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IRCC's bold 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan spotlights transitioning temporary residents (work/study permit holders) to permanent residence (PR)—with 33,000 dedicated pathways for in-Canada workers, a new Express Entry CEC category for Canadian experience, Francophone boosts, and category-based draws. Perfect for Indian professionals building experience in Canada! Canada All Express Entry Draws January 2026 Overview: 21,350+ ITAs Fuel In-Canada PR Surge! Draw #389 – January 5, 2026 Category: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Invitations Issued: 1,200 CRS Cut-Off: 728 Key Highlights: January opened with the biggest PNP draw yet, underscoring IRCC's push for provincial labor solutions. High volume targets skilled migrants plugging regional gaps in construction, tech, and trades. Draw #390 – January 7, 2026 Category: Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Invitations Issued: 6,500 CRS Cut-Off: 518 Key Highlights: Record CEC volume prioritizes temps with 1+ year Canadian work exp, streamlining PR amid new 2026-2028 in-Canada focus. Moderate CRS rewards proven contributors. Draw #391 – January 8, 2026 Category: Healthcare & Social Services Occupations Invitations Issued: 1,200 CRS Cut-Off: 474 Key Highlights: Bolsters healthcare amid physician pathways launch. Targets nurses, docs, therapists—vital for post-pandemic recovery and 33K worker transitions. Draw #392 – January 12, 2026 Category: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Invitations Issued: 450 CRS Cut-Off: 730 Key Highlights: Competitive PNP follow-up reinforces fed-prov partnerships, selecting economic anchors for underserved areas. Draw #393 – January 14, 2026 Category: Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Invitations Issued: 5,500 CRS Cut-Off: 512 Key Highlights: Month's lowest CEC CRS unlocks PR for integrated workers, aligning with Express Entry's Canadian exp category revamp. Draw #394 – January 21, 2026 Category: French Language Proficiency Invitations Issued: 6,500 CRS Cut-Off: 396 Key Highlights: Massive francophone draw with rock-bottom CRS (396!) drives bilingualism goals, eyeing Quebec and beyond. Additional Provincial Highlights January 2026: Ontario (OINP) issued 1,200+ noms (Human Capital/Employer streams), pacing 2026 quota after 2025 max-out. Alberta hit 800+ via Opportunity Stream (3,200 YTD) + Dedicated Healthcare (600+), leading PNP draws. British Columbia secured 700 noms post-fed boost, prioritizing tech/entrepreneurs per April priorities. Manitoba, New Brunswick, PEI, Newfoundland & Labrador ran active draws for agricuture, IT, and trades growth. Key Recommendations and Highlights: January's 21,350 ITAs (across 6 draws) rank as 2026's hottest start, blending CEC accessibility (512-518), French ease (396), and sector targets. Ties into IRCC's in-Canada PR push: 33K pathways + new categories. Indian pros: Nab work permits/studies for CEC edge, ace French/IELTS for low CRS, chase PNP in ON/AB/BC. Healthcare stars new physician stream awaits! Update Express Entry profiles + provincial apps today. With 380K annual PR targets (63% economic), Canada's talent doors swing wide. #CanadaPR #ExpressEntry #CEC #PNP #ImmigrationCanada #HRRecruitment #StudyAbroad
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December 2025 marks a historic milestone in Canada's immigration landscape, with IRCC issuing an impressive 19,552 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) across six strategic Express Entry draws. This represents one of the most active invitation periods of the year, reinforcing Canada's unwavering commitment to welcoming global talent and meeting its ambitious permanent residence targets under the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan. In a groundbreaking development announced on December 8, 2025, Minister of Immigration Lena Metlege Diab introduced three transformative measures specifically designed for international physicians, including a dedicated Express Entry category for doctors with Canadian work experience, 5,000 specially reserved permanent residence admissions, and expedited work permit processing for practice-ready physicians. Additionally, Canada's 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan maintains steady permanent resident admissions at 380,000 annually, with economic immigration comprising 63.1% of the target signaling robust, sustainable pathways for skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and professionals across priority sectors. For tech professionals, healthcare workers, French-speaking candidates, and those with Canadian experience, December's diverse draw categories and competitive CRS thresholds present optimal opportunities to secure permanent residency in one of the world's most welcoming nations. Canada All Express Entry Draws December 2025 Overview: Draw #383 – December 8, 2025Category: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Invitations Issued: 1,123 CRS Cut-Off: 729 Key Highlights: December began with the largest Provincial Nominee Program draw of 2025, demonstrating IRCC's strategic focus on addressing regional labor market needs through provincial partnerships. The substantial invitation volume underscores the importance of provincial nominations in Canada's immigration framework, with nominees aligning closely with specific workforce gaps across provinces and territories. Draw #384 – December 10, 2025Category: Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Invitations Issued: 6,000 CRS Cut-Off: 520 Key Highlights: This high-volume CEC draw prioritized candidates with valuable Canadian work experience, facilitating their transition to permanent residency. The moderate CRS threshold reflects Canada's recognition of the importance of retaining skilled workers already contributing to the domestic