There are some significant changes in 2025 for Canada’s Express Entry system. These changes will affect Canada’s largest immigration programs in 2025. 

Today, we will discuss how these major trends will impact applicant’s selection this year. 

So, without further ado, let us begin!

Increase In Express Entry Share Of Overall Immigration Targets 

In 2025, Express Entry will see a relative increase in its share of the overall immigration targets. The federal government has increased the target number of admissions under the Federal economic programs to 124,590 landings, up from 110,770 in 2024. 

Moreover, this increase is accompanied by a 20% reduction in overall immigration levels compared to the 2024 targets. This shift enables the federal government more control over immigration, with fewer admissions processed through provincial and regional immigration pathways. 

Express Entry will thus play a significant role in Canada’s immigration system in 2025, as the Federal High-Skilled allocation – under which Express Entry falls – makes up a major portion of the immigration targets. In 2024, the FHS made up 22.8% of overall planned permanent resident admissions. In 2025, the FHS is planned to make up 31.5% of overall admissions. 

Coupled with the scaling back of Provincial Nominee Program allocations, this implies that a higher proportion of economic immigrant admissions – the largest category of Canadian immigration – will take place via Express Entry. Therefore, the Express Entry-managed programs will likely be crucial pathways for skilled workers seeking to immigrate to Canada in 2025. 

Removal Of CRS Points For Job Offers 

There are some significant changes in 2025 for Canada’s Express Entry system. 

In December 2024, Minister of Immigration Marc Miller declared a significant change that will take effect in the spring of 2025 – Comprehensive Ranking System points will no longer be awarded for valid job offers. 

Presently, applicants in the Express Entry system can obtain either 50 or 200 additional points if they have a valid job offer. This removal of points is considered a ‘temporary measure’, but IRCC has not yet specified when it will conclude. 

This change will only impact applicants in the Express Entry pool at the time that it is instituted. 

The removal of points for a job offer might lead to a drop in the CRS scores of many applicants within the Express Entry pool. However, the impact of CRS cut-off scores and the overall results in 2025 remain difficult to predict. 

Applicants presently receiving points for a valid job offer might find themselves needing to rely on other human capital factors covered by the CRS, such as language proficiency or work experience, to boost their scores.  

Federal Economic Priorities And In-Canada Focus Replacing Federal High Skilled Allocations 

In previous years, Canada’s annual allocation for immigrants admitted through Express Entry was designated under the FHS allocation. 

In 2025, the FHS allocation is being replaced and divided into two new sub-categories under the Immigration Levels Plan: Federal Economic Priorities and In-Canada Focus. 

The introduction of these sub-categories marks a significant shift in which applicants will be selected for permanent residency: 

Category Name Landings Allocation Under Express EntryApplicants Considered Under This Category
In-Canada Focus 82,890Applicants already in Canada, including those in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Express Entry-aligned Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
Federal Economic Priorities 41,700Applicants selected under category-based selections, who meet Canada’s labour market needs and demographic goals. Priority sectors in 2025 will include healthcare occupations, trade occupations, and applicants with French language proficiency

Different Emphasis For Category-Based Selections 

There are some significant changes in 2025 for Canada’s Express Entry system. In 2025, IRCC will focus more Express Entry draws on category-based selections that align with Canada’s labor market priorities. 

Starting in 2023, IRCC began holding category-based draws to invite specific classes of applicants based on their specific skills, training, and language abilities. 

According to the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, in 2025, IRCC has designated the following as priority categories to be targeted through the Express Entry system: 

  • Healthcare Professions
  • Trades Professions 
  • French-Language Proficiency 

While 2024 has not seen many draws for healthcare and trades professions through the Express Entry system, IRCC might conduct more of these draws in 2025 because of thief designation as priority sectors under the Federal Economic Priorities allocation. 

In contrast, the French language category has already seen consistent draws throughout 2024. Well, it will continue to be a key focus for Express Entry in 2025, specifically in light of Canada’s commitment to increasing the number of francophone immigrants outside Quebec. 

For 2025, Canada has set a target of 8.5% of total new immigrant admissions to the French proficiency category. This target will rise to 9.5% of admissions for 2026.

Note that the above is not an exhaustive list of categories available to IRCC to choose from. The complete list of priority categories includes:  

  • Healthcare Professions
  • STEM Professions
  • Trades Professions
  • Transport Professions 
  • French Language Proficiency 
  • Agriculture and Agri-Food Professions 

If you seek information on how to begin your Canada immigration application process, you can talk to our NavaImmigration experts at 1800-918-8490. You can also drop us an email at [email protected].