IRCC holds largest Express Entry PNP-targeted draw in nearly six months
On November 10, 2025, IRCC conducted a PNP-targeted Express Entry draw, issuing 714 ITAs. The CRS cutoff was 738, and eligible candidates had to have created their Express Entry profiles before 2:12 a.m. UTC on February 22, 2025. This was November’s first draw and the first since the Immigration Levels Plan announcement. It also marked the largest PNP-focused round in nearly six months; the previous larger PNP draw occurred on April 14 (825 ITAs).
Draw highlights
- Invitations issued: 714
- Minimum CRS: 738
- Profile creation deadline: Before 2:12 a.m. UTC, February 22, 2025
- Draw type: PNP-targeted under Express Entry
- Context: First post–Levels Plan draw; first draw of November
Recent draw cadence
- October 27: PNP-targeted draw
- October 28: Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw
- October 29: French-language proficiency draw
Together with the November 10 round, these illustrate IRCC’s pattern of alternating between priority categories and target groups.
Year-to-date totals and distribution
- 2025 ITAs to date: 81,223
Draws by type (number of rounds)
| Draw type | Rounds |
|---|---|
| Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 21 |
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 11 |
| French-language proficiency | 7 |
| Healthcare & social services | 5 |
| Education | 2 |
| Trade | 1 |
ITAs by category (cumulative 2025)
| Category | ITAs issued |
|---|---|
| French | 36,000 |
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 22,850 |
| Healthcare & social services | 9,792 |
| Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 7,963 |
| Education | 3,500 |
| Trade | 1,250 |
The combined share of French category and CEC accounts for the majority of 2025 ITAs. PNP has seen the greatest number of rounds but with wider variation in round sizes. This latest PNP draw returns to a “largest-since-April” scale, signaling renewed emphasis on provincial nominations in the new planning phase.
Trend notes
- Continued category-based targeting: PNP remains the main thread this year, interspersed with CEC, French, and occupation-priority categories (healthcare & social services, education, trade), reflecting a demand-driven selection model.
- Structurally higher cutoffs: PNP candidates typically receive significant nomination points, pushing PNP-targeted cutoffs above those of general draws.
- Policy-cycle alignment: Launching a sizeable PNP round immediately after the Levels Plan suggests structural fine-tuning within stable overall admissions targets—using PNP and category draws to optimize skills and language composition.
Practical notes for candidates
- Candidates with a provincial nomination or in-province employer demand should keep profiles valid and documentation ready to capitalize on PNP-targeted opportunities.
- French proficiency and Canadian work experience (CEC) continue to be high-share pathways; eligible candidates may watch for subsequent rounds in these categories.
- Profile creation and update timing matter: adhere closely to IRCC’s stated profile-creation cutoff for each round.
Summary of Express Entry draws in 2025
| Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | Cut-off CRS score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 10 | Provincial Nominee Program | 714 | 738 |
| Oct 29 | French language proficiency | 6,000 | 416 |
| Oct 28 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 533 |
| Oct 27 | Provincial Nominee Program | 302 | 761 |
| Oct 15 | Healthcare and social services | 2,500 | 472 |
| Oct 14 | Provincial Nominee Program | 345 | 778 |
| Oct 6 | French language proficiency | 4,500 | 432 |
| Oct 1 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 534 |
| Sept 29 | Provincial Nominee Program | 291 | 855 |
| Sept 18 | Trade | 1,250 | 505 |
| Sept 17 | Education | 2,500 | 462 |
| Sept 15 | Provincial Nominee Program | 228 | 746 |
| Sept 4 | French language proficiency | 4,500 | 446 |
| Sept 3 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 534 |
| Sept 2 | Provincial Nominee Program | 249 | 772 |
| August 19 | Healthcare and social services | 2,500 | 470 |
| August 18 | Provincial Nominee Program | 192 | 800 |
| August 8 | French language proficiency | 2,500 | 481 |
| August 7 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 534 |
| August 6 | Provincial Nominee Program | 225 | 739 |
| July 22 | Healthcare and social services | 4,000 | 475 |
| July 21 | Provincial Nominee Program | 202 | 788 |
| July 8 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,000 | 518 |
| July 7 | Provincial Nominee Program | 356 | 750 |
| June 23 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,000 | 521 |
| June 26 | Provincial Nominee Program | 503 | 742 |
| June 12 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,000 | 529 |
| June 10 | Provincial Nominee Program | 125 | 784 |
| June 4 | Healthcare and social services | 500 | 504 |
| 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 |
IRCC holds largest Express Entry PNP-targeted draw in nearly six months
On November 10, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted the first Express Entry draw of the month, inviting 714 Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates to apply for permanent residence. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score was 738, and candidates needed to have created their Express Entry profile before 2:12 a.m. Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on February 22, 2025. This was the first draw since the release of the new Immigration Levels Plan and the largest PNP-targeted Express Entry draw since April 14, when 825 invitations were issued. Year-to-date, IRCC has issued 81,223 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through Express Entry.