economy. Draw #385 – December 11, 2025Category: Healthcare and Social Services Occupations Invitations Issued: 1,000 CRS Cut-Off: 476 Key Highlights: Targeting critical healthcare professionals, this category-based draw addressed persistent labor shortages in Canada's health sector. The timing coincides with the government's announcement of enhanced pathways for physicians, demonstrating coordinated efforts to strengthen healthcare workforce capacity nationwide. Draw #386 – December 15, 2025Category: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Invitations Issued: 399 CRS Cut-Off: 731 Key Highlights: The second PNP draw of the month continued emphasizing provincial priorities, with high CRS requirements reflecting the competitive nature of provincial nominations. This draw reinforces the strategic partnership between federal and provincial governments in selecting candidates who meet specific regional economic needs. Draw #387 – December 16, 2025Category: Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Invitations Issued: 5,000 CRS Cut-Off: 515 Key Highlights: Featuring the lowest CRS cut-off for CEC draws in December, this round provided exceptional opportunities for candidates with Canadian work experience to secure permanent residency. The accessible threshold demonstrates IRCC's commitment to retaining skilled workers who have already integrated into Canadian society and the labor market. Draw #388 – December 17, 2025Category: French Language Proficiency Invitations Issued: 6,000 CRS Cut-Off: 399 Key Highlights: The month concluded with the largest and most accessible draw, targeting French-speaking candidates with the lowest CRS threshold of December at just 399 points. This significant draw reinforces Canada's commitment to bilingualism and reflects the strong demand for francophone talent across various sectors, particularly in Quebec and other French-speaking communities nationwide Additional Provincial Highlights December 2025
Ontario (OINP) issued its full 10,750 nomination allocation for 2025, completing its annual target by December 17, 2025. All subsequent nominations will count toward Ontario's 2026 allocation, signaling continued strong activity in Canada's most populous province. Alberta reached its maximum 2025 allocation of 6,750 nominations (including a small Express Entry administrative overage), conducting an impressive 77 draws throughout the year the highest among all Provincial Nominee Programs. Final December rounds primarily targeted healthcare professionals, with stream-wise distribution including 3,712 through the Alberta Opportunity Stream and 563 through Dedicated Health Care Pathways. British Columbia fully exhausted its enhanced 2025 allocation of 6,214 nominations after receiving an additional 960 spots from the federal government on December 15, 2025. All nominations were applied strictly to provincial priorities announced in April 2025. Manitoba, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador continued active provincial nomination activities throughout December, supporting regional economic growth and addressing specific labor market needs. Key Recommendations and Highlights Canada's immigration strategy in December 2025 showcases a sophisticated, multi-layered approach combining high invitation volumes, diverse category-based selections, and sector-specific targeting. The introduction of the dedicated physicians' Express Entry category represents a landmark policy innovation addressing critical healthcare workforce shortages while creating streamlined pathways for internationally trained doctors already practicing in Canada. With 19,552 ITAs issued across six strategic draws, December ranks among the most active invitation periods of 2025, reflecting accelerated momentum toward meeting permanent residence targets under the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan. The remarkably accessible CRS threshold of 399 for French language proficiency, combined with moderate scores for CEC (515-520) and healthcare occupations (476), creates unprecedented opportunities for skilled professionals across multiple categories. Provincial Nominee Programs continue playing a pivotal role, with major provinces exhausting their 2025 allocations and preparing for continued robust activity in 2026. For skilled workers seeking alternatives to traditional immigration destinations, Canada's transparent selection system, clear pathways, and diverse category-based draws present exceptional opportunities. Candidates are strongly encouraged to enhance French language proficiency, gain Canadian work experience through work permits or study programs, explore provincial nomination streams aligned with their skills and occupation, and maintain competitive CRS scores through education upgrades and language test improvements. Healthcare professionals, particularly physicians with Canadian experience, should prepare for the new dedicated Express Entry category launching in early 2026. Now is an optimal time to create or update your Express Entry profile and submit provincial nomination applications as Canada continues rolling out broad invitations supporting economic growth, workforce development, and diverse immigrant communities across all provinces and territories. With steady permanent residence targets of 380,000 annually through 2028 and continued emphasis on economic immigration comprising over 63% of admissions, Canada's commitment to attracting global talent remains stronger than ever. In today’s global talent market, recruitment companies are no longer just hiring partners they are becoming true immigration allies for both employers and candidates. Maxic Arrow is right at the center of this shift, blending expert recruitment with structured, ethical immigration support to build complete global career journeys. Why this matters now and where Maxic Arrow fits?
