Canada’s immigration department conducted a targeted latest Express Entry draw on July 21, 2025, issuing just 202 invitations under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). The minimum CRS score required was 788, which is an unusually high cutoff, driven by the 600-point boost that every PNP nominee automatically receives.
IRCC is tightening its focus, and this draw reinforces the idea that Canada is prioritizing skilled workers backed by provincial demand, not just high-scoring candidates.
Details of The Latest Express Entry draw:
Draw #356
Stream: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Invitations Issued: 202
CRS Cut off: 788
Draw Date: July 21, 2025
Tie-break rule: June 5, 2025, at 23:50:45 UTC
Overview of The Draw
PNP-only draws reflect a focused immigration strategy. Every invited candidate already held a provincial nomination, which means they were pre-selected to fill urgent labour gaps across specific provinces. These aren’t just high scorers — they’re in-demand professionals, handpicked and backed by local governments.
The CRS cutoff of 788 does not reflect competitiveness in the traditional sense. Rather, it is largely the result of the 600 bonus points awarded for provincial nomination. Without this additional score boost, the base CRS scores of these candidates likely ranged between 180 and 200, significantly below the typical cutoff for federal categories.
Impact on Immigration Strategy 2025
This draw reflects a broader shift in Canada’s immigration strategy. Rather than casting a wide net, IRCC is prioritizing targeted selection, leveraging both category-based draws and provincial nominee programs to attract candidates with specific, in-demand skill sets.
The July 21 draw emphasizes a few critical shifts in Canada’s Express Entry strategy:
PNP Is a Priority Pathway
Candidates who receive a provincial nomination are being prioritized more consistently as IRCC leans on provincial governments to select talent aligned with their economic goals.CRS Cutoffs Continue to Rise
With the CRS cutoff jumping to 788, applicants—even with nominations—must act quickly and have optimized profiles. Timing, language scores, and completeness of application are more important than ever.Draw Sizes Are Shrinking
With only 202 invitations issued, this was one of the smaller PNP draws of 2025, likely tied to provinces nearing their allocation limits and IRCC tightening its selection standards mid-year.Category-Based Draws Will Continue Alternating
IRCC is expected to continue alternating between PNP draws and category-based selections, such as healthcare, STEM, and CEC-specific rounds—each tailored to fill specific gaps in the labor market.
This shift is designed to protect the labour market while still keeping immigration flowing.
Strategic Next Steps for Applicants
If your CRS score isn’t high enough to make it into a general draw, here’s what you should focus on:
Go Provincial – Monitor active PNP streams in provinces like Ontario, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. If your skills align with a local labour shortage, you could secure a nomination even with a relatively low CRS.
Get Category-Ready – Update your profile to align with upcoming category-based draws. If you work in healthcare, STEM, trades, French-speaking roles, or other high-demand sectors, you may qualify even without a nomination.
