Canada’s immigration system saw significant activity in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, with a clear emphasis on Francophone immigration. In this article, I will provide the data for the Express Entry draws and PNP nominations/invites (both Non-EE and EE streams), and later compare it with its progress toward the 2025 Immigration Levels Plan targets.

 

Express Entry Dominated by French-Language and CEC Draws

In Q1, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted 11 Express Entry draws, issuing 30,683 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residency (PR). The draws were split into three categories: 

 

1. French-Language Proficiency Draws (60.3% of ITAs) 

   - 3 draws issued 18,500 ITAs, the largest share of invitations. 

   - CRS scores ranged from 379 to 428, reflecting Canada’s push to attract Francophone immigrants outside Quebec. 

 

2. Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Draws (30.5% of ITAs) 

   - 3 draws resulted in 9,350 ITAs, with CRS scores between 521 and 542. 

   - The CEC stream prioritizes temporary residents with Canadian work experience, aiding retention of skilled workers.  This is in line with the priority for the 2025 immigration levels plan which targets in-Canada applicants.

 

3. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Draws (9.2% of ITAs)

   - 5 draws issued 2,833 ITAs, targeting candidates with provincial nominations. 

   - CRS scores for PNP-specific draws were exceptionally high at 667–802, as nominees receive an automatic 600-point boost. 

 

 

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Activity

Provinces and territories conducted 29 draws in Q1, issuing 2,002 ITAs. Of these: 

- 9 draws aligned with the Express Entry pathway, yielding 606 ITAs. 

- Non-Express Entry PNP draws accounted for 1,396 ITAs across 20 draws. 

 

 

Combined, PNPs issued 4,229 ITAs* in Q1 (including both EE and non-EE pathways), underscoring their role in addressing regional labor shortages.  It is notable that there is a delay among the provinces that issued nominations, and others that had no nomination at all (Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland & Labrador, Northwestern Territories, and Yukon) due to allocation cuts  which prompted provinces to reassess their targets and priorities.

*2,833 ITAs in PNP Express Entry draws (which includes 606 ITAs from EE aligned PNP nominations) + 1,396 non-EE aligned PNP ITAs.

 

Home Care Worker Immigration pilots

On March 31, 2025, the Home Care Worker Immigration pilot for in-Canada applicants was opened (and closed after a few hours). The total intake for this category is 4,950 (Child care and Home Support, Online and Alternate formats). It should be noted that the total allocation for Federal Economic Pilots for 2025 is 10,920-14,800. Thus, the HCWIP alone already constitutes 33-45% of the Federal target.

 

Progress Toward 2025 Immigration Targets

Canada’s 2025 Immigration Levels Plan aims to welcome around 395,000 newcomers, with economic-class immigrants constituting the majority. Q1 results highlight these progress: 

 

1. French-Language Proficiency Target (29,325) 

   - With 18,500 ITAs issued, this makes up 63% of target: Strong performance reflects IRCC’s focus on enhancing Francophone immigration, a key policy priority. 

 

2. Canadian Experience Class Target (82,980–89,000) 

   - 9,350 ITAs issued (10–11% of target): The low percentage suggests IRCC may need to increase CEC-specific draws later in 2025 to meet annual goals.  A notable reason may be the changes in other EE categories and the removal of job offer points in the CRS calculation, which could affect CEC intakes.

 

3. PNP Target (55,000–65,000) 

   - 4,229 ITAs issued (6.5–7.6% of target): The PNP admission lag in the first quarter of the year is mainly due to the reduction of PR allocation, which prompted provinces to reassess their targets and priorities for the year. 

 

Key Takeaways and Outlook

- Francophone Immigration Momentum: The emphasis on French-language draws aligns with Canada’s goal to admit 8.5% of immigrants from the French-speaking Permanent Resident Admissions outside Quebec category. Q1’s progress indicates this target is achievable. 

- CEC and PNP Challenges: Lower ITA numbers for CEC and PNPs are mainly due to reassessment of targets and system changes, and would steadily increase as the year progresses.   

- CRS Score Trends: Lesser PNP nominations in the Express Entry stream, as well as the removal of job offer points in CRS, could mean that the pool distribution could change in the coming months, and lower cutoff scores may be seen across all categories (CEC, occupation-based and French categories).

- No Occupation-based category draws yet: With the changes in the list of priority occupations across all occupation categories (STEM, Healthcare, Trades, Agriculture and Agri-Food, and Education), IRCC is yet to conduct an occupation-based category draw. It is expected that the CRS score trends for these categories would be lower due to the changes in the CRS calculation.

 

As Canada advances toward its 2025 immigration targets, stakeholders anticipate intensified draws in the latter half of 2025, particularly for the CEC streams and other occupation-based categories. The Q1 data reinforces the dual focus on economic growth and linguistic diversity, cornerstones of Canada’s immigration strategy. 

 

Disclaimer: Please note that Canadian immigration laws and regulations are subject to change. The information provided in this article is intended for general guidance and may not reflect the most current legal developments at the time of your application. We strongly recommend consulting official government resources or seeking advice from a qualified legal professional before making any decisions or taking action based on the content of this article.

For personalized legal guidance, please email us me info@bnborderless.ca or visit our website to book a consultation.

 

Sources: 

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

Ontario: https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-immigrant-nominee-program-oinp-invitations-apply

BC: https://www.welcomebc.ca/immigrate-to-b-c/invitations-to-apply

Alberta: https://www.alberta.ca/aaip-processing-information

Manitoba: https://immigratemanitoba.com/notices/eoi-draw/

NB: https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/corporate/promo/immigration/immigrating-to-nb/invitations-to-apply.html

PEI: https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/office-of-immigration/expression-of-interest-draws

2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/notices/supplementary-immigration-levels-2025-2027.html

Home Care Worker Immigration pilots: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/caregivers/home-care-worker-immigration-pilots/child-care-home-support/apply.html