On December 16, 2025, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada held a big Canadian Experience Class Express Entry draw during which 5,000 invitations to apply to permanent residency were issued.
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score cutoff reduces by 5 points to 515 in comparison to the prior CEC draw and by 16 points in comparison to the November 26 CEC draw.
Such an announcement is a continuation of an impressive late-year trend that has been dramatically changing the Express Entry landscape and solidifying the fact that IRCC has finally started to recognize the need to target in-Canada applicants.
Only a week prior to it, on December 10, IRCC held a historic Canadian Experience Class draw that welcomed 6,000 candidates on a CRS cutoff of 520.
Details Of December 16 Canadian Experience Class Express Entry draw
Program: Canadian Experience Class
Date and time: December 16, 2025
Number of invitations issued: 5,000
CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited: 515
Rank needed: 5,000 or above
Tie-breaking rule: September 9, 2025 at 18:58:59 UTC
In case there were two or more applicants with the lowest score, the cutoff point was within the date and time the applicants provided their Express Entry profile.
This is not just a draw due to its size but also in terms of time and sequence.
IRCC is not in the habit of making large draws of the Canadian Experience Class regularly in such a short time.
IRCC is facing increased pressure to stabilize the labour market and control housing limitations and the services of the population.
The ability to select candidates that are already residing and working in Canada allows accomplishing both objectives simultaneously.
Such candidates already form part of the labour force, are accustomed to working in the Canadian society and are less prone to settlement benefits.
The fact that the CRS cutoffs decreased by 5 points, which were 520 last week and now stand at 515 is also a reason to hope among those who were just under the old point.
Eligibility criteria for CEC
The Canadian Experience Class is meant to attract talented employees who have already acquired work experience in Canada.
In order to be eligible, the candidates are required to fulfill a number of requirements.
The applicants should possess one year of full-time or equivalent part time work experience in Canada in the past three years in skilled work.
This experience should be classified as the TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the National Occupational Classification.
The working experience should be obtained legally and one should be authorized to work in Canada.
The CEC requirement does not include experience that is acquired during full-time studies.
The proficiency of language is compulsory. The candidates are required to have minimum requirements of the Canadian Language Benchmark depending on the category of occupation.
Occupations of TEER 0 and 1 have a higher language score than TEER 2 and 3 occupations.
Canadian Experience Class does not require education as compared to some other programs.
Nevertheless, possession of Canadian or foreign education may become an excellent predictor of CRS scores.
This route is particularly appealing to the Canadian workers because CEC applicants who are already employed do not have to demonstrate any settlement funds.
Looking Ahead Into 2026
As hundreds of thousands of temporary residents are at risk of expiring work permits in 2026, IRCC must be seizing the moment to avoid status lapses and labour disruptions.
Provided that this tendency will persist, the number of Canadian Experience Class draws may still be high and regular at the beginning of the new year.
Nevertheless, it is not the case that high volumes are assured to the candidates.
Express Entry is dynamic and draw sizes and CRS cutoffs may change rapidly depending on intake goals, processing capacity and political orientation.
This draw could be a prelude of what is about to happen in the Canadian immigration system as the focal year of 2026 draws closer.
Canadian Experience Class applicants are in a good position with permanent residency targets that are more targeted at applicants already in the country.
In case the economic situation does not deteriorate and labour shortages are permanent, the large CEC draws may become a typical aspect of Express Entry in the months to come.
To date, the December 16 draw remains among the most positive developments as far as in-Canada workers are concerned in the last several years, which confirms that Canadian experience is not only appreciated, but it is a priority.
The wave that struck is undeniable and to thousands of applicants, the chance of eventually having a permanent residence was now well within reach.
New Express Entry Draw on December 16 Issues 5,000 PR Invitations
On December 16, 2025, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada held a big Canadian Experience Class Express Entry draw during which 5,000 invitations to apply to permanent residency were issued.
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score cutoff reduces by 5 points to 515 in comparison to the prior CEC draw and by 16 points in comparison to the November 26 CEC draw.
Such an announcement is a continuation of an impressive late-year trend that has been dramatically changing the Express Entry landscape and solidifying the fact that IRCC has finally started to recognize the need to target in-Canada applicants.
Only a week prior to it, on December 10, IRCC held a historic Canadian Experience Class draw that welcomed 6,000 candidates on a CRS cutoff of 520.
Details Of December 16 Canadian Experience Class Express Entry draw
In case there were two or more applicants with the lowest score, the cutoff point was within the date and time the applicants provided their Express Entry profile.
This is not just a draw due to its size but also in terms of time and sequence.
IRCC is not in the habit of making large draws of the Canadian Experience Class regularly in such a short time.
IRCC is facing increased pressure to stabilize the labour market and control housing limitations and the services of the population.
The ability to select candidates that are already residing and working in Canada allows accomplishing both objectives simultaneously.
Such candidates already form part of the labour force, are accustomed to working in the Canadian society and are less prone to settlement benefits.
The fact that the CRS cutoffs decreased by 5 points, which were 520 last week and now stand at 515 is also a reason to hope among those who were just under the old point.
Eligibility criteria for CEC
The Canadian Experience Class is meant to attract talented employees who have already acquired work experience in Canada.
In order to be eligible, the candidates are required to fulfill a number of requirements.
The applicants should possess one year of full-time or equivalent part time work experience in Canada in the past three years in skilled work.
This experience should be classified as the TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the National Occupational Classification.
The working experience should be obtained legally and one should be authorized to work in Canada.
The CEC requirement does not include experience that is acquired during full-time studies.
The proficiency of language is compulsory. The candidates are required to have minimum requirements of the Canadian Language Benchmark depending on the category of occupation.
Occupations of TEER 0 and 1 have a higher language score than TEER 2 and 3 occupations.
Canadian Experience Class does not require education as compared to some other programs.
Nevertheless, possession of Canadian or foreign education may become an excellent predictor of CRS scores.
This route is particularly appealing to the Canadian workers because CEC applicants who are already employed do not have to demonstrate any settlement funds.
Looking Ahead Into 2026
As hundreds of thousands of temporary residents are at risk of expiring work permits in 2026, IRCC must be seizing the moment to avoid status lapses and labour disruptions.
Provided that this tendency will persist, the number of Canadian Experience Class draws may still be high and regular at the beginning of the new year.
Nevertheless, it is not the case that high volumes are assured to the candidates.
Express Entry is dynamic and draw sizes and CRS cutoffs may change rapidly depending on intake goals, processing capacity and political orientation.
This draw could be a prelude of what is about to happen in the Canadian immigration system as the focal year of 2026 draws closer.
Canadian Experience Class applicants are in a good position with permanent residency targets that are more targeted at applicants already in the country.
In case the economic situation does not deteriorate and labour shortages are permanent, the large CEC draws may become a typical aspect of Express Entry in the months to come.
To date, the December 16 draw remains among the most positive developments as far as in-Canada workers are concerned in the last several years, which confirms that Canadian experience is not only appreciated, but it is a priority.
The wave that struck is undeniable and to thousands of applicants, the chance of eventually having a permanent residence was now well within reach.
Author: Shubham
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
Archives
Categories
Categories