Maxic Arrow actively guides candidates towards suitable routes such as permanent residency, LMIA-based roles, skilled migration options, healthcare pathways, and graduate or post-study visas, aligning each profile with realistic, compliant options. Our team coordinates with licensed and experienced immigration professionals, helps employers structure immigration-friendly offers and documentation, and manages expectations and timelines to reduce offer-to-joining dropouts and protect everyone from fake agents and non-compliant practices. How Maxic Arrow’s services will evolve in the coming future? Over the next 3–5 years, recruitment and immigration will become even more integrated, and Maxic Arrow is building itself around this reality. The vision is end-to-end global mobility solutions: from job search, screening, and shortlisting to offer, visa filing support (through trusted partners), relocation coordination, and onboarding – especially in sectors like healthcare, IT, engineering, finance, and skilled trades. Tech-enabled, globally recognized partner. Maxic Arrow aims to enhance its services through data-driven advisory and digital candidate experience platforms where applicants can track job status, documentation progress, and visa milestones in one place. By strengthening alliances with licensed immigration firms and overseas employers, expanding country-wise service portfolios, and consistently sharing expert insights on overseas careers, Maxic Arrow is positioning itself as a one-window, internationally recognized, ethical, tech-enabled global recruitment and immigration support brand. The future of global hiring belongs to partners who do not just fill positions but build migration journeys. Maxic Arrow is designed to be that partner for employers seeking reliable international talent pipelines and for candidates planning serious, compliant, and result-oriented careers abroad. As the US hikes its H-1B visa fees to a staggering $100,000, Canada sees a golden opportunity to welcome skilled tech professionals who might now find the US route cost-prohibitive. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced plans to streamline pathways for these tech workers, aiming to boost Canada's booming tech hubs in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. If you're a tech talent seeking new horizons, Canada is rolling out the red carpet! Express Entry Draws - Targeted Invitation Focus: Canada continues to implement a strategic and sector-specific approach to immigration. Draws happened in last 15 days targeted immigration streams that either directly include or support Canada’s tech talent ecosystem. Provincial nominees often include tech workers selected based on regional tech labor shortages. Education and trades draws enhance supportive sectors critical to tech growth. Together, these draws reflect a coordinated strategy underpinning Canada’s ambition to compete globally for tech talent, especially as US visa restrictions push skilled workers to seek new destinations. Below are the key draws from September 15 onwards, reinforcing Canada's labor market priorities.
