IRCC issues more Express Entry invitations to PNP candidates

Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued more invitations to apply (ITAs) through the Express Entry system.

The department issued 646 ITAs to candidates in a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw.

To be considered, candidates needed to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 750, and to have created an Express Entry candidate profile before 5:41 pm Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on July 23, 2024.

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Today's draw is the third of the month and follows a PNP draw on February 4—inviting 455 candidates—and a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw on February 5 which issued 4,000 ITAs.

Since the start of 2025, IRCC has chosen to focus Express Entry draws on either PNP or CEC candidates, with draw sizes for the latter returning to the larger selections more typical of CEC draws in 2024.

The exclusion of category-based draws for French speakers, healthcare workers, and tradespeople is notable as IRCC designated these groups as priority categories through the Express Entry system in 2025. Further, IRCC has allocated 41,700 permanent resident landings to this group this year through the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan.

Summary of Express Entry draws in 2025

Date	Draw Type	Number of ITAs	Cut-off CRS score
November 28	French language proficiency	6,000	408
November 25	Canadian Experience Class	1,000	531
November 25	Provincial Nominee Program	777	699
November 14	Healthcare and social services	3,500	462
November 12	Canadian Experience Class	1,000	533
November 10	Provincial Nominee Program	714	738
October 29	French language proficiency	6,000	416
October 28	Canadian Experience Class	1,000	533
October 27	Provincial Nominee Program	302	761
October 15	Healthcare and social services	2,500	472
October 14	Provincial Nominee Program	345	778
October 6	French language proficiency	4,500	432
October 1	Canadian Experience Class	1,000	534
September 29	Provincial Nominee Program	291	855
September 18	Trade	1,250	505
September 17	Education	2,500	462
September 15	Provincial Nominee Program	228	746
September 4	French language proficiency	4,500	446
September 3	Canadian Experience Class	1,000	534
September 2	Provincial Nominee Program	249	772
August 19	Healthcare and social services	2,500	470
August 18	Provincial Nominee Program	192	800
August 8	French language proficiency	2,500	481
August 7	Canadian Experience Class	1,000	534
August 6	Provincial Nominee Program	225	739
July 22	Healthcare and social services	4,000	475
July 21	Provincial Nominee Program	202	788
July 8	Canadian Experience Class	3,000	518
July 7	Provincial Nominee Program	356	750
June 26	Canadian Experience Class	3,000	521
June 23	Provincial Nominee Program	503	742
June 12	Canadian Experience Class	3,000	529
June 10	Provincial Nominee Program	125	784
June 4	Healthcare and social services	500	504
June 2	Provincial Nominee Program	277	726
May 13	Canadian Experience Class	500	547
May 12	Provincial Nominee Program	511	706
May 2	Healthcare and social services	500	510
May 1	Education	1,000	479
April 28	Provincial Nominee Program	421	727
April 14	Provincial Nominee Program	825	764
March 21	French language proficiency	7,500	379
March 17	Provincial Nominee Program	536	736
March 6	French language proficiency	4,500	410
March 3	Provincial Nominee Program	725	667
February 19	French language proficiency	6,500	428
February 17	Provincial Nominee Program	646	750
February 5	Canadian Experience Class	4,000	521
February 4	Provincial Nominee Program	455	802
January 23	Canadian Experience Class	4,000	527
January 8	Canadian Experience Class	1,350	542
January 7	Provincial Nominee Program	471	793

Is entering the Express Entry pool worthwhile if I have a low CRS score?

While having a low CRS score may be dissuading to some candidates looking to enter the Express Entry pool, it is generally always a good idea to enter the Express Entry pool if you are eligible, as simply being in the pool can increase your chances of receiving an ITA.

This is for several reasons including:

1. CRS scores are notoriously hard to predict. What may seem like a low score at the moment may be sufficient in the future for receiving an ITA. However, if candidates are out of the pool, they likely will not be able to benefit from these fluctuations, due to the second point;
2. The tie-breaking rule. In addition to meeting other conditions of an Express Entry draw to be invited (including the minimum CRS score), candidates must also create an Express Entry candidate profile in the system by the date and time specified in the ministerial instructions—known as the tie-break rule. Candidates who have not created an Express Entry profile before this time are not considered in that draw. Thus entering the Express Entry candidate pool early is often beneficial for a newcomer's chances of receiving an ITA;
3. Your individual CRS score may continue to increase while you are in the candidate pool. If you are able to raise your CRS score (for example, by increasing your language ability, gaining more eligible work experience, achieving higher education credentials, etc.), your CRS score can increase in real time once you receive the proper supporting documentation. This means that you do not have to wait, nor submit a new Express Entry profile if your CRS score changes (though keep in mind profiles will always be subject to the tie-breaking rule where relevant).
4. You may apply for and be considered for multiple other immigration programs while you have a profile in the Express Entry pool. This includes enhanced PNP streams and pilot programs which are often region-specific. Applicants to these other programs should make sure that their inclusion in the Express Entry pool will not impact their eligibility. In cases where this is not an issue, however, candidates can now build eligibility for immigration through two separate pathways, increasing their chances of receiving an ITA or its equivalent.

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