IRCC invites more PNP candidates in latest Express Entry draw

Nationwide Visas
[Published 20 Aug, 2025 | 04:42 AM]
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On August 18th, 2025, in its latest Express Entry draw, Canada issued 192 Invitations to Apply (ITAs), giving priority to applicants who currently hold a nomination under a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Candidates were required to have a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 800 to be considered for this invitation, thus clearly making this one of the most challenging draws in 2025.

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Express Entry Latest Draw Results

• Draw date: August 18, 2025
• Program : Provincial Nominee Program
• Number of invitations issued: 192
• Minimum CRS score: 800
• Tie-breaking rule: February 11, 2025 at 19:17:09 UTC

Fourth Express Entry Draw in August

This was the fourth Express Entry draw in August 2025, marking a very active approach to immigration for that month by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The flow of draws for this month is as follows:

With these draws, IRCC continues its program of targeting specific categories of skilled workers who would satisfy both national and provincial labour market needs.

High CRS Requirement: Second Highest of 2025

With a PNP cut-off of 800, this draw has been identified as one of the hardest of the year. The highest cut-off score in 2025 till now has been 802 points in February.

Since a PNP nomination automatically grants an applicant 600 points toward their total CRS score, these draws are typically competitive. Most of the time, only candidates with provincial nominations have any actual chance of receiving an invitation.

Impact of Provincial Nominations

Provinces and territories in Canada serve as important filters for skilled workers to meet their very specific labour shortages through the Provincial Nominee Program.

• Ontario often calls tech workers.
• Alberta targets healthcare and trade workers.
• Saskatchewan and Manitoba focus on occupations in demand.
• Atlantic provinces are fishing for talent in fisheries, healthcare, and education.

So by filtering and selecting, provinces ensure that these newcomers are capable of fast-track integration into the local environments and economies.

Express Entry Draws in 2025

Application selection draws have been massively consistent under 2025 within the Express Entry system for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the PNP.

Canada has already granted around 53,000 invitations this year. Given the ambitions at high immigration levels, it's expected that there will be more draws under the program and categories in the coming months for Canada immigration.

What This Means for Express Entry Candidates

For candidates who are in the Express Entry pool, this latest express entry draw highlights an increasing trend where acquiring a provincial nomination may now be the most secure and best avenue towards permanent residency.

Measures applicants could take that include:

• Keep an eye always on the provinces' nominee programs, as each of the program has its own eligibility rules and streams.
• CRS scores should be checked regularly using the CRS Points Calculator to know where you stand compared to others who are applying.
• Be proactive by submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) to multiple provinces might boost your chances and opportunities.
• Seek expert advice from trusted immigration consultants in India, to maximise nomination opportunities.

In Short

This Express Entry latest draw reaffirms Canada's dependency on the PNP stream to meet all its immigration objectives. With a CRS cut-off of 800 points and only 192 ITAs issued, it means the draw was very, very selective, highlighting the importance of provincial nominators for coming immigrants into Canada.

As the IRCC will continue issuing targeted-category invitations, candidates will have to stay aware of the most recent draws in Express Entry.

Source: canada.ca