Maple News reports that on October 27, Canada conducted its third-largest Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw of 2021, inviting 888 Express Entry candidates to apply for permanent residency. This targeted draw required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 744, reflecting the added value of provincial nominations.
Each invited candidate had previously secured a nomination through a Provincial Nominee Program, which automatically granted them an additional 600 CRS points. Without this bonus, their base scores would have been 144 or higher. This marks a continued focus by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on inviting candidates through PNP streams to support regional immigration priorities across provinces.
This draw follows two even larger ones earlier in the year, with 1,002 invitations issued on June 23, and 940 on June 9. By contrast, the previous PNP-specific draw on October 13 attracted 681 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 720.
Since September, IRCC has exclusively held draws for PNP candidates, pausing invitations for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) despite their popularity and typically larger draw sizes. This shift has led to a temporary decline in total Express Entry invitations in recent weeks.
Still, 2021 remains a record-breaking year for Canada’s Express Entry system. To date, the federal government has issued 111,265 invitations to apply for permanent residence — already surpassing the 2020 total of 107,350.
Given that PNP nominees receive a 600-point boost, CRS cutoffs have remained comparatively high in recent draws. While this helps prioritize candidates with strong regional ties, it also makes the competition more intense for those who haven’t received provincial nominations.
Canada’s ongoing strategy of leveraging provincial nominations highlights the federal commitment to evenly distributing immigration across the country and supporting regional labor market needs.
Maple News continues to monitor Canada’s evolving immigration trends and policies to keep readers informed and prepared.