Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a new Express Entry draw on October 15, specifically targeting Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates. A total of 345 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued in this round, with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score requirement of 778. This is a notable decrease of 77 points compared to the previous PNP-focused draw on September 29, which saw 291 ITAs issued.
The high CRS threshold for PNP draws is largely due to the additional 600 points that candidates receive upon receiving a provincial nomination. These nominations significantly boost an applicant’s CRS score, often pushing them well above the cutoff in targeted draws.
This latest invitation round follows several themed Express Entry draws conducted throughout 2025. Just nine days before, on October 6, IRCC invited 4,500 candidates with strong French language proficiency, setting the minimum CRS score at 432.
In total, the federal government has carried out 42 Express Entry draws so far in 2025 across various categories, including 19 for PNP candidates, 10 for Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and six draws centered on French-speaking applicants. Targeted rounds have also focused on essential sectors like healthcare, education, and trade occupations.
With the latest draw, Canada has issued 70,716 ITAs through Express Entry this year. That follows a strong 2024, during which 98,903 invitations were issued, and continues the federal government’s trend of using Express Entry to meet labor market needs. The all-time record remains 114,431 ITAs set in 2021.
The October 15 draw also applied the tie-breaking rule, meaning in cases where multiple candidates had the lowest eligible CRS score, only those who submitted their profiles before July 17, 2025, at 3:58 p.m. EST were selected.
Selected candidates now have 60 days to submit their permanent residence applications, with most expected to be processed within IRCC’s six-month standard.
As Canada relies heavily on immigration to drive its economic growth, programs like the PNP and Express Entry continue to play a pivotal role in attracting skilled workers across regions. These draws also highlight the government’s continued interest in targeting talent that addresses specific labor shortages across the country.
Maple News will continue monitoring and reporting on Canada’s evolving immigration trends and draw outcomes as they happen.