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Express Entry Draw #366: IRCC Issues 228 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for PNP Candidates

IRCC Issues 228 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for PNP Candidates

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    IRCC Issues 228 ITAs to PNP Candidates in Recent Express Entry Draw

    The Canadian immigration system held another round of Express Entry draws this September, with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issuing 228 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to the applicants of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) category, on 15th September.

    They needed to be highly competitive in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to be invited to this draw. The cutoff score was 746 points, and candidates who had only given their profile up to March 31, 2025, at 1:39 p.m. (UTC), were considered.

    PNP candidates will likely be awarded more CRS points owing to the other 600 points that are given to the nominee in a province, and hence the higher score threshold over the general-category draws.

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    Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2025

    Results: Rounds of invitations

    • Provincial Nominee Program
    • Number of ITAs: 228
    • Date and time of round: September 15, 2025 at 15:05:49 UTC
    • CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited: 746
    • Tie-breaking rule: March 31, 2025 at 13:39:06 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.

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    Why the attention on PNP?

    The Provincial Nominee Program forms the foundation of Canada’s immigration objective. The provinces and the territories use the PNP in selecting foreign nationals best positioned to address labor shortages at the local level and contribute to local economies. Prioritizing PNP nominees ensures Canada’s immigration will address national and local workforce requirements.

    Express Entry in 2025: A Busy Schedule of Draws

    This newest draw on September 5 is the culmination of a busy month. IRCC had conducted three other draws just this week alone:
    • French-speaking candidates (4th September) - 4,500 ITAs issued.
    • Canadian Experience Class (3rd September) - 1,000 ITAs issued.
    • PNP Draw (2nd September) - 249 ITAs issued.
    Together with these draws in combination, September is turning out to be an important time for prospective immigrants in several categories.
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    2025 Trends For Express Entry

    2025 has seen IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) adopting a more program or category-based approach to the selection of applicants, which seems to strategically try to address the economic demands of the country.

    The department has issued 61,797 ITAs since the beginning of the year, with the highest number going to PNP, then CEC participants, French-speaking candidates, as well as those in the targeted list of professions, including healthcare, social work, and teaching.

    Patterns Emerging in the 2025 Express Entry Draws

    IRCC’s approach this year is one where there is a distinct emphasis on targeted invitations and not general draws alone.

    The draws are now divided as follows:

    • PNP : 17 draws
    • CEC : 9 drawings
    • French-language skills : 5 draws
    • Healthcare and social services : 4 draws
    • Education: 1 draw
    The multi-category scheme can accommodate different priority sectors, such as regional manpower needs and greater representation of the French-speaking community.

    Healthcare-Specific Rounds in 2025

    The August 19 draw was the latest in a series of healthcare draws this year. Earlier rounds were:

    • July 22: 4,000 invitations, CRS 475.
    • June 4: 500 invitations, CRS 504.
    • May 2: 500 invitations, CRS 510.
    By announcing progressively larger rounds of draws for health care and social work, Canada is ensuring its commitment to meet the critical gaps in employees at hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes.

    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) : 20,850
    • Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) : 6,947
    • French language proficiency: 25,500
    • Education Professionals 1,000
    • Healthcare and social services occupations 7,500
    Draw Date Draw Type Number of ITAs Minimum CRS
    366 September 15 PNP 228 746
    365 September 04 French language proficiency 4,500 446
    364 September 03 CEC 1,000 534
    363 September 02 PNP 249 772
    362 August 19 Healthcare and social services 2,500 470
    361 August 18 PNP 192 800
    360 August 08 French language proficiency 2,500 481
    359 August 07 CEC 1,000 534
    358 August 06 PNP 225 739
    357 July 22 Healthcare and social services occupations (Version 2) 4,000 475
    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 September 15, a total of 61,797 ITAs have been issued through the Express Entry system in 2025.

    Express Entry Draw Reports

    Number of Express Entry Draws by Category This Year:

    The Provincial Nominee Program category of the Express Entry categories leads the trend with the highest number of 14 rounds, followed by the Canadian Experience Class with 8 rounds. Also, IRCC has conducted 3 rounds each for French-speaking candidates and healthcare professionals. A single draw was also held for individuals in the education sector.

    Draw Type Number of Draws
    Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) 14
    Canadian Experience Class (CEC) 8
    French-language proficiency 4
    Healthcare and social services 3
    Education 1

    The trend since June 10, 2025, reveals a pattern of alternating draws between PNP and CEC categories roughly every two weeks. Additionally, healthcare-focused draws have taken place monthly since May, reflecting IRCC’s commitment to addressing sector-specific shortages in Canada’s healthcare system.

    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

    Total ITAs Issued in 2025

    Since mid-September, IRCC has issued 57,297 invitations in the Express Entry system. The trend reveals Canada’s commitment to achieving a considerable level of skilled immigration with fluctuating levels of CRS in differing categories.

    Key Points

    • PNP Dominance - With 17 draws this year, PNP remains the most frequent selection category, showing strong provincial influence in Canada’s immigration targets
    • CEC Still Going Strong - There are nine rounds total being held aside for candidates with Canadian work experience, leaving doors open to temporary workers and recent graduates.
    • French-Language Opportunities - Draws for French-speaking candidates are granting thousands of ITAs, aligning with Canada’s bilingualism goals.
    • Sector-Specific Offers - Special immigration rounds specifically for education and healthcare professionals reaffirm Canada's intentions to tackle labor shortages in critical areas.
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    Conclusion

    With these trends, one can anticipate more category-based draws in the coming months. IRCC will probably continue to concentrate on provincial nominees but will ensure bilingual candidates and candidates in in-demand occupations are presented with consistent invitations.
    For very well-qualified candidates considering Canada, these results reaffirm the need to align Express Entry profiles with labor market requirements and, to the degree possible, obtain a provincial nomination to achieve the best CRS points.

    Stay tuned for future updates on Express Entry draws and immigration news.

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