong candidates for permanent residency.
- Increasing Francophone immigration: Stakeholders urged IRCC to boost immigration targets for Francophone applicants outside Quebec to strengthen minority French-speaking communities.
- Prioritizing emerging industries: There is a recognized need to focus on fields like clean energy, health sciences, and technology to address critical labor shortages.
This collaborative approach underscores IRCC’s commitment to transparency and alignment with Canada’s priorities.
Shifting Priorities in Draws
A significant structural change in 2025 is the introduction of two distinct streams under Express Entry: Federal Economic Priorities and In-Canada Focus.
This adjustment aims to address both international and domestic economic needs.
Stream
Focus
Planned Admissions
Federal Economic Priorities
Attracting global talent in priority sectors like healthcare, trades, and STEM fields.
41,700
In-Canada Focus
Transitioning international students and temporary foreign workers to permanent residency.
82,980
By clearly separating these streams, IRCC ensures tailored strategies for different applicant groups.
CRS Trends and 2025 Predictions
The CRS score remains a cornerstone of Express Entry. However, category-based draws will diversify requirements and potentially lower CRS thresholds for priority groups.
- CEC Draws: Expected to dominate the In-Canada Focus stream, with lower CRS cut-offs projected around 490.
- Targeted Occupations: Prioritized sectors like healthcare and trades may see CRS scores drop to approximately 450.
- General Draws: For applicants outside specific categories, CRS thresholds are likely to remain high, around 540.
Applicants should strategically tailor their profiles to align with emerging priorities.
Education Sector Spotlight – A Potential New Category
IRCC is exploring a new education-focused category to address critical shortages in teaching and educational support roles. This category could include:
- Elementary and secondary school teachers.
- Early childhood educators and assistants.
- Special education instructors and counselors.
A Focus on Bilingual Educators
French-speaking and bilingual teachers are expected to have an advantage. Applicants can enhance their language skills to increase eligibility for this potential stream.
Enhancing Francophone Immigration Beyond Quebec
View this post on Instagram
Canada aims to have Francophones represent 7% of admissions outside Quebec by 2025. To achieve this, IRCC plans to:
- Easier Language Requirements: Lowering French language proficiency requirements to CLB 5 or 6.
- Supporting Bilingual Workforce: Addressing demand in sectors like healthcare, customer service, and public administration.
These measures align with Canada’s Francophone Immigration Strategy to promote linguistic and cultural diversity.
Emerging Sectoral Needs: Tech, Sciences, and Natural Resources
Canada’s focus on innovation and sustainability is reflected in potential new categories targeting professionals in:
- Clean technology: Roles in renewable energy and green engineering.
- Biotechnology: Specialists in medical advancements and biomanufacturing.
- Resource management: Skilled workers for critical mineral extraction vital for the EV industry.
These categories align with Canada’s economic shift toward sustainability and advanced technologies.
Reevaluating LMIA Bonus Points
Now IRCC is considering removing the 50 bonus points for an LMIA.
In my opinion, it’s yet another example of an over-reaction that won’t even solve the underlying problem.
The backstory:
For Canada’s skilled worker permanent residence (PR) program, Express Entry, candidates…
— Josh Schachnow (@joshschachnow1) November 24, 2024
The LMIA system, which awards up to 50 CRS points for validated job offers, is under scrutiny for potential misuse. Proposed changes include:
- Eliminating LMIA bonus points to reduce fraudulent offers.
- Emphasizing applicant qualifications like skills, education, and language over employer-backed endorsements.
These adjustments aim to reinforce the integrity of the CRS system.
Strategic Insights for Applicants
To succeed in the revamped system, applicants should:
- Align their profiles with priority sectors such as healthcare, education, and trades.
- Enhance language proficiency and gain Canadian work experience to boost CRS scores.
- Stay informed about category-specific updates and adjustments to CRS requirements.
