Canada has resumed its targeted immigration draws, this time spotlighting provincial nominees. On October 27, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited 302 candidates through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) under the Express Entry system. The draw marks a continued pivot toward selective, demand-driven immigration rather than broad-based invitations.
The latest draw underscores how Canada is relying on its provinces to steer skilled newcomers where they’re needed most. By allowing provinces to handpick talent aligned with their local labor markets, Ottawa is balancing national goals with regional realities, a strategy that’s becoming increasingly central to Canada’s immigration framework.
Details of the Draw
According to IRCC’s update, the draw was exclusive to the Provincial Nominee Program.
Key details include:
Date: October 27, 2025
Invitations Issued: 302
Minimum CRS Score: 761
Profile Submission Deadline: Before 2:14 a.m. UTC, September 26, 2025
Program: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
This was the second PNP-specific draw in October, following the October 14 round that issued 345 ITAs with a higher CRS cut-off of 778. In total, 73,485 ITAs have been issued in 2025 across all Express Entry categories. The lower CRS this time suggests IRCC is slightly expanding access while keeping the process competitive.
Overview of the Draw
The focus on PNP candidates highlights Canada’s broader shift toward category-based draws. Instead of large all-program rounds, IRCC now alternates between targeted draws for sectors like healthcare, trades, and French-language proficiency.
PNP draws, however, remain the backbone, because they give provinces the authority to nominate candidates based on real-time labor shortages.
Compared to general draws, these rounds are smaller but far more decisive, prioritizing readiness and alignment with Canada’s regional job markets.
Impact on Immigration
This draw sends a strong message to prospective immigrants: provincial nomination is becoming the most reliable path to permanent residency. With general draws remaining infrequent and CRS scores hovering high, many candidates are recalibrating their strategies toward province-led opportunities.
For provinces, the PNP gives greater autonomy. They can fill immediate labor gaps, from healthcare workers in Nova Scotia to tech professionals in Ontario, while ensuring newcomers have settlement prospects that fit local conditions.
This targeted model not only benefits regional economies but also supports long-term retention, a challenge in smaller provinces that often lose talent to major cities.
At the national level, IRCC’s growing reliance on PNP streams aligns with Canada’s 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan, which aims to bring in roughly 110,000 PNP candidates annually by 2026. This helps balance the system and prevents bottlenecks in federal-only categories like the Canadian Experience Class or Federal Skilled Worker stream.
Focus: Why the PNP Matters More Than Ever
The Provincial Nominee Program is becoming the central pillar of skilled immigration. Through it, provinces select candidates who match their economic priorities, whether in construction, manufacturing, or healthcare.
For applicants abroad, this means researching and aligning with specific provincial streams, such as Ontario’s Human Capital Priorities Stream or Alberta’s Advantage Immigration Program, could be the smartest move.
Canada is fine-tuning its intake to favor precision over volume. As the CRS bar continues to rise, success will depend on adaptability, and those leveraging provincial pathways are increasingly the ones making it through.
Canada Express Entry Draw List 2025
Total ITAs issued in 2025: 69,985