IRCC Invites 228 Provincial Nominee Candidates in Latest Express Entry Draw as CRS Score Drops

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) carries on its strategy of immigration selection with another targeted Express Entry draw on September 15, 2025. This Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw presented 228 invitations to candidates with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 746, which is 26 points less than the previous PNP draw.  

Subtitle: This latest development reflects Canada's commitment to provincial economic priorities and, at the same time, keeps immigration competitive. Lowering the CRS requirement may facilitate the easy qualification of skilled workers with provincial nominations. Immigration experts view this as part of the plan set in place by the Canadian government in 2025 to balance the federal government's control with the labour market needs of the regions. As the competition in the Express Entry pool intensifies, provincial nominations become more valuable for people wanting permanent residence.  

Highlights:  

• IRCC issued 228 invitations to PNP candidates on September 15th, 2025, with a CRS cut-off of 746 points.  

• The draw is a 26-point drop from the September 2 PNP draw, opening up more access to nominees.  

• Candidate must have created their profiles by 31st March 2025, which clearly shows the importance of early Express Entry registration.  

• This is the 17th PNP-specific draw in 2025, highlighting Canada's provincial-focused immigration approach.  

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Understanding the 15th September Express Entry Draw  

The September 15 draw targeted PNP candidates who have at least a 746 CRS score and a tie-breaking rule for March 31, 2025. That tie-breaker gives priority to those who submitted their Express Entry profiles the earliest from candidates with the same CRS score. The 228 invitations were chosen from candidates who already received provincial nominations, which adds 600 CRS points and greatly increases their chances of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residence.  

Express Entry Draw Patterns in 2025  

Canada made a big change to the current immigration system in 2025 by moving from all-program draws to highly targeted and category-based selections. No universal draw has been conducted this year; rather, the government is focusing on specific categories like PNP, Canadian Experience Class, French language, healthcare positions, education, and skilled trades.

This is more of a selective approach, in line with Canada's lower immigration goal for 2025 - 395,000 new permanent residents, while in 2024, the number reached 485,000, with concerns of housing, healthcare, and integration.  

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What are the Canadian Provincial Nominee Program Benefits in 2025?

The PNP remains the most dependable path to Canadian permanent residence in 2025. PNP spots have gone down from 110,000 in 2024 to 55,000, with provinces being more selective in taking in candidates who have skills required in healthcare, education, and skilled trades. Even with fewer spots, overall, PNP candidates are receiving regular invitations via Express Entry.  

Provincial nominations offer some significant advantages: a 600-point boost in the candidate's CRS score that often puts candidates above general draw cut-offs and a targeted assessment that can be offered through local labour needs to make openings available for those with skills that meet regional priorities.  

CRS Score Trends and Competition Analysis in 2025

The Express Entry pool is very competitive in 2025: there are 256,914 active candidates as of July 2025. The most competitive score range, 501 - 600 Points, has 21,348 candidates. The 451-500 range has 78,339 contenders, so the competition is fierce for the limited invitations. General draws that have been put on hold since 2024 see higher cut-offs.  

In March 2025, IRCC eliminated additional points based on job offers, and thousands of candidates were moved around as a result, placing more emphasis on language, Canadian education, and work experience.

What are the Strategies To Succeed In The Express Entry In 2025?

Aspirants in 2025 need to carefully build up their CRS marks and make the best selections. Language skills show the fastest gains, particularly for French, where there has been an influx of draws with lower cut-outs of 379 to 481 points. Canadian work experience through programs such as the Canadian Experience Class also offers a reliable opportunity.  

When applying to PNP, do your research in regard to provincial streams and labour priorities. Each province has unique eligibility, occupation lists, and criteria, so it is very important to find the right fit. Healthcare, educators, and trades workers have an advantage.  

Professional credential assessment and educational qualifications are important. Higher education diplomas, especially Canadian ones, score highly on the CRS, and professional certifications increase both CRS scores and the likelihood of nomination.  

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Impact of the Immigration Policy Changes in 2025  

Canada's Express Entry system has experienced some changes in 2025, which have an effect on how the candidates are selected and processed. Removing job-offer points levels the field and puts a focus on core human capital, which reshuffles candidates across CRS ranges and creates new dynamics.  

Introducing education occupations as a new draw category mirrors an emphasis on academic and research areas of work, with five specific occupations now getting targeted invitations at lower cutoffs than general draws. Expanding the healthcare categories to include social services helps in overcoming the shortage in essential services.  

The higher percentage of Express Entry in the overall immigration targets makes the system more competitive, while providing the federal government more control over the selections. Federal economic programs now make up 31.5 percent of planned admissions as opposed to 22.8 percent in 2024, and PNP allocations have fallen by 50 percent.

Processing Times and Application Requirements for Canada in 2025

The processing time of the Express Entry is different based on the route and the fullness of applications. Improved PNP applications under the Express Entry program are normally received within six months after being invited to apply, and base PNP applications that are not under the Express Entry may take longer to receive. Applications should be filled out, and all necessary documents should be submitted to candidates within 60 days after an invitation is received.

The documents required are the test results of language, an evaluation of educational credentials, police certificates, medical tests, and evidence of funds. The provincial nominees are also required to submit their nomination certificate and show the intention to settle in the province they are nominating. Professional experience documentation entails comprehensive employment history, reference reports, and competency validation of purported work experience.

Predictions of Future Express Entry Draws

Immigration analysts project further category-based invitations in the year 2025, although it is projected that the invitation numbers may grow more in the second half of the year. Due to the 2026 targets for draws, IRCC might have to expedite the process, which may open up more opportunities to people in various categories. Practice in the French language will also attract interest, which will be maintained with the positive cut-offs of CRS, and this will assist in the achievement of the goals of bilingualism and identity of Canada.

The draws of provincial nominee programs will probably continue to attract the same number and volume of invitations, as the provinces still have labor market demands. Tourists to the healthcare and education industry will be enticed into the country, with Canada solving critical shortages in the main services. The Canadian Experience Class is estimated to keep in-Canada candidates supported by the Canadian Experience Class draws because of its attention to residents who are already contributing to Canadian society.

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Conclusion

The recent Express Entry draw proves the selective nature of immigration in Canada in 2025, as the offer goes to Provincial Nominee Program applicants with 228 offers, with a lower CRS cut-off of 746 points. This discriminatory push is evidence of how the government is determined to meet the needs of the labor markets in the region, and at the same time, without compromising their standards of permanent residence. Since Express Entry keeps changing with category selection and policy adjustments, applicants have to implement new strategies to adjust to the needs of the Canadian economy and the demand of a specific province.

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