As we move steadily into the second half of 2025, we have seen “predictably unpredictable” invitations in the Express Entry system. Although it’s an all-but-impossible task to try to guess not only what the next invitation score will be, but even just the category, you can take steps now to help increase your CRS points and overall chances to be invited in a future draw.
Here, I will provide a three tips to not only increase your CRS score to boost your profile, but also how you can cast a wider net to become eligible for a category draw or even another immigration program altogether.
Get In-Demand Work Experience
There are currently five “categories” in place in Express Entry, with a combined total of 79 occupations (specified by their NOC code) eligible to be invited. These occupations are deemed “in-demand” by IRCC, and are included under these industries/sectors:
• Healthcare and social services occupations
• Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations
• Trade occupations
• Agriculture and agri-food occupations
• Education occupations
The requirement to qualify for an invitation in an occupation-specific category draw is simple, but specific. It requires having at least six months of full-time (equivalent), continuous work experience in a single eligible NOC code, within the last three years. Note that this is in addition to already qualifying for Express Entry through one of the three main programs: Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), or the all but forgotten Federal Skilled Trades (FST) programs.
You can think of the category draws as an “add on” to the Express Entry system, rather than a completely new program. And, if you can get that required work experience, you could have a better chance to be invited in Express Entry – at a lower CRS score than the general or CEC draws.
Let’s take a look at one example occupation: early childhood educators (ECEs). This occupation is found under the “education” category, and the last time that category was invited to apply was May 1, 2025 at a score of just 479 points. Compare this to the most recent CEC draw that had an invitation score of 518, and it’s easy to see the difference in points. Even a difference of 39 points can be significant, especially for candidates who have no connection to Canada like work experience or education done there.
Learn French, Learn French, Learn French
Sounds simple, right? It’s no easy task to learn a new language, but IRCC has shown that French-speakers are a high priority for the country, and the invitations reflect that. While there have only been three “French language proficiency” category invitations in Express Entry in 2025 in the span of about one month earlier in the year, these draws invited a total of 18,500 candidates. That is a staggering number. In fact, it’s more than double the number of invitations sent to candidates in all other category draws and through Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) combined. For reference, as of July 22, 2025, 8,802 candidates have been invited through a category other than French language proficiency and CEC.
To put it simply, if you have proficiency in French, which IRCC specifies as being NCLC 7 or higher in each language band, that may be an excellent way to increase your chances of being invited in Express Entry in a future draw.
Consider Upgrading Your Education in Canada
In the past, completing a post-secondary study program in Canada was a reliable way to eventually immigrate, especially in conjunction with a year or two of skilled Canadian work experience done on a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
That’s not as true now as it once was, but study in Canada can still be beneficial not only for your career, but also to eventually immigrate through one of Canada’s permanent residence programs, including those under Express Entry. There are a couple of caveats that comes with this though!
First, not every program is eligible for a PGWP after graduating – even if the study program was completed at a public school. If you want to work in Canada after you graduate, you must do your
due diligence and carefully check that your program can make you eligible for a PGWP.
Next, be mindful of the field of study. While your study should be related to your future career goals, and likewise generally related to your background, be aware that if your study program is not
in an in-demand industry/sector, you may have difficulty securing an invitation to apply for permanent residence after you graduate.
For example, with healthcare being heavily prioritized across the board not only with IRCC but also PNPs, you may be in a better position to apply for permanent residence after you graduate and get related work experience if your field of study was related to healthcare, such as nursing. Conversely, if you studied in a field unrelated to an in-demand industry, like business management or marketing, you will be less likely to be in a good position to apply for permanent residence after graduation compared to an in-demand field at the same level of study.
The actions you can take to make your profile more desirable in the Express Entry system will not be easy. They will likely take time, effort, and money to achieve. For many folks, it’s often a years-long process in carefully crafting and building up an immigration profile that is likely to be successful in one of Canada’s immigration programs. But, no one said immigrating was easy. With that said, if you need help preparing a viable pathway towards your immigration to Canada, feel free to reach out for a consultation. Until next time.
