Maple News reports that on April 28, 2021, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 381 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence through the Express Entry system. All invited candidates had previously received a nomination through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), boosting their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score with an additional 600 points.
The minimum CRS cutoff for this draw was 717—the lowest score required in any PNP-specific draw so far in 2021. Without the provincial nomination, the baseline score among invited candidates would have been 117. This reflects the substantial advantage a provincial nomination provides within the Express Entry system.
In line with IRCC’s standard procedures, a tie-break rule was applied. Candidates who had a CRS score of 717 were only considered if they had submitted their Express Entry profile before March 16, 2021, at 21:20:50 UTC. The tie-break timestamp ensures fairness when multiple candidates share the same cutoff score.
Canada’s Express Entry system continues to prioritize candidates already in the country, as part of the government’s strategy to admit 401,000 new permanent residents in 2021. Of this target, 108,500 are expected to come through Express Entry-managed programs. This domestic focus aligns with travel restrictions and aims to stabilize the national labor market.
Since the beginning of the year, Canada has invited 55,771 candidates through Express Entry—far surpassing the number issued by the same time in 2020. A significant portion of these invitations stemmed from the landmark February 13 draw, when IRCC invited every eligible candidate from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), many of whom were already residing in Canada.
PNP candidates often possess strong ties to specific provinces, whether through prior work experience, education, or residency. This regional focus helps address local labor shortages more precisely than the federal immigration streams. “Without the provincially-managed PNP, local labour shortages may be overlooked at the federal level, where the focus is more nationwide,” noted David Cohen, a senior immigration attorney.
IRCC generally conducts two Express Entry draws biweekly—one targeting PNP nominees and one focusing on CEC candidates. While PNP draws typically have higher CRS thresholds due to the 600-point nomination bonus, CEC draws often have lower cutoff scores due to reduced competition and the confined candidate pool.
As Canada presses forward with ambitious immigration targets, the Express Entry system remains a key mechanism for attracting skilled workers and strengthening the national workforce, particularly now as economic recovery intensifies.