Insights from Susan Gong, CPA, CA, RCIC — Founder & CEO of Altec Global Inc.
IRCC kicked off December 2025 with a busy week of Express Entry draws, issuing thousands of invitations across three distinct categories. While CRS scores moved both up and down depending on the stream, one message is consistent: Canada is prioritizing candidates who align closely with provincial and occupational needs.
Let’s take a closer look at what happened — and what it means for applicants planning their next steps.
1. Provincial Nominee Program Draw – High Score, Strong Demand
On December 8, IRCC held a Provincial Nominee Program draw, inviting 1,123 candidates with a CRS cut-off of 729, which was 30 points higher than the previous PNP draw.
This result reflects two realities:
PNP candidates receive 600 additional CRS points, naturally pushing scores higher.
Provinces are actively nominating candidates who meet very specific local labour needs, making PNP one of the most powerful immigration pathways.
However, higher scores also mean competition remains intense.
2. Canadian Experience Class Draw – Volume Up, Score Down
On December 10, IRCC issued 6,000 invitations under the Canadian Experience Class, marking the largest CEC draw since July 2024.
The CRS cut-off dropped to 520, down 11 points from the previous CEC draw and reaching its lowest level since July 2025.
According to Susan Gong, this signals continued support for candidates who:
Already have Canadian work experience
Are more likely to integrate quickly into the labour market
Represent long-term settlement potential
3. Healthcare & Social Services Draw – Still One of the Lowest CRS Thresholds
On December 11, IRCC conducted a Healthcare and Social Services occupation-based draw, issuing 1,000 invitations with a CRS cut-off of 476.
Although the score increased by 14 points compared to the previous draw, it remains well below the general Express Entry average. The smaller number of invitations likely contributed to the higher cut-off.
This draw further confirms that healthcare, caregiving, and social service roles remain among the strongest Express Entry pathways.
4. Current Express Entry Pool: Competition Remains High
As of now:
Total candidates in the Express Entry pool: 246,656
Candidates with CRS above 500: 28,206 (an increase of 1,076)
Based on current trends, candidates around the 510 CRS range should begin preparing proactively, while those not yet in the pool should enter as soon as possible and keep profiles updated.
5. Important Update: Occupation-Based Categories for 2026
IRCC has confirmed that starting in 2026, a new doctor-specific Express Entry category will be introduced for candidates with Canadian work experience.
The priority occupation-based categories for 2026 are expected to include:
Doctors
Healthcare & Social Services
Skilled Trades
French-language proficiency
Education occupations
Applicants in these fields will have a much higher chance of receiving invitations under category-based draws.
Altec’s Professional Insight
Although CRS scores have shown some downward movement, short-term fluctuations are unpredictable, and scores are expected to remain above 500 in the near term for most general draws.
For candidates without strong language scores (IELTS 8/7/7/7) or without a Master’s or PhD, Express Entry alone may remain challenging. In such cases, alternative pathways should be considered, including:
Provincial Nominee Programs
Healthcare and caregiving immigration streams
Employer-supported pathways
These programs often feature lower thresholds, faster processing, and higher success rates when guided by experienced professionals.
At Altec Global Inc., we help clients evaluate whether Express Entry is the best route — or whether a more strategic pathway will deliver results faster and with greater certainty.
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