11/12/2025
Manitoba Holds First November Draw, Focusing on Strategic Recruitment Initiative Candidates
On November 6, 2025, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) held its first draw of the month, issuing invitations to apply for provincial nomination to nearly 50 skilled worker candidates. A unique feature of this draw was that all invited individuals had to have previously declared being invited by the MPNP under a Strategic Recruitment Initiative. This draw follows a period of fluctuation for Manitoba's immigration allocation. After the federal government significantly cut the province's quota early in 2025, successful lobbying led to a substantial recovery in October, bringing the annual total to 6,239 nominations. Combined with the federal government's newly released multi-year immigration levels plan, Manitoba's capacity to nominate immigrants is expected to expand further in the coming years.
11/11/2025
Northwest Territories Nominee Program adds a third intake window; eligibility changes in effect through year-end
The Northwest Territories (NWT) has announced a third application intake window for its Nominee Program (NTNP), running from November 10, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. to November 24, 2025. To complete the 2025 target of 300 nominations, the territory plans to process up to 103 additional eligible applications by year-end and has introduced temporary eligibility adjustments: removal of the work-permit expiry-date restriction, reinstatement of certain 2024 work-experience requirements, and elimination of employer submission caps tied to company size. Applications will be prioritized for candidates whose work permits expire within the next three months, followed by filing date order; if processing exceeds capacity or cannot be finalized by December 23, applications will be withdrawn, with the option to reapply in 2026.
11/10/2025
Quebec Announces Closure of Experience Program, Tightening Pathways to Permanent Residence
On November 6, 2025, the Quebec government announced that it will permanently close one of its most popular pathways to permanent residence—the Quebec Experience Program (Programme de l’expérience québécoise, PEQ)—which includes the Quebec Graduates Stream and the Temporary Foreign Workers Stream. Both streams will officially end on November 19, 2025. At the same time, three permanent immigration pilot programs will also conclude as scheduled on January 1, 2026. This means that, going forward, foreign workers and graduates seeking to obtain permanent residence in Quebec will only be able to apply through the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ).
11/08/2025
Canada to Increase Provincial Nominee Program Admissions by 66% in 2026, Strengthening Local Talent Attraction
According to Canada’s newly released 2026 Immigration Levels Plan, the federal government has set the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) permanent resident target at 91,500, a 66% increase from last year’s 55,000. This marks a shift toward expanding provincial immigration pathways, giving temporary residents and international graduates greater access to permanent residence (PR). Several provinces have already negotiated higher nomination allocations with the federal government to help address ongoing labor shortages.
11/07/2025
Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2026–2028 Q&A: Understanding the Impact, Priorities, and Opportunities
On November 4, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officially released the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, maintaining annual permanent resident targets at 380,000 for the next three years while gradually reducing the number of temporary residents—including international students and foreign workers. The plan aims to balance population growth with Canada’s housing, healthcare, and infrastructure capacity, while increasing the share of economic and francophone immigrants. This Q&A explains the plan’s key points, policy direction, and what it means for prospective applicants.
11/06/2025
Canada Announces 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan: Permanent Resident Targets Stabilized, Temporary Resident Numbers Tightened
On November 4, 2025, the Government of Canada officially released the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, setting an annual target of 380,000 permanent residents for each of the next three years. The plan aims to maintain steady immigration growth while tightening the inflow of temporary residents—including international students and foreign workers. Announced as part of the 2025 federal budget, the plan marks a policy shift from “expansion” to “stabilization,” emphasizing the balance between immigration growth and the country’s capacity in housing, healthcare, and infrastructure.
11/05/2025
Canada Updates Immigration Medical Exam Requirements for Temporary Residence Applicants — Four Countries Added, Six Removed
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced an update to the list of countries whose citizens must complete an Immigration Medical Exam (IME) when applying for temporary residence in Canada. Effective November 3, 2025, Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay, and Venezuela have been added to the list, while Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, Latvia, Lithuania, and Taiwan have been removed. Applicants from newly added countries will now need to complete an IME, whereas those from the removed regions will no longer be required to do so. The new rules apply to individuals who have lived in or traveled to these countries for six consecutive months within the year before their intended arrival in Canada.
11/04/2025
Manitoba PNP issues 29 invitations to skilled workers, focusing on candidates with special work permits
On October 31, 2025, Manitoba issued 29 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) under the Skilled Worker Stream of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). This draw primarily targeted candidates already working in the province on facilitated work permits. Of the total invitations, 19 were issued under the Temporary Public Policy (TPP), while the rest were distributed among Francophone, regional, and employer-based recruitment initiatives.
11/03/2025
Prince Edward Island Holds Surprise PNP Draw Targeting International Graduates
On October 27, 2025, the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) conducted an unannounced draw, issuing 159 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to eligible candidates. The selection specifically targeted international graduates from the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), Holland College, and Collège de l’Île who are currently living and working in the province. The move breaks from PEI’s regular draw schedule, signaling the province’s intention to accelerate its intake of skilled talent with local education and employment experience.
11/01/2025
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