Canada Issues 6,000 PR Invitations in Major Express Entry Draw

Canada Held Another Big Express Entry Draw

To begin with, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a major Express Entry draw on December 17, 2025.
This draw focused only on French language proficiency candidates and invited 6,000 people to apply for Permanent Residency (PR).

Details of the December 17 Draw

Here are the main points explained simply:

• Category: French language proficiency
• Date: December 17, 2025
• Lowest CRS score: 399
• Invitations issued: 6,000
• Rank required: Top 6,000 candidates
• Tie-break rule: Profile submitted before August 24, 2025

In short, candidates with French skills and a CRS score of 399 or above had a strong chance.

Why This Draw Is Very Important

Notably, a CRS cut-off below 400 is rare.
Because of this, the draw became one of the easiest category-based draws in recent years, especially for candidates who invested time in learning French.

December Becomes the Biggest Express Entry Month of 2025

As a result of back-to-back large draws, December has broken records.

• Total invitations in December so far: 19,522
• Invitations in November: 12,991

Clearly, December has already crossed November by a big margin.

Faster Draws Show a Clear Shift

Even more importantly, 11,399 invitations were issued in just one week.
This shows that IRCC is now moving faster and more confidently with its immigration plans.

This sudden increase comes right after the Immigration Levels Plan announced in November 2025, meaning IRCC is now aligning draws with new targets.

What This Means for Candidates

Earlier in the year, draws were slow and unpredictable.
However, now the pattern has changed to regular and large draws across different categories.

Simply put, the chances for many candidates have improved significantly.

All Express Entry Draws in December So Far

So far, December has included draws for:

• Canadian Experience Class
• Provincial Nominee Program
• Healthcare occupations
• French language proficiency

This proves that IRCC is not depending on just one pathway, but inviting candidates from multiple streams.

Why French Language Draws Matter More Than Ever

French language draws are now one of the strongest ways to get PR.

Compared to general draws, they usually have much lower CRS scores, making them more accessible.

Supporting French Communities Outside Quebec

At the same time, the Canadian government wants to grow French-speaking communities outside Quebec.

Because of this, provinces like Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta, and New Brunswick benefit directly from these draws.

Lower CRS Scores Mean More Opportunities

A CRS score of 399 is far lower than the 515+ scores seen in many other draws.

Therefore, candidates with average CRS scores but good French skills now have a real advantage.

Final Takeaway

To conclude, the December 17 Express Entry draw marks a major turning point.

• 6,000 invitations in one French category draw
• 11,399 invitations in one week
• 19,522 invitations in December alone

Clearly, December is now the most active Express Entry month of 2025.

For candidates—especially those with French skills or Canadian experience—this is one of the best opportunities seen all year.

In the end, Express Entry is closing 2025 strong, fast, and with a clear direction, not with caution.

Get in touch with SPS Global

Receive advice on any of your questions regarding Immigration Get in touch with us, experienced immigration consultants from SPS Global. For additional information, contact support@spscanada.com (Canada) or support.amd@spscanada.com (Ahmedabad), or by phone at (1) 905-362-9393 (Canada) or +919586226232 (Ahmedabad).