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Canadian immigration news — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has a plan for who gets invited to apply for permanent residence for the rest of 2025, and thanks to an access-to-information request, we now know the numbers. Education, healthcare, and trades candidates are in line for thousands of invitations — while one popular category is nearly tapped out. Here is the full Express Entry invitation schedule breakdown, what it means for your CRS score, and the provincial twist almost nobody noticed.
By Maplestime Immigration Desk | Canada
Sources: ATIP documents obtained by Mandeep Lidher, RCIC; IRCC; CIC News | Last updated: 2025
Key Takeaways
– An access-to-information request obtained by Calgary-based Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant Mandeep Lidher reveals IRCC’s Express Entry invitation schedule and ITA allocation plan for the rest of 2025.
– Education draws: 3,000 ITAs planned, 1,000 already issued, 2,000 still to come. Healthcare: 8,000 planned, 7,500 issued, only 500 left. Trades: 3,300 planned, zero issued so far.
– Most invitations issued in the second half of 2025 will count toward the 2026 immigration levels target, in line with the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan.
– French-proficiency draws issued 18,500 ITAs over eight weeks in February–March 2025 toward the 8.5% francophone admission target; another 2,500 went out on August 8.
– IRCC will share a three-month ITA calendar — expected draw weeks, round types, and projected minimum scores — with provinces and territories.
What the ATIP Report Reveals About the Express Entry Invitation Schedule
A report outlines Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC’s) plan to issue invitations to apply (ITAs) for the remainder of 2025.
Education, healthcare and social services, and trades are all categories that may see more planned draws in the upcoming months.
The current Express Entry ITA schedule is designed to align with the Immigration Levels Plan 2025–2027. The report notes that most of the ITAs issued in the second half of 2025 will support the 2026 levels target.
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.
ITA Allocation by Category: Education, Healthcare and Trades
IRCC launched category-based Express Entry draws in 2023 to target candidates with in-demand skills and work experience in specific sectors.
The ATIP shares important details on the allocation of ITAs that will go toward 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 | 3,000 | 1,000 | 2,000 |
| Healthcare | 8,000 | 7,500 | 500 |
| Trades | 3,300 | 0 | 3,300 |
This in turn can help predict the number of ITAs yet to be issued, based on the ones that have already been issued so far in 2025.
The read-through is striking. If you’re a teacher or early-childhood educator in the Express Entry pool, two-thirds of your category’s invitations are still ahead of you. If you’re a tradesperson, the entire allocation — all 3,300 invitations — is still on the table, which points to several rounds of category-based draws in the last five months of the year. Healthcare workers, on the other hand, should brace themselves: only 500 ITAs remain in a category that already handed out 7,500.
In 2025, there are six categories in total. These are:
- Healthcare and social services occupations
- STEM occupations
- Trade occupations
- Agriculture and agri-food occupations
- Education occupations
- French-language proficiency
Francophone Immigration Targets Drive French-Proficiency Draws
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 — are 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 2026 targets.
For French-speaking candidates, the message is unmistakable: Ottawa is actively engineering the pool to hit its francophone numbers, and French-language proficiency remains one of the most powerful cards an Express Entry candidate can hold.
Related: IRCC Processing Times May 2026 — What Got Faster, What Got Slower, and What It Means for You
Related: IELTS vs CELPIP Canada 2026 — The Honest Comparison to Help You Choose the Right Test
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.
This matters more than it sounds. Provincial Nominee Programs plan their own draws around federal activity, so a shared calendar means better coordination between Ottawa and the provinces — and fewer surprises for candidates watching both streams.
What This Means for Express Entry Candidates
If you’re in the pool, this leaked Express Entry invitation schedule is genuinely useful intelligence. Education and trades candidates should make sure their profiles are complete, accurate, and up to date — your draws are coming. Healthcare candidates should know the window is nearly closed for 2025 and plan accordingly. And everyone should take French seriously: the numbers show Ottawa rewarding it aggressively.
As always, treat leaked planning documents as a guide, not a guarantee. IRCC adjusts draw sizes and timing based on the pool and its targets. But for once, candidates get to see the playbook before the game is played.
This article is general information, not immigration advice. Consult IRCC or a licensed immigration consultant for guidance on your specific situation.
Tags: Immigration, Express Entry, IRCC, ITA, Canada PR, 2025
Featured image alt text: IRCC Express Entry invitation schedule showing category-based ITA allocations for 2025
Maplestime will provide updates on Express Entry draws and IRCC invitation rounds as announcements are made.
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Do you think IRCC’s category-based Express Entry invitation schedule is fair to candidates in the general pool — or is the system now picking winners by occupation? Tell us in the comments. And share this with every Canadian permanent residence applicant watching the draws.
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