Canada Express Entry Draw: 421 Invitations Issued in Targeted PNP Round 

Canada moved one step closer towards its firm immigration policy by conducting a  single Express Entry draw solely for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates on April 28, 2025.

In the most recent draw, a formal Draw #343, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence to 421 candidates. The candidates would have had a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 727. 

This draw is the second PNP-only draw this April so far, and very much does its part to show once again that there is policy movement for regional streams of immigration that grow out of local labour market requirements. 

The Express Entry System: Skilled Immigration Driver 

Since its introduction in 2015, Canada’s Express Entry has become a centralised management system for applications that attract skilled immigrants from around the globe. It  processes applications for three federal immigration economic streams: 

Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) 

Canadian Experience Class (CEC)- Candidates start by filling out an online profile, upon which they are ranked in sequence by the CRS, based on a combination of a fixed list of factors, including age, education, work experience, language proficiency in the official languages, and adaptability. They are combined and form a candidate’s score. 

IRCC performs regular draws from this pool, rotating between all pools and a designated pool such as the PNP or the CEC. Surplus members beyond the cut-off are provided an ITA and must submit a bulk permanent residence application within 60 days. 

What is the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)? 

Provincial Nominee Program is also extremely popular as a method of immigrating to Canada long-term, particularly for those individuals who are unlikely to have a sufficiently high score on the Comprehensive Ranking System to receive an invitation to a regular draw. 

All Canadian provinces and territories except Quebec and Nunavut are qualified under the program to nominate candidates willing to relocate and settle in a region of their choice. The nominations are based on the province’s seed, which may be distinguished from the type of work sought in the area, level of education, and regional preference, as indicated by previous work or study. 

The largest benefit? Provincial nomination gives a candidate 600 points, so they essentially have a near-guaranteed shot at receiving an ITA at the next Express Entry draw, whatever their original score was. 

April 28, 2025, PNP Draw Snapshot 

What transpired in Draw #343 

 Draw Number: 343 

 Date: April 28, 2025 

 Stream Targeted: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) 

 Number of Invitations Issued: 421 

 Minimum CRS Score Required: 727 

Tie-breaking Rule Used: September 9, 2024, 17:11:19 UTC. The tie-breaking rule is used when there is a tie in equality, with one of the applicants having an equal CRS score. Candidates who have already submitted their profiles by the given date and time will be invited only if they have a score of 727 or higher. 

This draw followed an April PNP-only draw, the 14th to take place, with 825 candidates receiving invites under a higher cut-off of 764 CRS. The reduced cut-off is representative of the fact that provincial nominee capacity is being brought online increasingly, possibly as part of a phased roll-out alongside Canada’s longer-term immigration agenda. 

A Glimpse at 2025 Trends in Express Entry 

As of April 2025, a cumulative number of 31,929 ITAs was issued under the Express Entry stream by Canada. The buzz this year is about the pervasiveness of PNP-directed draws. There have been six PNP-only draws out of the last seven rounds. Not coincidental in origin—it is one of the immigration plans of the country. 

Under Canada’s Immigration Plan Levels 2025-2027, Canada will issue 395,000 new permanent residents in 2025, with a massive figure of 232,150 immigrants arriving under economic immigration streams, including Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). 

This regionalisation is two-pronged in its benefit:

It serves the province’s regional labour market needs and spreads immigration geographically more extensively across the nation, particularly outside of the larger metropolitan areas of Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. 

What This Means for Future Applicants 

Suppose you are among those who wish to gain permanent residency in Canada. Still, your CRS score is low to make you eligible for the 470+ category, which is typical in general draws. In that case, trends are working in your direction. Your preferred stream can be PNP. 

Obtaining a provincial nomination not only makes your Express Entry profile more competitive—it can also provide faster processing, job connections, and, in some cases, settlement assistance. It also shows the government that you’re committed to living and working in a particular region, which can carry weight in the final decision. 

In short, a nomination can turn a good profile into a winning one. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Q1: Why is the PNP nomination so powerful in Express Entry? 

Because it will earn you a 600-point CRS score boost, usually many times more than whatever draw you will only be lucky enough to be drawn for. You’ve an ITA in the next cycle that will be held over. 

Q2: What’s the chance of my being given a provincial nomination? 

Do your research. Check every territory and province site to see which PNP streams are open to take applications. Some organisations run an Expression of Interest (EOI) system, while others accept direct applications or job offers from in-situ employers. 

Q3: What happens next after receiving an ITA? 

You will have 60 days from the date we receive and require your PR application, documents, medical examination, and payment. Provided all goes according to plan, you will then be issued a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR). 

Q4: Am I including my family members within my PR application? 

You may also include your common-law partner or spouse, or dependents. Your dependent children should be under 22 years of age and not be in a union or common-law union. 

Q5: What is the tie-break rule for Express Entry draws? 

Where there are several candidates with the same CRS score, IRCC has prioritised candidates who already have a profile submitted. The cut-off date for this latest draw was September 9, 2024, at 17:11:19 UTC. 

Final Thoughts: The Strategic Value of PNPs 

The April 28 draw is not merely a pilot of Canada’s immigration system; a regionally focused labour market also drives it. In PNP candidates, Canada is asserting more control and authority to select immigrants who are viable contributors to the province’s economy. 

For others who happen to be immigrants, that translates to one thing: adjust your strategy. An expertly constructed Express Entry profile is crucial, but combined with a provincial nomination, it would work wonders for your success rate. 

As Canada is about to depend more and more on high-skilled immigrants to fill vacancies and grow its economy, being first concerning PNP opportunities could very well be your golden ticket to achieving your Canadian dream.