Express Entry: Canada Holds First Draw Of July For PNP Applicants

Canada’s immigration department has just held its first Express Entry draw for July. This latest round focused only on candidates in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). A total of 356 invitations to apply (ITAs) were sent to selected candidates.

Minimum score needed

To get an invitation in this draw, candidates needed:

• A Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 750 or higher
  
• An Express Entry profile created before 4:09 a.m. UTC on March 19, 2025
  

These requirements show how competitive the selection process remains, especially for PNP candidates.

Recent draws and trends

This PNP draw followed a larger one for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates held on July 8, where 3,000 ITAs were sent out. In that draw, the minimum CRS score was much lower at 518.

Throughout 2025, the IRCC has continued a pattern of alternating draws. Every few weeks, one draw targets CEC applicants and the next focuses on PNP candidates. So far, there has only been one category-based selection since mid-May.

Year-to-date ITAs

So far in 2025, IRCC has issued 42,201 total ITAs through the Express Entry system. These have gone to:

• PNP candidates – 12 draws
  
• CEC candidates – 7 draws
  
• French language speakers – 3 draws
  
• Healthcare and social services workers – 2 draws
  
• Education field professionals – 1 draw
  

Here’s a quick look at the draws from recent months:

• June 26 – 3,000 ITAs (CEC) – Score: 521
  
• June 23 – 503 ITAs (PNP) – Score: 742
  
• June 12 – 3,000 ITAs (CEC) – Score: 529
  
• June 10 – 125 ITAs (PNP) – Score: 784
  
• June 4 – 500 ITAs (Healthcare/Social Services) – Score: 504
  

The draw numbers show a strong focus on experience inside Canada and skills in key sectors.

Pool changes and competition

Because of these repeated CEC and PNP draws, the number of high-scoring profiles in the Express Entry pool has started to drop. Specifically, there are now fewer candidates with scores above 500 and 600, the first drop seen in these ranges in over six months.

This change could be due to more candidates getting selected and leaving the pool, or others not updating their profiles regularly.

What’s next?

If this pattern of alternating draws continues, more rounds for CEC and PNP candidates may take place soon. However, there’s always a chance for category-based draws too, especially for sectors like health, education, or French-speaking applicants.

For now, this draw confirms Canada’s steady push to invite skilled workers with ties to provinces, experience in Canada, or valuable skills in demand.