IRCC Holds First Express Entry Draw of August: 225 ITAs Issued in PNP-Specific Round
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has conducted its first Express Entry draw for August 2025, continuing its targeted focus on the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) stream.
In the August 6th draw, 225 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued exclusively to candidates who had already received a provincial nomination. These individuals required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 739 to be considered.
To qualify, candidates needed to have submitted their Express Entry profile before 6:35 a.m. UTC on April 23, 2025. This cut-off ensures that only those with recent and active profiles, aligned with the latest immigration priorities, are selected.
This draw comes shortly after a busy July, which featured multiple Express Entry rounds, including one specifically for healthcare and social services professionals (4,000 ITAs, CRS 475), another for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates (3,000 ITAs, CRS 518), and two other PNP-targeted draws with very high CRS thresholds.
Express Entry Draw Trends in 2025
As of August 6, IRCC has issued a total of 49,628 ITAs through various Express Entry streams this year. Draws have primarily focused on:
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): 14 draws
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC): 7 draws
- French-language proficiency: 3 draws
- Healthcare and social services: 3 draws
- Education: 1 draw
This continued focus on PNP and CEC pathways—especially since June—shows IRCC’s commitment to meeting regional labour demands and supporting candidates with Canadian work experience. The frequency of category-based draws for priority occupations like healthcare, education, and French-speaking professionals also reflects evolving immigration priorities.
The high CRS scores in PNP draws reflect the 600 additional CRS points automatically awarded to those nominated by provinces. This prioritization helps provinces bring in workers tailored to their unique demographic and economic needs.
Looking ahead, applicants can expect this trend of alternating PNP and CEC draws every two weeks to continue, along with regular category-based selections for key sectors.
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