IRCC released results of its November 25 Express Entry round late on November 27, inviting 777 candidates who already held provincial nominations to apply for permanent residence. The PNP-specific draw required a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 699—equivalent to a 99-point human-capital score plus the 600-point nomination bonus—and is the largest such round since April 2025.
The timing and size are significant. Ottawa’s 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan ups the Provincial Nominee Program target by 66 %, and officials appear to be accelerating PR invitations before year-end to help provinces meet labour-market shortages. Lower CRS cut-offs suggest a wider pool of nominees—including those in smaller provinces—will obtain invitations in coming months.
![PNP-focused Express Entry draw issues 777 invitations, signals Ottawa’s pivot toward provincial pathways]()
For employers the message is clear: provincial streams have become the fastest lane to PR for in-demand foreign workers, especially as federal skilled-worker quotas tighten. Mobility managers should reassess relocation timelines and consider securing nominations for key staff rather than banking on high CRS scores alone.
The draw also foreshadows possible category-based rounds aimed at French-speaking talent and Canadian Experience Class candidates, aligning with recent policy announcements on Francophone immigration and domestic retention.
Applicants have 60 days to file complete electronic PR applications; IRCC’s current processing standard for PNP streams is six months, but practitioners report median times closer to nine months, a factor to incorporate into workforce-planning models.
The timing and size are significant. Ottawa’s 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan ups the Provincial Nominee Program target by 66 %, and officials appear to be accelerating PR invitations before year-end to help provinces meet labour-market shortages. Lower CRS cut-offs suggest a wider pool of nominees—including those in smaller provinces—will obtain invitations in coming months.
For employers the message is clear: provincial streams have become the fastest lane to PR for in-demand foreign workers, especially as federal skilled-worker quotas tighten. Mobility managers should reassess relocation timelines and consider securing nominations for key staff rather than banking on high CRS scores alone.
The draw also foreshadows possible category-based rounds aimed at French-speaking talent and Canadian Experience Class candidates, aligning with recent policy announcements on Francophone immigration and domestic retention.
Applicants have 60 days to file complete electronic PR applications; IRCC’s current processing standard for PNP streams is six months, but practitioners report median times closer to nine months, a factor to incorporate into workforce-planning models.
