A new report reveals Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) strategy for issuing Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through the rest of 2025. Key focus areas for upcoming draws include education, healthcare and social services, and skilled trades.
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These draws are structured to align with Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan for 2025–2027, with most ITAs issued in the latter half of 2025 supporting immigration targets set for 2026.
The information comes from an Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) request obtained by Mandeep Lidher, a Calgary-based Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC).
Category-Based Draw Allocations for 2025
Since launching category-based draws in 2023, IRCC has targeted candidates with in-demand skills and experience. The ATIP provides a breakdown of ITA allocations for several categories:
| Category | Total ITAs Planned (2025) | ITAs Issued (so far) | ITAs Remaining |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education | 3,000 | 1,000 | 2,000 |
| Healthcare | 8,000 | 7,500 | 500 |
| Trades | 3,300 | 0 | 3,300 |
This data suggests multiple rounds of category-based draws are expected over the final five months of the year.
In total, six categories are being prioritized in 2025:
- Healthcare and social services occupations
- STEM occupations
- Trade occupations
- Agriculture and agri-food occupations
- Education occupations
- French-language proficiency
Emphasis on Francophone Immigration
The report also underscores the federal government’s focus on increasing Francophone immigration outside Quebec.
Between February and March 2025, IRCC held French-language proficiency draws that resulted in 18,500 ITAs. This effort supports Canada’s goal of reaching an 8.5% Francophone admissions rate in 2025.
An additional draw on August 8, which issued 2,500 ITAs, is believed to contribute toward the 2026 target.
Provinces to Receive ITA Calendar
To improve coordination, IRCC will begin sharing a three-month ITA calendar with provinces and territories. This calendar will include:
- Expected weeks for upcoming rounds
- Types of rounds
- Projected minimum CRS scores for the next two months
This initiative is intended to help provinces and territories better plan their immigration nominations.
