Express Entry: 557 PNP candidates invited in newest draw

Shelby Thevenot, Mohanad Moetaz
Published: May 12, 2021

Canada invited 557 Express Entry candidates to apply for permanent residence on May 12.

Express Entry candidates needed a score of at least 752 in order to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA). They also needed to have previously received a nomination from a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Any time someone gets a provincial nomination through an Express Entry-linked PNP, they automatically get 600 points added to their score. This is why the score requirement was so high. Without the nomination, the lowest-scoring candidate would have had a score of 152.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) publishes a cutoff time for the tie-break rule as an administrative requirement, regardless of whether there was an actual tie. In the new draw, candidates who had the minimum score were only invited if they submitted their Express Entry profile before April 29, 2021 at 10:18:12 UTC.

"Having Canadian experience prior to landing gives PNP candidates an edge in the labour market," said David Cohen, Senior Attorney of Campbell Cohen. "Studies have shown about two thirds of PNP candidates who become permanent residents have work prior experience in Canada, and the majority are employed in their first year."

Get a Free Express Entry Assessment

Express Entry in 2021

Since the start of the year, Canada has only invited Express Entry candidates through the PNP, and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). This is largely because the COVID-related travel restrictions do not allow approved permanent residents to come to Canada from abroad, and the government is aiming to admit record-breaking numbers of new immigrants over the next three years.

In 2021 alone, Canada is set to welcome 108,500 new immigrants through Express Entry-managed programs. So far, IRCC has invited 62,328 Express Entry candidates to apply for permanent residents.

PNP-only and CEC-only draws have vastly different CRS requirements. This is because PNP candidates have the 600-point award attached to their score. CEC candidates are invited in high numbers, and they are not competing for invitations from other programs, so there is more room for IRCC to invite lower-scoring candidates.

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry manages the applications for Federal High Skilled programs, which include the: Canadian Experience ClassFederal Skilled Worker Program, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. Some PNPs also use the Express Entry system to invite candidates to apply for a provincial nomination.

If you are eligible for Express Entry, and enter your profile into the pool, you will get a score based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The CRS awards you points based on your skilled work experience, education, age, official language skills, and other factors.

IRCC invites the highest-scoring candidates to apply for permanent residence through regular Express Entry draws. After you apply, an IRCC immigration officer makes a decision on your application. If you are approved, the last step is to complete the landing process and officially become a Canadian permanent resident.

Who was invited?

The following is a hypothetical example of someone who may have been invited in the new draw.

Marco is 34 with a master’s degree and has been working as a database analyst for ten years. He wrote the IELTS and scored a 7.5 in listening and a 6.5 in every other category. Marco entered the Express Entry pool in January 2020. He also submitted an Expression of Interest profile to the Canadian province of Saskatchewan through the International Skilled Worker: Saskatchewan Express Entry stream. He entered the Express Entry pool with a CRS score of 360. Shortly after submitting a profile to Saskatchewan, Marco was invited to apply for provincial nomination. After being nominated, his Express Entry CRS score increased to 960. Marco was then invited to apply for permanent residence in the new Express Entry draw.

Get a Free Express Entry Assessment

© CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options.

Share this article
Share your voice
Did you find this article helpful?
Thank you for your feedback.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Did you find this article helpful?
Please provide a response
Thank you for your helpful feedback
Please contact us if you would like to share additional feedback, have a question, or would like Canadian immigration assistance.
  • Do you need Canadian immigration assistance? Contact the Contact Cohen Immigration Law firm by completing our form
  • Send us your feedback or your non-legal assistance questions by emailing us at media@canadavisa.com
Related articles
British Columbia and Alberta issue invitations in new PNP draws
Sunset above the city of Calgary.
December 2024: State of the Express Entry pool
A group of people on the sky bridge located in Jasper, Alberta.
IRCC invites Express Entry candidates in first French-language draw of December
A picture of Montreal's Old Port on a sunny autumn day.
Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and PEI select candidates
A picture of the British Columbia coast on a fall day
Top Stories
British Columbia and Alberta issue invitations in new PNP draws
Are you eligible to sponsor your spouse or partner for Canadian immigration?
Report identifies occupations set for salary increases in Canada in 2025
Join our free newsletter. Get Canada's top immigration stories delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe
More in Work
Report identifies occupations set for salary increases in Canada in 2025
Diverse employees celebrate by throwing money in the air.
Five things newcomers can do to succeed in the Canadian job market, according to a new report
Four people sit on chairs while waiting to be interviewed
Can I get Ontario health coverage on a work permit?
A doctor examines a patient who likely is on his work permit in Ontario.
These industries have the highest retention rates for work permit holders who become permanent residents
A hand holding a briefcase
Link copied to clipboard