The Canadian Immigration and Citizenship Department (IRCC) recently issued 646 Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) invitations through the Express Entry system, requiring candidates to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 750. Starting in 2025, IRCC will prioritize PNP and CEC candidates in the draws and will not conduct category-based draws for French speakers, healthcare workers, or skilled trades. IRCC plans to allocate 41,700 permanent resident spots for these priority groups in the 2025-2027 immigration plan.

New developments in Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) for 2025: Alberta completed its first round of provincial nominee draws for the year from February 3 to 6, issuing a total of 308 invitations for the Rural Renewal Stream and Medical Care stream (including both Express Entry and non-Express Entry categories); meanwhile, New Brunswick announced delays in issuing invitations due to technical issues from system overload. It is expected that formal draws will begin in March, and applicants are reminded to pay attention to updated occupational restrictions.

According to the latest announcement from the Canadian Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), starting from December 18, 2024, foreign nationals holding an International Experience Canada (IEC) employer-specific work permit will no longer receive Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for a valid job offer. This policy change affects IEC “Young Professionals” work permit holders and is taking effect earlier than initially planned, which was set for Spring 2025. This means that many applicants holding this type of work permit will face the loss of CRS points more quickly.

Canada uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to assess and select candidates applying for permanent residency through the Express Entry system. Express Entry is a system used to manage Canada’s three main economic immigration programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and Canadian Experience Class (CEC). This article provides an in-depth analysis of the Express Entry application process, the operation of the CRS, a detailed introduction to the scoring criteria and influencing factors, and offers practical strategies to improve your CRS score, helping applicants better understand Canada’s immigration policies and improve their chances of success.

British Columbia and Manitoba in Canada issued more provincial nomination invitations, while Alberta also updated the candidate pool status for several of its immigration programs. These provinces attract entrepreneurs, international students, and overseas candidates with technical backgrounds through economic immigration channels, and Alberta has also released statistical data on the current candidates.

After experiencing the impact of the federal government's reduction in immigration quotas, New Brunswick is finally beginning to selectively reopen some immigration programs. With a limit of 2,750 provincial nomination spaces, the province prioritizes key sectors such as healthcare, education, and construction, and restricts certain occupational categories.

Canadian Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has put forward a series of views on immigration policy and has stated his intention to push for reforms in the upcoming Prime Ministerial election. Poilievre's reform plans involve various aspects, including promoting economic immigration, optimizing the foreign worker program, enhancing border security, and promoting the cultural integration of new immigrants. With the prospect of him becoming the next Prime Minister in the 2025 election, his immigration policies could have a profound impact on Canada's society and economy.

This week, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 4,000 invitations through the Express Entry system to candidates eligible for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). This draw is the second invitation this week, following closely behind the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw on February 4th, reflecting the priorities of Canada’s immigration policies.

In the 334th round of Express Entry invitations, the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 455 invitations to Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates, requiring a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 802 and submission of the profile before the deadline. This draw is the fourth one in 2025, aimed at attracting high-quality talent with essential professional skills and language proficiency to meet domestic economic and population development needs.

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) recently announced it is easing immigration requirements for self-employed physicians, making it easier for them to apply for permanent residency. This policy change primarily concerns the work experience of self-employed physicians, who can now apply without relying on a job offer from an employer. The change aims to help alleviate the physician shortage in Ontario and support the recruitment of talent in the healthcare field.