India's No.1 Award Winning Immigration Firm
Check your eligibility in 5 min. (Free): +91 88 85 85 85 15
Email Us: info@universaladviser.com
Canada News
Site Logo

Express Entry Draw #356 : Canada Invites 202 PNP Applicants For PR

IRCC Issues 202 ITAs in the Third Express Entry Draw of the Month

    Get in Touch

    IRCC Issues 202 ITAs in the Third Express Entry Draw of the Month

    In its continued effort to attract eligible talent across provinces, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held its third Express Entry draw of the month on July 21st, issuing 202 invitations to apply for permanent residency through the Provincial Nominee Program.
    This focused draw needed individuals to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) number of 788 and to have uploaded their Express Entry profile by June 5, 2025, at 11:50 p.m. UTC.
    Check your Eligibility for Express Entry
    Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2025

    Results: Rounds of invitations

    • Provincial Nominee Program
    • Number of ITAs: 202
    • Date and time of round: July 21, 2025 at 14:03:32 UTC
    • CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited: 788
    • Tie-breaking rule: June 05, 2025 at 23:50:45 UTC

    If more than one candidate has the lowest score, the cut-off is based on the date and time they submitted their Express Entry profiles.

    Invitations to apply to the Provincial Nominee Program may be issued through this round of invitations.

    Apply for Canada PR Visa

    More about the draw

    This was the second PNP-specific draw of the month, indicating a strong trend for 2025. Canadian provinces are increasingly relying on the federal Express Entry system to meet their specific labor market requirements by directly nominating skilled workers.

    So far this year, IRCC has held 13 draws particularly for PNP candidates, resulting in thousands of invitations to applicants with in-demand skills in healthcare, construction, trades, and technology.

    Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2025

    Below is a snapshot of all Express Entry draws conducted so far this year:
    • Canadian Experience Class (CEC) : 18,850
    • Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) : 6,053
    • French language proficiency: 18,500
    • Education Professionals 1,000
    • Healthcare and social services occupations 1,000
    Draw Date Draw Type Number of ITAs Minimum CRS
    356 July 21 PNP 202 788
    355 July 08 CEC 3,000 518
    354 July 07 PNP 356 750
    353 June 26 CEC 3,000 521
    352 June 23 PNP 503 742
    351 June 12 CEC 3,000 529
    350 June 10 Provincial Nominee Program 125 784
    349 June 04 Healthcare and social services 500 504
    348 June 02 PNP 277 726
    347 May 13 CEC 500 547
    346 May 12 PNP 511 706
    345 May 02 Healthcare and social Services Occupations 500 510
    344 May 01 Education Professionals 1,000 479
    343 April 28 PNP 421 727
    342 April 14 PNP 825 764
    341 March 21 French language 7,500 379
    340 March 17 PNP 536 736
    339 March 06 French language 4,500 410
    338 March 03 PNP 725 667
    337 February 19 French language 6,500 428
    336 February 17 PNP 646 750
    335 February 05 CEC 4,000 521
    334 February 04 PNP 455 802
    333 January 23 CEC 4,000 527
    332 January 8 CEC 1,350 542
    331 January 7 PNP 471 793

    As of July 21, a total of 45,403 ITAs have been issued through the Express Entry system in 2025.

    Express Entry Draw Reports

    Breakdown of 2025 Express Entry Activity

    So far this year, 45,403 candidates have received Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through Express Entry. Rather than holding broad, all-program draws, IRCC has shifted its strategy to program- and category-based selection. The focus has largely been on:

    • Provincial Nominee Program
    • Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
    • French-language proficiency
    • Healthcare and social services
    • Education-related occupations

    Here’s a categorical breakdown of how many times each draw type has been held in 2025:

    Draw Type Number of Draws
    Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) 13
    Canadian Experience Class (CEC) 7
    French-language proficiency 3
    Healthcare and social services 2
    Education 1
    CEC draws continue to prioritize individuals already contributing to Canada’s workforce through temporary residence and employment. This strategy enables smoother integration of skilled workers who are already familiar with the Canadian labor market and society.

    Current Express Entry Trends and Category Breakdown

    With the latest draw, the healthcare and social services category now joins a growing list of specialized selection categories implemented this year. The distribution of draws in 2025 highlights a more nuanced approach to selecting candidates who meet Canada’s urgent labour and demographic needs.

    Draw Type Number of Draws
    Provincial Nominee Program 7
    French-language proficiency 3
    Canadian Experience Class 3
    Education 1
    Healthcare and social services 1

    New Perspectives for Aspirants Over 40.

    One of the most noticeable shifts this year was IRCC’s higher priority on category-based Express Entry drawings, which usually prefer employment or language skills above excellent CRS scores alone.

    For candidates over 40, who normally lose scores as they age (CRS age points drop to 50 at age 40 and zero by age 45), this has created new options. For example:

    Category-based draws have had cut-offs as low as 379 CRS points, while general draws have remained over 500.

    Provincial nominations provide 600 bonus CRS points, which can easily bring a lower-scoring profile past the ITA cutoff.

    If you’re an experienced professional in a high-demand field such as healthcare, STEM, trades, or transportation, your age may no longer be a barrier.

    Strategic Insights for Aspiring Immigrants

    For candidates hoping to secure Canadian permanent residence through Express Entry, the current pattern underscores the value of:
    • Securing a provincial nomination, which adds 600 points to your CRS score
    • Gaining Canadian work experience, making you eligible under the Canadian Experience Class
    • Improving French proficiency, a key category in several high-volume draws
    Additionally, applicants in healthcare, education, or social services may find themselves prioritized under future category-based rounds.

    Looking Ahead.

    With continuous drawings, evolving eligibility categories, and a more targeted approach, Canada’s Express Entry system in 2025 will be more inclusive and responsive to both applicant diversity and labour market demands.
    Whether you’re an early-career professional or seeking for a fresh start later in life, remaining informed on category-based and PNP draws is critical to increasing your chances of acquiring an ITA.

    Is it worth moving to Canada?

    Take a free online profile assessment with Universal Adviser

    Recent News

    Related News

    Website-Pop-UpPOP UP New