Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has once again turned to candidates of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) in the most recent Express Entry invitation round on 15th September. 228 Invites to Apply (ITAs) were issued to candidates already in possession of a provincial nomination, an avenue that significantly boosts their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.
Eligible candidates to be counted in this draw needed to abide by the following requirements:
- Obtaining at least a CRS score of 746
- They must have submitted their Express Entry profile by March 31, 2025, at 1:39 p.m. (UTC)
This focused strategy highlights Canada’s ongoing dependency on provincial nomination to meet specific labor market and demographic requirements.
Also Read IRCC Issues 228 ITAs to PNP Candidates in Recent Express Entry Draw
Express Entry Trends in 2025
This September 15th draw comes in the midst of a busy month in the Express Entry system, having already issued several rounds of invitations in several categories. The month commenced with three successive draws finalized for French-language candidates, Canadian Experience Class (CEC) applicants, and other PNP nominees in the first week. This makes the latest draw the fourth Express Entry draw in this month.
The following table summarizes the results of all the Express Entry draws so far this year:
Summary of 2025 Drawings of Express Entry
| Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | Cut-off CRS score |
| September 15 | Provincial Nominee Program | 228 | 746 |
| September 4 | French language proficiency | 4,500 | 446 |
| September 3 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 534 |
| September 2 | Provincial Nominee Program | 249 | 772 |
| August 19 | Healthcare and social services | 2,500 | 470 |
| August 18 | Provincial Nominee Program | 192 | 800 |
| August 8 | French language proficiency | 2,500 | 481 |
| August 7 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 534 |
| August 6 | Provincial Nominee Program | 225 | 739 |
| July 22 | Healthcare and social services | 4,000 | 475 |
| July 21 | Provincial Nominee Program | 202 | 788 |
| July 8 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,000 | 518 |
| July 7 | Provincial Nominee Program | 356 | 750 |
| June 26 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,000 | 521 |
| June 23 | Provincial Nominee Program | 503 | 742 |
| June 12 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,000 | 529 |
| June 10 | Provincial Nominee Program | 125 | 784 |
| June 4 | Healthcare and social services | 500 | 504 |
| June 2 | Provincial Nominee Program | 277 | 726 |
| May 13 | Canadian Experience Class | 500 | 547 |
| May 12 | Provincial Nominee Program | 511 | 706 |
| May 2 | Healthcare and social services | 500 | 510 |
| May 1 | Education | 1,000 | 479 |
| April 28 | Provincial Nominee Program | 421 | 727 |
| April 14 | Provincial Nominee Program | 825 | 764 |
| March 21 | French language proficiency | 7,500 | 379 |
| March 17 | Provincial Nominee Program | 536 | 736 |
| March 6 | French language proficiency | 4,500 | 410 |
| March 3 | Provincial Nominee Program | 725 | 667 |
| February 19 | French language proficiency | 6,500 | 428 |
| February 17 | Provincial Nominee Program | 646 | 750 |
| February 5 | Canadian Experience Class | 4,000 | 521 |
| February 4 | Provincial Nominee Program | 455 | 802 |
| January 23 | Canadian Experience Class | 4,000 | 527 |
| January 8 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,350 | 542 |
| January 7 | Provincial Nominee Program | 471 | 793 |
Total Invites Sent Out in 2025
Through this latest installment, IRCC has so far issued 57,297 ITAs through Express Entry this year. This is a significant volume, reflecting Canada’s sustained commitment to importing skilled immigrants to bridge labour gaps and boost economic growth.
Breakdown by Category of Draws
The findings so far show an absolute priority on category and province-specific choices. The problem in issuing invitations to diversified categories is the following:
| Draw Type | Number of Draws |
| Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 17 |
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 9 |
| French-language proficiency | 5 |
| Healthcare and social services | 4 |
| Education | 1 |
What This Means to Applicants
- Despite the 600 points awarded with a provincial nomination in the PNP application, cut-off ranks remain higher than in general invitations.
- Increasing opportunity for French-speaking individuals and health professionals: Recent invitations demonstrate a consistent emphasis on bilingual skilled immigration and necessary health and social services workers.
- CEC candidates stay in the running as several draws have been reserved for candidates with Canadian work experience, leaving this route open.
Conclusion
As Canada balances the tightrope of demographic challenges and labor market needs, the Express Entry system is among the globe’s most active immigration streams. With so-called PNP draws so dominant in 2025, candidates whose profile aligns with the labor strategies of the provinces have the best chance of being invited.
