Maple News reports that on August 6, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held its latest Express Entry draw, issuing 225 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required for this round was 739, marking a significant 49-point drop from the previous PNP draw on July 23, which had a cutoff of 788 and saw 202 candidates invited.
This draw continues Canada’s targeted approach to immigration, specifically selecting candidates nominated by a province or territory. These PNP candidates typically have provincial endorsement, often tied to local labour market needs, which gives them an advantage in the Express Entry system.
Prior to this draw, IRCC conducted a category-based selection on July 22, focusing on healthcare and social services occupations. That round saw 4,000 candidates invited with a minimum CRS score of 475, highlighting Canada’s ongoing efforts to bolster critical workforce areas.
Throughout 2025 so far, there have been 27 Express Entry draws. This includes 13 targeting PNP applicants, seven draws aimed at Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates, and others focusing on French speakers, healthcare, education, and skilled trades. These draws illustrate the evolving priorities of Canada’s immigration strategy, which seeks to balance immediate labour shortages with long-term demographic needs.
In total, Canada has issued 49,403 ITAs in 2025 to date. This pace is down from 98,903 issued in all of 2024 and marks a continued adjustment in overall immigration levels following a record-setting 114,431 ITAs in 2021, when all selections were from PNP and CEC streams due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The tie-breaking rule for this latest draw was set on March 13, 2025, at 9:08 a.m. EST. This means only candidates who had submitted their Express Entry profiles before this timestamp and met the CRS threshold received invitations.
Once invited, applicants have 60 days to submit a complete permanent residence application. IRCC aims to process these applications within a six-month window, consistent with Express Entry service standards.
The Express Entry system remains a cornerstone of Canada’s skilled immigration policy, offering multiple pathways — including PNP, CEC, and category-based selections — to attract talent that aligns with national and provincial priorities.
Maple News will continue to monitor and report on all updates related to Express Entry and Canada’s evolving immigration landscape.