Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has once again utilized its Express Entry system, issuing 192 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence on August 18, 2025, to candidates who had already secured a provincial nomination (PNP).

Score Requirement Remains High Amidst Fierce Competition

According to official data, the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for this draw was set at 800. It is important to note that candidates in the PNP stream automatically receive an additional 600 points upon receiving a provincial nomination. This means that successful candidates in this round needed a base CRS score of at least 200 before the nomination.

To manage candidates with the same score, IRCC applied a tie-breaking rule. Only those who had a CRS score of 800 and had submitted their profile before 7:17 p.m. UTC on February 11, 2025, were considered.

The 800-point CRS requirement is the second-highest of 2025, just shy of the year's peak of 802, which was set during the first PNP draw in February. This highlights the ongoing competition among high-scoring candidates in this category.

Frequent Draws in August Point to a Diversified Immigration Strategy

This is the fourth Express Entry draw in August and the second to target PNP candidates this month, indicating a highly active invitation pace from IRCC. A review of August's activities shows a PNP draw on August 6, a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw on August 7, and a targeted draw for French-language proficient candidates on August 8. The consistent draws over two consecutive weeks suggest that the department is actively using the Express Entry system to conduct targeted selections based on evolving labour market needs.

2025 Year-in-Review: PNP Draws Dominate Invitations

Year-to-date, IRCC has issued a total of 53,320 ITAs through the Express Entry system in 2025. This year's strategy has shown a clear emphasis on PNP candidates, reflecting the strong collaboration between the federal and provincial governments to attract and retain skilled talent across the country.

A breakdown of draw types so far this year is as follows:

1. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): 15 draws
2. Canadian Experience Class (CEC): 8 draws
3. French-language proficiency: 4 draws
4. Healthcare and social services (category-based): 3 draws
5. Education (category-based): 1 draw

This data clearly illustrates that securing a provincial nomination remains one of the most effective pathways to Canadian permanent residence through Express Entry. At the same time, targeted draws for candidates with French-language skills or experience in in-demand sectors like healthcare and education have become a regular feature of Canada's immigration strategy. Prospective applicants are advised to closely monitor both federal draw patterns and provincial nomination criteria to maximize their chances of success.

Summary of Express Entry draws in 2025