Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has held another targeted Express Entry draw, inviting 228 candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) on September 15, 2025. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) was 746, a drop of 26 points from the previous PNP-focused draw held on September 2.
This lower threshold suggests a shifting trend in Canada’s approach to selecting PNP candidates, possibly aiming to widen opportunities for provincially nominated skilled workers. These high-scoring profiles reflect the added CRS points granted to individuals who receive nominations from provinces, helping fill critical labour shortages across Canada.
Prior to this, on September 4, IRCC held a French-language proficiency-focused draw, resulting in 4,500 ITAs with a significantly lower CRS cut-off of 446. This highlights Canada’s ongoing efforts to promote bilingualism and support the settlement of French-speaking newcomers outside of Quebec.
So far in 2025, IRCC has held 36 Express Entry draws, including:
– 17 draws targeting PNP nominees
– 9 draws for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates
– 5 draws for French speakers
– 4 focusing on healthcare and social services
– 1 education sector-specific draw
This follows an active 2024, during which IRCC issued ITAs through 58 draws. These included general all-program draws as well as targeted rounds for key sectors like healthcare, agriculture, transport, STEM, and trade.
As of mid-September 2025, Canada has issued a total of 61,797 Express Entry invitations. In comparison, 98,903 were issued in all of 2024, showing a potentially slower but more focused selection strategy this year. Historical figures indicate fluctuating totals, reaching a peak of 114,431 ITAs in 2021, largely targeting CEC and PNP candidates during the pandemic recovery.
In this latest PNP draw, IRCC applied a tie-breaking rule dated March 31, 2025, at 9:39 a.m. EST. This means that if multiple candidates met the minimum score of 746, only those who submitted their profiles before this timestamp received invitations.
Candidates who receive an ITA have 60 days to submit a complete application. Once submitted, IRCC aims to process applications within its standard six-month timeline.
According to Maple News, this latest round continues Canada’s commitment to regional immigration through the PNP, allowing provinces and territories to address specific labour market demands and population needs. It also signals that strategic employment alignment, particularly through a provincial nomination or valid job offer, remains one of the most effective pathways toward Canadian permanent residency.
As Express Entry evolves, skilled candidates are encouraged to stay informed of draw patterns and strengthen their profiles accordingly—especially by securing provincial nominations or employment offers aligned with key focus areas like health care, education, trades, and tech.