Express Entry: Canada Invites 225 Skilled Workers in New Draw

On August 6, Canada invited 225 candidates to apply for permanent residency through the Express Entry system. These individuals were part of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

High Score Required for Selection
To receive an invitation, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 739. They also had to create their Express Entry profile before 6:35 a.m. UTC on April 23, 2025.

What is the Provincial Nominee Program?
The PNP allows Canadian provinces to nominate skilled workers who want to settle in a specific province. These nominees are often already working in Canada or have strong ties to a particular region.

Express Entry Activity in 2025 So Far
So far in 2025, the immigration department has held 28 Express Entry draws. These draws have issued a total of 49,628 Invitations to Apply (ITAs). The focus has been mainly on candidates in the PNP stream.

Recent Draw Trends

• On July 22, 4,000 candidates in the healthcare and social services category received invitations.
  
• On July 21, there was another PNP draw with 202 ITAs.
  
• On July 8, 3,000 candidates were invited through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
  
• Since June 10, draws have mostly alternated between PNP and CEC every two weeks.
  

Other Categories Receiving Invitations
Aside from PNP and CEC draws, IRCC has invited candidates with strong French language skills, those in healthcare and social service fields, and those with experience in education.

Breakdown of 2025 Express Entry Draws

• 14 PNP draws
  
• 7 CEC draws
  
• 3 French-language focused draws
  
• 3 Healthcare and social service draws
  
• 1 Education-focused draw
  

Cut-Off Scores Have Varied
CRS cut-off scores have ranged widely. For example, the score was as high as 802 in a PNP draw on February 4 and as low as 379 for French-speaking candidates on March 21.

Why These Draws Matter
Canada uses the Express Entry system to bring in skilled workers who can help fill labor gaps. The regular draws show that the country is actively looking for talent in key areas.

What This Means for Applicants
Candidates hoping to receive an ITA should keep their profiles updated and aim for high CRS scores. They should also watch for draws that match their qualifications, such as healthcare or French language ability.