Draw #366 – September 15, 2025 Category: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Invitations Issued: 228 CRS Cut-Off: 746 Key Highlights: Heavy emphasis on candidates nominated by provinces and territories. PNP nominees receive an extra 600 CRS points, making this category highly competitive with a high CRS threshold. This draw reflects cooperation between federal and provincial governments to address local economic needs. Draw #367 – September 17, 2025 Category: Education Occupations Invitations Issued: 2,500 CRS Cut-Off: 462 Key Highlights: Focused on skilled professionals in education (teachers, administrators), this draw supports Canada's growing educational sector demands. The moderate CRS cut-off enhances accessibility for qualified educators, emphasizing Canada's investment in human capital development. Draw #368 – September 18, 2025 Category: Trade Occupations Invitations Issued: 1,250 CRS Cut-Off: 505 Key Highlights: The first 2025 trade occupations draw targeting skilled trades such as electricians and plumbers. The CRS cut-off rose significantly due to the interval since the last draw and accumulated eligible candidates, but the high invitation volume supports vital trades sector growth. Draw #369 – September 29, 2025 Category: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Invitations Issued: 291 CRS Cut-Off: 855 Key Highlights: This PNP-only draw had the highest CRS cut-off in September, reflecting the competitive nature of nominated candidates. It highlights provinces using Express Entry to directly address regional skill gaps with top-tier talent. For global tech talent caught by US H-1B restrictions, Canada offers an attractive, welcoming alternative backed by smart immigration policies and a thriving tech ecosystem. Now is the time to explore Canadian immigration pathways! Canada’s Express Entry draws over the last 30 days have showcased a dynamic mix of category-based rounds, prioritizing French-speaking talent, candidates with Canadian work experience, and provincial nominees. These draws highlight the country’s commitment to targeted immigration priorities—favoring bilingualism, integration of experienced residents, and the regional labor needs of provinces and territories—while reflecting shifts in Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off scores to balance accessibility and competitiveness across streams. ALL Express Entry Draws Overview: In Last 30 Days
Draw #365 – September 4, 2025 Category: French Language Proficiency Invitations Issued: 4,500 CRS Cut-Off: 446 Key Highlights: This draw specifically targeted candidates with strong French language skills—a clear signal of Canada’s ongoing commitment to welcoming francophone talent and supporting bilingualism. The lowest CRS cut-off for a category-based draw this month made it highly accessible for eligible candidates. Draw #364 – September 3, 2025 Category: Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Invitations Issued: 1,000 CRS Cut-Off: 534 Key Highlights: Focused on individuals with Canadian work experience, this draw prioritized candidates who are already contributing to the labor market, reflecting Canada’s in-Canada immigration priorities. The relatively high CRS cut-off indicates the competitive nature of this draw. Draw #363 – September 2, 2025 Category: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Invitations Issued: 249 CRS Cut-Off: 772 Key Highlights: Intended for provincial nominees, this targeted draw focused on candidates nominated by Canadian provinces and territories. The very high cut-off score reflects provincial nomination CRS bonuses and tight nomination quotas. Draw #360 – August 8, 2025 Category: French Language Proficiency Invitations Issued: 2,500 CRS Cut-Off: 481 Key Highlights: Candidates with French language ability were again targeted, as part of Canada’s ongoing efforts to boost francophone immigration outside Quebec. The cut-off score was lower than comparable experience- and nomination-based drawings, offering excellent chances for French speakers. Draw #359 – August 7, 2025 Category: Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Invitations Issued: 1,000 CRS Cut-Off: 534 Key Highlights: Like September’s CEC draw, this round prioritized candidates with skilled Canadian work experience. The cut-off score matched that of recent CEC rounds, continuing the policy focus on integration and retention. Draw #358 – August 6, 2025 Category: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Invitations Issued: 225 CRS Cut-Off: 739 Key Highlights: Another high-score provincial nominee draw, aimed at those with a PNP certificate and reflecting the huge advantage these nominees have in Express Entry scoring. The consistently diverse Express Entry draws and accessible CRS scores show that now is an excellent time for eligible candidates to apply for Canadian Permanent Residency and take advantage of expanded opportunities to build a future in Canada. Connect with us and apply today! Foreign nationals applying for Canadian permanent residence through economic immigration programs will soon have another option to prove English proficiency. On August 21, 2025, Educational Testing Service (ETS) announced that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has approved it as a designated language testing organization. This means IRCC will soon accept the TOEFL Essentials Test to assess English language ability.
IRCC has not yet started accepting TOEFL Essentials. Official updates will be provided on government websites once the rollout begins. About the TOEFL Essentials Test
Other English Tests Currently Accepted by IRCC Alongside TOEFL Essentials (once activated), IRCC accepts:
What this means for applicants?
Want to prepare? We’re launching a TOEFL Essentials and IRCC-approved English test prep program designed to help you reach your target CLB level and strengthen your application. Connect with us today to be part of the program and stay ahead of the official acceptance rollout by IRCC. Finding work in your field in Canada might be difficult. As a first-time visitor to Canada, you should use tools and resources to make obtaining your desired job as simple as possible. In this article will walk you through some of these job opportunities which are highly paid Highest-paying occupations for Diploma holders Canadian universities provide a wide range of diploma courses in a variety of disciplines. These courses, which are generally shorter in duration than a bachelor's or master's degree, equip students with fundamental information in a topic of interest. Engineering, information technology, and hotel management are some of the popular diploma programmes.
Highest-paying occupations for Bachelor's degree holders Over 100 institutions in Canada provide over 10,000 degree programmes. Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Engineering are common bachelor's degrees in Canada.
