Overview:
Canada’s recent Immigration Levels Plan brings promising developments for those seeking permanent residence through the Express Entry system. The latest plan, released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), prioritizes candidates within Canada and those eligible for specific category-based draws, boosting the chances of success for certain groups in 2025. This approach reflects Canada’s evolving immigration priorities, particularly in response to labor market needs and economic goals.
Key Elements:
-
Increased Express Entry Targets for 2025:
- Despite a 20% reduction in the overall target for permanent resident admissions, IRCC has increased the allocation for Express Entry candidates to 124,680 in 2025, up from the previous year’s target of 117,500. This change benefits candidates in both the “InCanada Focus” and “Federal Economic Priorities” categories, indicating that a greater number of invitations to apply (ITAs) will be available in 2025.
-
Focus on Candidates Already in Canada:
- The 2025 plan introduces an “In-Canada Focus” category to give candidates currently residing in Canada an edge. With a target of 82,980, nearly 42% of the federal economic immigration quota, this category aims to help temporary residents in Canada transition to permanent residency. This shift means overseas candidates applying through the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) or the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) may face increased competition.
-
Expansion of Category-Based Draws:
- IRCC continues to emphasize category-based draws, allocating 41,700 spots for candidates whose skills align with Canada’s labor market needs. This system, first introduced in 2023, enables IRCC to invite candidates with qualifications in in-demand fields such as healthcare, skilled trades, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). For 2025, the government has identified healthcare, trades, and Frenchlanguage proficiency as priority categories, likely to receive increased invitations for ITAs.
-
Eligibility Criteria for Category-Based Draws:
- Candidates eligible for category-based draws must typically have six months of recent work experience in an in-demand occupation. By aligning draws with labor market demands, IRCC is addressing immediate skill shortages while helping qualified candidates transition to permanent residency.
-
Background on In-Canada Focus and Domestic Draws:
- In March 2024, Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced a focus on “domestic draws,” aimed at supporting temporary residents already within Canada. Between May and October 2024, IRCC issued 25,700 ITAs over eight Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws, further strengthening pathways for temporary residents. The focus on domestic candidates aligns with Canada’s goal of reducing the temporary resident population to 5% by 2026, down from its current 7%.
-
IRCC’s Category-Based Draws in 2024:
In 2024, IRCC conducted several category-based draws across various sectors:
- Category Number of Draws Number of ITAs Agriculture and Agri-Food 1 150 French Language Proficiency 9 21,400 Healthcare 2 7,250 STEM 1 4,500 Trade 2 3,600 Transport 1 975
These draws underline IRCC’s commitment to targeted immigration strategies that benefit key sectors of the economy. With a strong emphasis on healthcare, trades, and French-language proficiency for 2025, candidates with these skills are expected to have a greater likelihood of receiving ITAs.
Canada’s 2025 Immigration Levels Plan signals an encouraging trend for Express Entry candidates, particularly those with skills in high-demand sectors and those already residing within Canada. As IRCC continues to implement category-based draws and prioritize in-Canada applicants, the opportunities for permanent residency grow more favorable for select groups.
