immigration

Canada PNP & Express Entry: August 2025 Draw Highlights

Express Entry Pool Update: Where Do You Stand as of August 2025?

  • The Express Entry pool shrank by 2,472 profiles between August 5 and August 17, 2025.
  • Most of the decline came from candidates with CRS scores between 481 and 600.
  • August saw a total of 6,417 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) across five different draws.
  • French-language and PNP draws reached some of the highest CRS cut-offs of the year.
  • CRS score distribution data offers helpful insights into where your profile stands competitively.
  • So far in 2025, ITA numbers are down compared to the same period last year.

The Express Entry system continues to evolve in 2025, and August was no exception. With a mix of draw types, shifting Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score trends, and a notable dip in candidate numbers, it’s important for hopeful immigrants to stay on top of the latest changes. Whether you’re already in the Express Entry pool or planning to apply soon, understanding where you stand compared to other candidates can help you make smarter decisions.

Express Entry Draws in August 2025: What Happened?

During August, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held five Express Entry draws across four distinct categories. In total, 6,417 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Draw Date Draw Type ITAs Issued CRS Cut-Off Score
August 6, 2025 Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) 225 739
August 7, 2025 Canadian Experience Class (CEC) 1,000 534
August 8, 2025 French-language proficiency 2,500 481
August 18, 2025 Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) 192 800
August 19, 2025 Healthcare and social services 2,500 470

Notably, the French-language draw on August 8 had the highest CRS cut-off for that category this year, while the August 18 PNP draw posted the second-highest cut-off of 2025.

Yearly Trends: Where August Stands

Compared to other months in 2025, August ranks as the fourth lowest for total ITAs issued. Here’s how the months stack up:

Month Total ITAs Issued
January 5,821
February 11,601
March 13,261
April 1,246
May 2,511
June 7,405
July 7,558
August 6,417

So far this year, IRCC has issued 55,820 ITAs. That’s over 23,000 fewer than the number issued in the same period in 2024—a sharp drop that could reflect changes in immigration targets or category-based draw adjustments.

How Has the Pool of Candidates Changed?

The total number of profiles in the Express Entry pool decreased by 2,472 between August 5 and August 17, 2025. The most significant drop occurred in the 481–600 CRS score range. Here’s a look at the full distribution:

CRS score distribution in Express Entry pool as of August 2025

CRS Score Range Number of Candidates Change Since August 5
0–300 8,179 -46
301–350 20,424 -110
351–400 53,461 -129
401–410 13,455 +67
411–420 14,488 +32
421–430 14,639 -13
431–440 16,222 +80
441–450 15,116 -85
451–460 15,879 -41
461–470 17,339 -44
471–480 17,035 +199
481–490 12,349 -541
491–500 12,409 -566
501–600 22,930 -1,235
601–1,200 188 -40
Total 254,113 -2,472

This shift could suggest that many higher-scoring candidates have recently received ITAs or withdrawn their profiles after receiving provincial nominations or job offers.

Where Does Your Score Rank in the Pool?

Curious about how your CRS score stacks up against others in the pool? Here’s the percentile breakdown. This can help you figure out how competitive your profile is in any given range.

CRS Score Range Number of Candidates Percentage in Pool Percentile Range
0–300 8,179 3.22% 0.00% – 3.22%
301–350 20,424 8.04% 3.22% – 11.26%
351–400 53,461 21.04% 11.26% – 32.29%
401–410 13,455 5.29% 32.29% – 37.59%
411–420 14,488 5.70% 37.59% – 43.29%
421–430 14,639 5.76% 43.29% – 49.05%
431–440 16,222 6.38%

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