Canada has issued 291 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)-specific Express Entry draw held on September 29, 2025, Maple News reports. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required for this round was 855, marking a notable increase of 109 points from the previous PNP-only draw on September 15, which issued 228 invitations.
PNP candidates typically receive an automatic 600 CRS points upon nomination, meaning such high scores indicate that only those with provincial nominations and strong overall profiles were selected. The significantly higher cutoff in this draw suggests rising competition or fewer nominations submitted before the cut-off period.
The tie-breaking rule was applied for this draw using the timestamp of April 7, 2025, at 9:25 p.m. EST. This means only candidates who submitted their profiles before this date and had the minimum CRS score or higher were issued invitations.
This was the 39th draw of the year under Express Entry and the 369th since the program’s inception. It follows a recent trend of category-based draws targeting specific occupations or attributes such as trades, healthcare, French-language proficiency, and education-related professions. The most recent draw before this one, on September 18, issued 1,250 ITAs for trades occupations with a minimum CRS of 505.
So far in 2025, Canada has conducted 18 PNP-specific draws, alongside nine for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates, five focused on French language proficiency, and several others targeting sectors including healthcare, social services, and education. In total, 64,838 ITAs have been issued through the Express Entry system this year.
Comparatively, 98,903 ITAs were granted in all of 2024. Previous years saw 110,266 ITAs in 2023 and a record 114,431 in 2021, primarily to Canadian Experience Class and PNP candidates, reflecting the government’s ongoing focus on aligning immigration with labor market needs.
Candidates who receive invitations in this round have 60 days to submit their complete applications for permanent residence. IRCC aims to process most Express Entry applications within a standard six-month period.
Employers looking to bring in foreign talent are encouraged to explore options such as the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or engaging with provincial nomination programs to secure long-term hires. A valid job offer significantly enhances a candidate’s chance of receiving an invitation through Express Entry.
As the Canadian labor market continues to evolve, the support of targeted immigration pathways like the PNP ensures that skilled newcomers are able to meet the demands of local economies across the country.