IRCC invites more than 4,000 candidates in latest Express Entry draw

This Express Entry draw is the largest since September 4, when IRCC held another 4,500 ITA draw for French-speaking candidates. French category-based draws have seen the largest draw sizes of any kind of draw in 2025, chief among them being the 7,500 invitation draw held on March 21 of this year.

French-speaking candidates have also received the most ITAs of any group under the Express Entry system this year, at 30,000 invitations as of today’s draw.

IRCC’s targets for Francophone immigration outside Quebec (which is largely facilitated by Express Entry’s French-language proficiency category) are set to rise next year, a change which may entail more French-language draws through the Express Entry system.

Today’s draw is also the second of October, and follows a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw on October 1, a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw on September 29, and a Trades category draw on September 18.

Thus far, IRCC has issued 70,338 ITAs through the Express Entry system in 2025.

Express Entry draws this year have primarily focused on PNP draws, with the remainder of Express Entry ITAs dedicated to CEC candidates, candidates with French-language proficiency, and those in the Express Entry priority occupation categories:

ITAs by stream-type are detailed below, with the majority of invitations going to candidates in French category draws and the CEC program: