Canada Immigration News — October 17, 2025

Canada Immigration News — October 17, 2025 Snapshots: Canada has introduced several policy changes and held significant immigration draws in recent weeks that could impact prospective immigrants, international students, and skilled workers.

What’s New

1. Express Entry: Education Draw Resumes. On September 19, 2025, IRCC issued 2,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) under the Education category. The Economic Times reports that the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cutoff dropped to 462, down from 479 in the previous education draw on May 1. The Economic Times+1

2. First Trade-Occupations Draw of 2025: On September 18, Canada held its first draw targeting trade occupations. Canada Immigration Services issued 1,250 ITAs, with a cutoff CRS score of 505. Canada Immigration Services

3. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Draw Update: On September 15, a PNP‑specific draw invited 228 candidates. The Times of India The CRS cutoff for that draw was 746, which represents a drop of 26 points compared to the prior PNP draw (September 2). The Times of India Tie‑breaker date was March 31, 2025. The Times of India

4. Updated Financial & Language Test Rules

   • As of July 29, 2025, the settlement funds requirement for the Atlantic Immigration Program and specific other economic immigration pathways has been increased. The new requirement is based on 12.5% of the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO). The Economic Times

   • IRCC will now accept TOEFL Essentials as one of the recognized English proficiency tests for specific permanent residence applications. The Times of India

   • Starting September 1, 2025, new financial proof thresholds for study permit applications have increased. Applicants must show higher funds than before to meet IRCC requirements. The Times of India

Why It Matters (Takeaways)

• If you are an international student or prospective applicant in the education category under Express Entry, the recent draw shows lower CRS cutoffs, improving chances compared to earlier in the year.

• For those in trade occupations, the new draw signals that Express Entry is giving more attention to non‑traditional categories beyond just PNP, CEC, or French language categories.

• The PNP remains a powerful route—but CRS scores are still high in many draws. The lowering of PNP cutoffs indicates an adjustment, but you’ll need strong credentials (such as language skills and work experience) to remain competitive.

• Higher settlement fund requirements may disqualify some applicants who earlier could have met the lower threshold; planning finances carefully is now more crucial.

• The acceptance of TOEFL Essentials may reduce the cost/time burdens for some applicants; however, applicants should verify that their specific program accepts this test.

Canada Immigration News — October 17, 2025