IRCC conducted a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)-specific Express Entry draw on 27 October 2025, issuing 302 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates with a minimum CRS score of 761. The tie-break time-stamp was 26 September 2025 at 02:14 UTC.
While the draw size is modest, PNP rounds carry outsized significance for regional economies. Successful nominees already hold a provincial endorsement and will receive an extra 600 CRS points, virtually guaranteeing permanent residence. Provinces with acute labour shortages—particularly in healthcare, construction and technology—use the PNP to target candidates with in-demand skills willing to settle outside Canada’s largest urban centres.
This was the 20th PNP-only draw of the year and the second such round in October, dovetailing with Ottawa’s plan to allocate more spaces to provincial streams. Employers in smaller communities often prefer PNP pathways because nominees demonstrate a specific commitment to live and work locally, improving retention rates compared with the federal skilled-worker program.
The elevated CRS cut-off of 761 highlights growing demand: as federal draws become more selective and overall immigration stabilises, provincial nominations are becoming a critical differentiator. Candidates hoping for a nomination should monitor each province’s Expression of Interest (EOI) system and be prepared to move quickly when invitations are issued.
Pending the release of the federal Immigration Levels Plan, analysts expect at least one more PNP draw before year-end, with similar cut-offs unless additional nomination spaces are released.
While the draw size is modest, PNP rounds carry outsized significance for regional economies. Successful nominees already hold a provincial endorsement and will receive an extra 600 CRS points, virtually guaranteeing permanent residence. Provinces with acute labour shortages—particularly in healthcare, construction and technology—use the PNP to target candidates with in-demand skills willing to settle outside Canada’s largest urban centres.
This was the 20th PNP-only draw of the year and the second such round in October, dovetailing with Ottawa’s plan to allocate more spaces to provincial streams. Employers in smaller communities often prefer PNP pathways because nominees demonstrate a specific commitment to live and work locally, improving retention rates compared with the federal skilled-worker program.
The elevated CRS cut-off of 761 highlights growing demand: as federal draws become more selective and overall immigration stabilises, provincial nominations are becoming a critical differentiator. Candidates hoping for a nomination should monitor each province’s Expression of Interest (EOI) system and be prepared to move quickly when invitations are issued.
Pending the release of the federal Immigration Levels Plan, analysts expect at least one more PNP draw before year-end, with similar cut-offs unless additional nomination spaces are released.
