Canada Conducts First Express Entry Draw Under New Immigration Minister: 277 Invited Through PNP Stream
Ottawa, ON – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has held its first Express Entry draw of June 2025, and the first under Canada’s newly appointed Immigration Minister. A total of 277 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residency were issued through a draw focused exclusively on candidates in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
To be eligible, candidates were required to have a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 726 and have submitted their Express Entry profile before 3:46 p.m. UTC on September 24, 2024.
Express Entry: Key Highlights
The Express Entry system is Canada’s primary mechanism for managing applications for permanent residency under several economic immigration programs. It ranks candidates using the CRS, which awards points based on factors such as age, work experience, education, and language proficiency.
Why It Matters:
This draw continues the 2025 trend of targeted selections, reinforcing Canada’s approach of using Express Entry to address labour market needs and provincial priorities.
Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2025
IRCC has conducted 19 Express Entry draws in 2025, issuing a total of 34,717 ITAs to date. The draws have focused primarily on PNP nominees, followed by candidates from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), French-language proficiency groups, and priority sector categories such as healthcare and education.
Breakdown of Draws by Category:
| Draw Type | Number of Draws |
|---|---|
| Provincial Nominee Program | 9 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 4 |
| French-language proficiency | 3 |
| Education | 1 |
| Healthcare and social services | 1 |
Recent Express Entry Draws Overview
| Date | Draw Type | ITAs Issued | CRS Cut-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 3 | Provincial Nominee Program | 277 | 726 |
| May 13 | Canadian Experience Class | 500 | 547 |
| May 12 | Provincial Nominee Program | 511 | 706 |
| May 2 | Healthcare and Social Services | 500 | 510 |
| May 1 | Education | 1,000 | 479 |
| April 28 | Provincial Nominee Program | 421 | 727 |
| 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 |
Why the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) Is Central to Express Entry
The CRS remains a cornerstone of Express Entry, as it helps IRCC identify candidates who are most likely to succeed in Canada’s workforce.
Developed through decades of labour market research, the CRS places high value on factors proven to predict successful economic integration: education, age, language proficiency, and Canadian work experience.
IRCC’s CRS Findings:
A 2020 study by IRCC revealed that Express Entry candidates typically experience:
- High employment rates
- Strong initial and long-term earnings
- Low levels of unemployment
These outcomes support the continued use of the CRS as a data-driven, fair, and effective selection tool.
What’s Next?
With nearly half the year still ahead, more category-based and general Express Entry draws are anticipated. IRCC is expected to continue aligning immigration invitations with Canada’s priority sectors and labour force needs, particularly as it seeks to strengthen provincial partnerships and fill in-demand roles across the country.
Foreign nationals hoping to be invited should maintain active Express Entry profiles, ensure documents are updated, and watch for future draws in both general and targeted categories.
For a consultation about Immigration options, reach out to the CAD IMMIGRATION today!
