Maple News reports that on November 24, Canada issued 613 invitations to apply for permanent residence under its Express Entry system. All candidates in this round had secured nominations through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), giving them an automatic boost of 600 points toward their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores. As a result, the minimum CRS threshold for this draw was 737—meaning that without the nomination, the lowest-ranked invitee would have had a score of just 137.
This marks the sixth consecutive PNP-specific draw conducted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The previous draw, held earlier in November, invited 775 candidates with a minimum score of 685. The trend underscores Canada’s ongoing focus on admitting candidates with ties to particular provinces and territories.
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the closure of Canada’s borders on March 18, 2020, IRCC has prioritized candidates already residing within the country. This strategic shift has significantly influenced the types of Express Entry draws. In 2021, IRCC has limited invitations to candidates in either the Provincial Nominee Class or the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
Between March 2020 and now, Canada has hosted 33 PNP-specific Express Entry draws, resulting in 17,785 invitations to apply (ITAs). During the same period, there were 27 draws geared toward CEC candidates, leading to a record-breaking 133,868 ITAs. Notably, on February 13, IRCC invited an unprecedented 27,332 CEC applicants in a single round.
PNP candidates must first be nominated by a province or territory through a separate application process, after which they receive a substantial CRS score boost—virtually guaranteeing an ITA in future draws. Because of this additional step, the pool of PNP candidates is smaller and more specialized compared to the larger number of CEC-eligible candidates in the Express Entry system.
The Express Entry program remains Canada’s flagship immigration pathway, and its adaptability during the pandemic highlights the government’s efforts to meet immigration targets while considering health measures and domestic labor market needs. As travel restrictions continue to evolve, Maple News will monitor how IRCC adjusts its approach to Express Entry draws in the coming months.