A report outlines Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC’s) plan to issue invitations to apply (ITAs) for the remainder of 2025.
In 2025, the Express Entry ITA schedule is designed to align with the Immigration Levels Plans 2025-027. The report notes that most of the ITAs issued in the second half of 2025 will support the 2026 levels target.
See how competitive your Express Entry profile is
The information comes from an Access to Information Request (ATIP) obtained by Mandeep Lidher, a Calgary-based Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC).
Here’s a look at what the ATIP reveals.
Allocation for category-based draws
IRCC launched category-based Express Entry draws in 2023 to target candidates with in-demand skills and work experience in specific sectors.
In 2025, there are six category-based draws in total.
The ATIP obtained shares important details on the allocation of ITAS that will go towards some of the categories.
| Category | Number of ITAs in 2025 (as per the ATIP) | Number of ITAs issued so far in 2025 | Number of ITAs yet to be issued in 2025 |
| Education | 3000 | 1000 | 2,000 |
| Healthcare | 8000 | 7,500 | 500 |
| Trades | 3300 | 0 | 3,300 |
This in turn can help deduce the number of ITAs yet to be issued (based on the ones that have already been issued so far in 2025).
This means that IRCC has plans for several rounds of category-based draws in the last five months of the year.
2. Francophone immigration
The report also highlights the federal government’s aim to maximize Francophone immigration outside of Quebec.
According to the report, the French-proficiency rounds held over an eight week period in February to March 2025 – which led to 18,500 ITAs being issued – is all part of the federal government’s aim to meet its 8.5% French admission target for 2025.
IRCC also held one more French-proficiency draw on August 8. The 2,500 ITAs issued during that draw are presumably contributing to 2025 targets.
3. ITA calendar to be shared with provinces and territories
The report reveals that an ITA calendar will be shared with provinces and territories.
Provinces and territories will have access to a three-month plan which includes expected weeks the rounds will take place, round types and a projection of the minimum score of rounds for the next two months.
The aim through this is to help the provinces and territories plan their future nominations.
