A recently released internal memo, shared through ATIP notes by Mandeep Lidher, offers a rare glimpse into Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) plans for Express Entry draws this year.

The document confirms that IRCC is prioritizing Francophone immigration, with 18,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) issued early in the year to reach an 8.5% target outside Quebec.

Beyond that, clear quotas have been set for Healthcare (8,000 ITAs), Trades (3,300 ITAs), and Education (3,000 ITAs). The memo also indicates that general draws will continue to alternate with category-based rounds, with Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates likely facing CRS cut-offs in the high 500s.

Healthcare and Trades are expected to feature heavily in upcoming draws, while Education will emerge as a new category of focus. With many Francophone applicants already invited, the pace of French-language draws may slow, and processing delays later in 2025 remain a possibility.

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