Highest-paying occupations for Master’s degree holders Graduate degree programmes are available at Canadian institutions in practically every discipline of academic study. After finishing your bachelor's degree, most master's degrees involve one to two years of study.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) had issued the first round of Express Entry invitations in more than a month. IRCC issued 3200 invitations to apply (ITAs) In an all-program Express Entry draw to candidates on September 19, 2023. The cut-off score for the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) was 531.
It is critical to understand how to choose work that complements your professional aspirations. This involves defining your interests, networking with persons and organisations, and identifying employers with whom you want to work. You can always contact our team who will help you searching high paid jobs in Canada & program that suits your need. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited 7000 Express Entry candidates with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 490 to become permanent residents. Since January 18, this is the first all-program draw. Candidates from all three Express Entry programs are considered in an all-program draw: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). The number of ITAs in this draw exceeds the previous record of 5,500 candidates invited in the January 18 all-program draw. This draw deviates from a trend of program-specific draws that have occurred during the last two months. Prior to 2023, all Express Entry draws were all-program draws that welcomed over 1,000 candidates each time and expanded as the minimum CRS score lowered. The amount of assistance for immigrants in Canada is unparalleled in the world. Canada's population will reach 100 million by 2100. They claim that immigration is a major element in reaching this milestone, and the new analysis claims that Canada has an edge over other countries owing to Canadians' overwhelming support for immigration.
From the late 1990s, support for immigration in Canada has increased consistently, with no notable decreases owing to the global crisis in 2008 or the commencement of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. According to the research, support has risen along with "development in Canadians' multicultural identity," with 64% of Canadians saying that diversity is a sign of Canada's identity. This is a significant increase over data collected 25 years ago when only around 40% Canadian agreed. Since approximately a quarter of Canada's overall population is made up of immigrants is one of the key reasons for support. According to the 2021 census, 1.3 million new permanent residents arrived in Canada between 2016 and 2021, and Statistics Canada predicts that the country's immigrant population will continue to grow, reaching 34% by 2041. Statistics Canada's job vacancy report for the quarter of reflects a year-long trend. Employers in Canada continue to experience labour shortages, with nearly a million (959,600) job openings. A position is considered vacant if and only if the following conditions are met: There is a particular position available; employment might begin within the next 30 days; and the employer is actively seeking people from outside the business to fill the role. Though the number of available positions is down 3.3% from the all-time high of 993,200 at the start of the last year, the demand for labour remains robust. In Canada, there were 1.1 people for every job opening. As organizations seek to attract more workers, average wages rise. In response to a competitive labor market and greater difficulties in hiring, several organizations have sought to boost the offered pay of open positions. In comparison to the same quarter last year, the average hourly salary offered grew by 7.5% to $24.20 per hour.
Some in-demand occupation categories saw wage gains that above the national average, including:
In Express Entry history, Canada holds the first Federal Skilled Workers-only draw. A total of 3,300 Express Entry applicants were invited to apply for permanent residency by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The cut-off score for the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) was 489. This was the second program-specific draw of 2023, after the results on February 1st, when only PNP applicants were invited. As Canada attempts to alleviate labour shortages, immigration becomes a top priority for the government. The Express Entry system of programs are expected to observe a trend of targeted draws for in-demand occupations in Canada by 2023. Last year was a one of unique year for Express Entry. According to ministerial guidelines, 46,538 ITAs were issued to Express Entry candidates with total of 23 draws in 2022., Candidates from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) were invited in this draw. All of these invitations are part of the Express Entry System. A total of 5,500 Express Entry applicants were invited to apply for permanent residency by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The cut-off score for the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) was 507. This is the largest all-program Express Entry draw since they restarted in last July, with an increase in the amount of ITAs issued. There were 750 more invitations than the draw on November 23, which invited 4,750 applicants. The CRS score was also higher than it has been since the draw on September 28 which, was 504. This time the CRS score have increased 16 points since the last draw.
Canada is in the top three countries employers' choice to hire foreign talent. While there a long way to go, the country has an impressive track record of its own and is welcoming these workers from around the world. It is also a place where many new businesses are starting up every day thanks to our strong economy and strong tech sector that goes hand-in-hand with innovation, creativity, and business talent. One only needs to look at the global success of some of Canada's most successful companies. Hootsuite, Shopify and Zendesk are just a few examples of Canadian-founded and headquartered brand names that took off in both Canada and abroad. The Canadian success story continues to grow with a variety of companies that are driving customer engagement and loyalty. These companies have dominated their respective industries for years, and continue to do so today. |
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