September 2025 emerged as a standout month for Express Entry activity, with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issuing 10,018 invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residence—the third-highest monthly total of the year and a significant increase over recent months.

2025 Monthly ITA Comparison

The following breakdown shows Express Entry invitation volumes throughout 2025:

First Quarter Performance

  • March 2025: 13,261 ITAs (highest of the year)
  • February 2025: 11,601 ITAs (second-highest)
  • January 2025: 5,821 ITAs

Second Quarter Slowdown

  • June 2025: 7,405 ITAs
  • May 2025: 2,511 ITAs
  • April 2025: 1,246 ITAs (lowest of the year)

Third Quarter Recovery

  • September 2025: 10,018 ITAs (56% increase from August)
  • August 2025: 6,417 ITAs
  • July 2025: 7,558 ITAs

September Draw Breakdown

September’s strong performance resulted from seven separate draws across multiple program categories, demonstrating IRCC’s commitment to category-based selection:

Category-Based Draws

  • French-language proficiency (September 4): 4,500 ITAs at CRS 446
  • Education (September 17): 2,500 ITAs at CRS 462
  • Trades (September 18): 1,250 ITAs at CRS 505 (first trades draw of 2025)

Program-Specific Draws

  • Canadian Experience Class (September 3): 1,000 ITAs at CRS 534
  • Provincial Nominee Program (3 draws): 768 combined ITAs
    • September 2: 249 ITAs at CRS 772
    • September 15: 228 ITAs at CRS 746
    • September 29: 291 ITAs at CRS 855

Year-to-Date Analysis

Total ITAs issued in 2025: 65,838 across 40 draws

Draw Type Distribution

  • Canadian Experience Class: 10 draws
  • Provincial Nominee Program: 18 draws
  • French-language proficiency: 5 draws
  • Healthcare and social services: 4 draws
  • Education: 2 draws
  • Trades: 1 draw

The data reveals IRCC’s strategic focus on:

  1. French-speaking candidates (25,500 ITAs—38.7% of total)
  2. Canadian Experience Class applicants (21,850 ITAs—33.2% of total)
  3. Priority occupations in healthcare, education, and trades

What This Trend Means

The September surge suggests IRCC is accelerating invitation volumes as 2025 progresses, potentially working toward annual immigration targets. The diverse draw types indicate multiple pathways remain available for qualified candidates.

Key Takeaways for Candidates

Strong Performance Categories:

  • French-language proficiency continues receiving the highest invitation volumes
  • Canadian Experience Class draws occur consistently with moderate CRS requirements (534 points)
  • Category-based draws for healthcare, trades, and education offer additional opportunities with competitive scores

Competitive Requirements:

  • PNP draws maintain high CRS thresholds (746-855) due to the 600-point provincial nomination bonus
  • General category draws show CRS ranges from 446 (French) to 534 (CEC)
  • Trades and education categories offer mid-range opportunities (462-505 points)

Planning Your Express Entry Strategy

With September’s strong performance and continued category-based selections, candidates should:

  1. Identify eligible categories beyond general draws (French proficiency, trades, healthcare, education)
  2. Optimize CRS scores to reach category-specific thresholds
  3. Consider provincial nomination for guaranteed 600-point boost
  4. Monitor monthly trends to time profile creation and improvements strategically

The remainder of 2025 will likely see continued robust draw activity as IRCC works toward annual immigration admission targets. Candidates with competitive profiles should ensure all documentation remains current and ready for potential invitations.

Ready to maximize your Express Entry chances? Mi Way Immigration provides comprehensive profile assessments, CRS optimization strategies, and expert guidance to help you navigate the evolving Express Entry landscape effectively.