Canada just held its latest Express Entry draw and this one comes with some fresh changes you’ll want to know about. If you’re hoping to immigrate to Canada through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), this update could mean big things for your application journey.
Here is a breakdown of the PNP.
What Just Happened?
On April 14, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited 825 people to apply for permanent residency through a special Express Entry draw. This draw was only open to candidates who were nominated by a Canadian province or territory, what’s known as a PNP draw.
To qualify for this round, applicants needed:
- A CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) score of at least 764
- To have created their Express Entry profile before August 17, 2024, at 6:35 p.m. UTC
Yep, that’s a high score, but there’s a reason behind it. PNP candidates automatically get 600 points added to their CRS score after nomination so that boosts their total big time.
Why This Draw Matters
This was the first draw of April 2025, and it came just after a big policy shift: CRS points for arranged employment have been removed. That means some candidates might see their scores drop slightly unless they’ve got points from other categories like language skills or education.
Also, this draw followed another PNP-specific draw from March 17, and a French-language proficiency draw held on March 21. So, it’s clear IRCC is targeting very specific groups of applicants right now.
A Quick Look at Express Entry Draws So Far in 2025
Here’s a table to help you see the pattern in this year’s draws:
| Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | Cut-off CRS Score |
| 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 |
So far in 2025, Canada has sent out 31,508 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through Express Entry. With the country planning to welcome 124,680 new permanent residents this year through this system, there are still plenty more draws expected in the coming months.
