Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted Express Entry draw #387 on December 17, 2025, issuing 5,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
This draw stands out as the most accessible CEC round of 2025, with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 515, the lowest CRS cut-off recorded for CEC candidates this year.
Express Entry Draw #387 – Key Details
- Draw number: 387
- Draw date: December 17, 2025
- Program targeted: Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Invitations issued: 5,000
- CRS cut-off: 515
- Tie-breaking rule: September 9, 2025, at 6:58 p.m. UTC
To be eligible, candidates had to meet the CRS requirement and have created their Express Entry profile before the tie-breaking date.
Why Express Entry Draw #387 Is a Turning Point for CEC Candidates
For much of 2025, CEC draws were:
- Smaller in size
- Infrequent
- Characterized by high CRS cut-offs, often above 530 points
As a result, many candidates with solid Canadian work experience remained just below the threshold.
Express Entry draw #387 breaks this trend in two major ways:
- A high number of ITAs issued in a single draw
- The lowest CRS cut-off for CEC in 2025, dropping from the previous low of 518 to 515
This reduction opens the door to thousands of candidates who narrowly missed earlier CEC rounds.
Back-to-Back CEC Draws Signal a Strategic Shift
IRCC typically conducts Express Entry draws on alternating weeks, but December 2025 has clearly deviated from that pattern.
Within just seven days, IRCC issued:
- 6,000 ITAs in a CEC draw on December 10
- 5,000 ITAs in Express Entry draw #387 on December 17
That’s 11,000 CEC invitations in two weeks, a rare occurrence that strongly suggests IRCC is prioritizing candidates with Canadian work experience as the year ends.
This strategy aligns with federal immigration goals focused on retaining temporary residents already contributing to the Canadian labour market.
How Express Entry Draw #387 Fits into December’s Busy Schedule
Express Entry draw #387 was the fifth draw of December, following:
- December 15: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw
- December 11: Healthcare and social services occupation draw
- December 10: Largest CEC draw in over 16 months
The sequence highlights IRCC’s multi-pronged selection strategy, balancing:
- Provincial labour needs
- Occupation-specific shortages
- Pathways for temporary residents transitioning to permanent residence
Express Entry in 2025: Key Numbers So Far
As of December 17, 2025, IRCC has issued 111,998 ITAs through Express Entry.
Number of Draws by Category in 2025
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): 23
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC): 15
- French-language proficiency: 8
- Healthcare and social services: 6
- Education: 2
- Trades: 1
Total Invitations Issued by Stream
- Canadian Experience Class: 36,850
- French-language proficiency: 42,000
- Healthcare and social services: 13,500
- Provincial Nominee Program: 9,775
These figures confirm that CEC candidates remain central to Canada’s permanent residence strategy.
What Express Entry Draw #387 Means for Candidates
Express Entry draw #387 sends a clear message:
Lower CRS scores can still be competitive when timing, draw size, and category alignment come together.
Candidates currently in the Express Entry pool should:
- Ensure their profiles remain active and accurate
- Review CRS components for possible score improvements
- Monitor draw frequency closely, as December trends may extend into early 2026
Candidates who narrowly missed this draw may still benefit from continued CEC-focused rounds.
Final Takeaway
Express Entry draw #387, with 5,000 ITAs and a CRS cut-off of 515, represents a significant milestone for Canadian Experience Class applicants. It combines the largest wave of CEC invitations in weeks with the lowest CRS threshold of 2025, signaling IRCC’s renewed focus on candidates already established in Canada.
As immigration selection patterns continue to evolve, candidates with Canadian work experience are well-positioned to benefit from upcoming draws.
