New Study Shows Who Is Getting the Most Success in Canada’s Express Entry PR Pathway
Canada’s new Express Entry report—published on November 3, 2025—offers one of the most detailed glimpses to date into who exactly is getting Canadian permanent residence (PR) through the system. With lots of newcomers believing that Canadian work experience is the main reason for high CRS scores, the 2024 data says otherwise.
Foreign work experience was even more important in contributing to competitive scores for candidates than Canadian work experience earned inside the country, according to the report. Meanwhile, the vast majority of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued through programs such as the Canada Experience Class (CEC) and French-language category draws.
Trenity Consultants, being one of the leading immigration consultants in the UAE & the GCC, takes a detailed look at what those findings mean and how candidates can plan for success in 2025 and beyond.
Express Entry Trends: CEC and French Category Draws Lead The Way
The report pinpoints a significant change in the pattern of how IRCC sent out invitations over 2024 — a shift that still impacts draws in 2025.
Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Draws Leads ITA Issuances
The most invitations were assigned by CEC in 2024:
- 26,500 ITAs (27%)
- Average CRS score: 524
This is part of Canada’s policy objective to encourage temporary residents, particularly those who are already living and working in the country, to become permanent residents.
If you’re in Canada now with experience and a job, that tide could be to your advantage.
French-Language Category Draws Take Second Place
The biggest shockers were foreign-language proficiency draws:
- 23,000 ITAs (23%)
- Lowest average CRS cut-off: 409
French proficiency remains one of the strongest fast-track routes to Canada PR, even in 2025—now issuing 36,000 ITAs, the highest among all categories this year.
PNP Draws Remain Important but Highly Competitive
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) contributed to:
- 15,483 ITAs
- Highest CRS cut-off: 725+
There are still consistent pathways available through PNP, particularly those who have an in-demand occupation or strong connections to a specific province.
Foreign Work Experience Counts More Than Ever
A key insight for 2024:
- Only 1% of invited candidates had no foreign work experience
- 56% received ITAs with two years or less of Canadian work experience
- 34% secured ITAs with ZERO Canadian work experience
This proves two important points:
Foreign work experience is crucial for CRS points
- Need of Foreign Work Experience You need to have job experience in a foreign country for extra CRS points
- Those who have worked extensively overseas — especially in-demand NOC categories — fared much better than Canadians who have relied solely on Canadian experience.
Category-based invites made it easier for foreign workers to qualify
For example:
- French category required NCLC 7
- Responses to imprisonment labour shortages
- All STEM, healthcare, trades, transport and agriculture categories required a mere 6 months of relevant experience
- These trends suggest that Canada is now favouring applicants selected not only for their invitation to apply but based on skills, education, and foreign work experience over Canadian labour market exposure.
If you apply from the UAE, India, Oman and Kuwait or other country in the Gulf, this is a good opportunity.
Top Occupations Receiving PR Invitations
Here is the list of most popular occupation for 2024 Express Entry invitees:
- Software engineers (21231)
- Food service supervisors (62020)
- Software developers (21232)
- Administrative assistants (13110)
- Nurses & healthcare professionals
- Financial auditors & accountants
Remarkably, a number of highest-invited occupations were also not included in the targeted occupation lists – what this means?
- High CRS scores
- Strong human-capital factors
- Language ability
If you’re from one of these industries (especially if you work in IT, healthcare, accounting, or teaching), then you may be eligible for quicker pathways.
Which Countries Succeeded in the 2024?
Indians Continue to Lead
Indian citizens dominated ITA issuances:
- 43,004 ITAs, 4x greater than any other nationality.
The trend points towards India’s strong population of talented professionals in fields such as IT, engineering, healthcare and finance.
Rise of African Francophone Countries
- Countries such as:
- Cameroon
- Morocco
- Algeria
- Côte d’Ivoire
…achieved phenomenal results thanks to the French-language skill draws taking center-stage.
Where Candidates Lived at the Time of Invitation
Invitees continued to reside mostly in Canada (almost 69%), followed by:
- Cameroon
- India
- Nigeria
- Morocco
- UK
- USA
This once again highlights Canada’s intention of bringing its existing temporary residents under the umbrella of PR holders.
What This May Mean for Express Entry Applicants in 2025
The 2024 data combined with early 2025 trends reveal clear opportunities for candidates:
PR timeline is quicker with French proficiency
NCLC 7 can make a huge difference to your eligibility—even if you don’t have Canadian work experience.
Foreign skilled experience is a major asset
Build your CRS score through:
Work experience
- Education
- High English/French scores
- Skills transferability points
Healthcare & social services draws are stronger than ever
In 2025, over 9,792 ITAs were issued to this category.
No Generals Draw in 2025 (so far)
This increases dependence on:
- CEC
- French category
- Healthcare
- STEM
- PNP
If you belong to these priority areas, perhaps 2025 would be the best year for you to apply.
Plan your Canada PR Path with Trenity Consultants.
Whether you’re applying from UAE, India, Oman, or GCC, our team ensures:
- CRS optimization
- Profile-building strategy
- Documentation & NOC guidance
- PNP opportunities
- French category eligibility
- Tailored PR pathway recommendations
Begin your free consultation now to enhance your probability of obtaining Canada PR via Express Entry.
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