Ottawa | June 12, 2025 — After months of category-based selection dominating the headlines, Canada has returned to its roots with a new Express Entry draw exclusively for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates.
On June 12, 2025, 3,000 invitations were issued to eligible CEC applicants. But there’s a twist — the CRS cut-off score was a staggering 529, making this one of the highest CEC-only thresholds ever recorded.
Key Details – Express Entry Draw #351 (CEC)
| Category | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) |
|---|---|
| Date of Draw | June 12, 2025 |
| Time | 14:06:31 UTC |
| Number of ITAs | 3,000 |
| CRS Cut-off | 529 |
| Tie-breaking Date | September 28, 2024 at 18:06:46 UTC |
| Draw Type | Class-based selection under subsection 2(b) |
What This Means
This draw:
- Was CEC-specific, not all-program
- Targeted applicants already working in Canada with at least 1 year of skilled experience
- Comes amid a tightening immigration environment, which explains the exceptionally high CRS threshold
Takeaway: Even within a targeted class like CEC, only top-scoring candidates are being invited — likely due to limited annual intake caps and backlog management.
A New High: 529 CRS Marks a Shift in Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Selection
In previous years, draws specifically targeting the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) consistently offered lower CRS thresholds compared to all-program or Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws. Between 2020 and 2023, the cut-off scores for CEC draws generally ranged from 440 to 510, with many draws during the pandemic dipping into the mid-400s to encourage temporary residents already working in Canada to transition to permanent status.
🧾 Historical Benchmarks:
- Feb 13, 2021: IRCC invited 27,332 CEC candidates with a CRS score of just 75, in an unprecedented move during COVID-19
- Throughout 2021–2022: CEC cut-offs mostly hovered around 455–467
- By late 2023: CEC-specific draws saw thresholds inch upwards, averaging between 495–510, reflecting a gradual return to pre-pandemic competitiveness
What Makes the June 12, 2025 Cut-Off of 529 So Significant?
At 529, this is:
- The highest-ever CRS cut-off for a CEC-only draw since Express Entry launched in 2015
- 19+ points above the highest CEC threshold seen in 2021–2023
- Well above the minimum CRS required for Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) candidates in some past draws — reversing the usual pattern
What This Means: IRCC's New Focus on “Top-Tier Talent”
This sharp increase indicates a strategic recalibration in Canada's immigration priorities. Even within the CEC stream, long regarded as the most accessible route to PR for international graduates and workers already contributing to the Canadian economy, IRCC is now:
- Filtering for the highest-value profiles — those with advanced degrees, strong Canadian work experience, high language test scores, and multiple adaptability factors (e.g., spousal education, Canadian credentials)
- Likely responding to capacity limits under annual immigration targets and the pressures of backlogged applications
- Aligning with IRCC's broader 2025–2027 strategy to “fine-tune immigration selection for long-term economic impact”
Bottom Line: A high score is no longer just for FSW and PNP applicants. Even CEC candidates — many of whom are already working and contributing in Canada — must now compete at the very top of the CRS spectrum.
Draw Validity and Legal Authority
As per Ministerial Instructions issued by Lena Metlege Diab, invitations may be issued between June 12–13, 2025 under the Express Entry Instructions, section 2(b), governed by:
- IRPA s.10.3(1)(h.1)(ii) (group ranking)
- IRPA s.10.3(1)(i) and (j) (invitation rules)
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